BADass SINema Unearthed - Blu-ray 4K UHD Review

Movie Review

Psycho kitties and Satanists be damned! Wild sex in a reclining office chair must be mastered by all.

For the young couple at the