CALAMITY OF SNAKES (1983)
Label: Unearthed Films
Region Code: A
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 86 Minutes 17 Seconds (Theatrical), 86 Minutes 53 Seconds (Alternate Cut), 76 Minutes 41 Seconds (Cruelty Free Version)
Audio: Cantonese, Mandarin or English PCM 1.0 Mono with Optional English Subtitles (Theatrical), English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono with Optional English Subtitles (Alternate and Cruelty Free Cuts)
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1)
Director: Chi Chang
Cast: Hsiang Yun-Peng, Kao Yuen, Lo Pi-Ling, Wei Ping-Ao, Ou-Yang Sha-Fei
When a greedy developer discovers a pit full of thousands of deadly serpents on the construction site of a new apartment building he orders his crew to viciously exterminate the snakes, with the men use a backhoe and blunt force trauma to dispatch the critters. Thinking the problem has been solved the luxury apartments are erected and new tenants to move into the building. Not all the snakes have been destroyed however, and the developer and his corny sidekick plan a grand-opening gala, during which they are caught unaware when a vicious army of vengeful serpents crash the party to exact some fanged revenge.
When a greedy developer discovers a pit full of thousands of deadly serpents on the construction site of a new apartment building he orders his crew to viciously exterminate the snakes, with the men use a backhoe and blunt force trauma to dispatch the critters. Thinking the problem has been solved the luxury apartments are erected and new tenants to move into the building. Not all the snakes have been destroyed however, and the developer and his corny sidekick plan a grand-opening gala, during which they are caught unaware when a vicious army of vengeful serpents crash the party to exact some fanged revenge.
Right off the bat you should be aware that this exploitation gem is overstuffed with animal cruelty directed towards real snakes. There's no hiding it, they're being stomped, sliced in half, burned, decapitated, peeled, attacked by mongoose, and eaten from start to finish. If you're sensitive to such things you're gonna want to be aware before you press play on this one - you have been warned. Also, you should know that Unearthed Films have kindly included a Cruelty Free Version of the film, which cuts out about 10-minute of the more aggressive violence directed towards the snakes, so you have that options as well.
If you can get past the violence perpetrated against the slithery serpents there's a lot to love about this bonkers Hong Kong/Taiwan co-production, it's super-wild and off the rails from start to finish, and makes for an entertaining animal-attack flick. For me the best scene, easily, is the film is when the developer hires a snake-wrangling Kung Fu master to track down a massive Boa Constrictor that seems to be leading this multi-specie snake-rebellion, because I guess that's a thing, at least in this wacky movie. He enters a warehouse and is attacked by the monstrous snake, and let me tell you that the action and editing of this kung-fu snake vs human showdown is fucking ridiculous in the best possible way! The snake is whip-kicking the kung fu master with it's tail, leaping through the air, launching itself straight-up into the air out of a stockpile of cardboard boxes, coiling around his chest and appendages, and bloodily biting his hand - they just go all in on the nutty action and it ends with the snake being roped and lynched! Thinking they've won the day (for a second time) and that the snake-rebellion has been crushed with the destruction of the boa they move ahead with the party. Of course the party is crashed by thousands upon thousands of serpents that burst from an opening in the basement level intent on killing the tenant of the luxury apartment complex built on their former nest. The snakes are everywhere, slithering down hallways, up the walls, attacking couples in bed, a woman in the tub, an old couple just chilling at home, before eventually making their way to the ballroom gala and fucking shit up!
The sheer amount of snakes on display is mind-boggling, the tenants are attacked and fall onto massive carpets of writhing snakes as more snake are thrown from just off screen on top of them, these actors must have had snake nightmares for weeks after this shoot. Another scene features the greedy developer facing of against the leaping snakes with a sword, slicing them in half midair - and it all looks to be real snakes being sliced in two, their halved bodies writhing in the floor in the aftermath, so again, be aware that you are watching a snake-snuff film with people killing real snakes on film, Despite this the flick's never truly scary (just disgusting), unless you're deathly afraid of snakes perhaps I suppose, and it doesn't help that the tone is all over the place with comedic characters like the developers lecherous sidekick always hamming it up, and there are a lot of jokes at the expense of a heavy set woman with a squeaky voice who is constantly shoveling snacks into her mouth at the party.
Audio/Video: Calamity of Snakes (1983) arrives on region A Blu-ray from Unearthed Films in 1080p HD widescreen (2.35:1). The theatrical cut is the main version and looks solid if never even close to reference level. There are nicks and scratches throughout, but generally the colors are strong and there's some modest depth and detail to the image. Audio comes by way of Chinese, Mandarin or English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono with optional English subtitles. Of the three the Chinese track is the weakest of the bunch, with Mandarin and the English dub having the better fidelity. There's some source related background noise and some slight sibilance but it's quite pleasing for the most part. I did enjoy the English dub track which is pretty goofy and adds a more slapstick comedy element to the proceedings, which I quite enjoyed.
Audio/Video: Calamity of Snakes (1983) arrives on region A Blu-ray from Unearthed Films in 1080p HD widescreen (2.35:1). The theatrical cut is the main version and looks solid if never even close to reference level. There are nicks and scratches throughout, but generally the colors are strong and there's some modest depth and detail to the image. Audio comes by way of Chinese, Mandarin or English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono with optional English subtitles. Of the three the Chinese track is the weakest of the bunch, with Mandarin and the English dub having the better fidelity. There's some source related background noise and some slight sibilance but it's quite pleasing for the most part. I did enjoy the English dub track which is pretty goofy and adds a more slapstick comedy element to the proceedings, which I quite enjoyed.
Unearthed Films load this one up with extras, beginning with two additional versions of the film. We get both the slightly longer Alternate Cut (which adds a few seconds of nudity) and a Cruelty Free Version of the version. The alternate cut looks like it comes from an HD source while the Cruelty Free version is in HD with the same three uncompressed audio options as the Theatrical cut. We also have an Audio Commentary from Nathan Hamilton and Brad Slaton on the theatrical cut. Others extras include the 16-min Reptilian Recollections: Lin Kuang-Yung In Conversation With Chui-Yi Chung conducted over a video conferencing platform, the actor/stuntman gets into what it was like working with snake, if people were bitten during film, what precautions the snake handlers took, and visiting the famous snake market, as well as his own experiences killing snakes. Another nice value-add is the 76-min From Shaw to Snakes: The Venom And Violence Of Early Chinese Language Horror Cinema doc produced by High Rising productions. The doc features lots of perspective about the political climate and film industry of the era, what was happening socially. Lots of interesting talking heads throwing their two cents into the conversation including Calum Waddell, film critics C.J. Lines and James Mudge, Dr. Lin Feng and Sean Tierney, actors Kam Kwok-Leung and Hsiang Yun-Peng, directors Godfrey Ho and Chui-Yu Chung. There's sone great stills and footage used throughout it, as well as posters, and it takes a while to get to it but the conversation about Calamity of Snakes is pretty great and offers both academic and exploitation cinema fan dissection of the snake-snuff film, making sure to point out the horrific cruelty to snakes seen in the flick. Extras are buttoned-up with 5-min of Alternate Credits and a brief 1-min Gallery with poster artworks.
The single-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring an original poster design, which is replicated on the limited edition slipcover, which is limited to the first-pressing. This is part of the Unearthed Classics line-up and features a numbered spine (this is #12) on both the wrap and the spine.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary from Nathan Hamilton and Brad Slaton
- Full Length Documentary: From Shaw to Snakes: The Venom And Violence Of Early Chinese Language Horror Cinema (76 min)
- Reptilian Recollections: Lin Kuang-Yung In Conversation With Chui-Yi Chung (16 min)
- Alternate Cut (87 min)
- Cruelty Free Cut (77 min)
- Alternate Mandarin Credits (5 min)
- Gallery (1 min)
- First-Pressing Only Slipcover
Calamity of Snakes (1983) is a bonkers animal exploitation film that is fast-moving and entertaining; unfortunately it's also morally grotesque that hundreds of snakes were needlessly killed while making of it. That's a hard to pill to swallow and you will have to make the decision for yourself if this is something you can stomach in the name of entertainment. Maybe I'm a monster, but I thought this was quite an entertaining snake-attack flick that has to be seen to be believed, and one worth seeking out. Unearthed Films Blu-ray edition is a solid offering with three versions of the film and some excellent extras, including a feature length doc that explores it's the moral and artistic pros and cons of it. It should also be noted that Unearthed Films have stated that a percentage of all profits from Calamity of the Snakes in all formats will be donated to Save the Snakes in continuation of their mission to protect snake populations around the world.”
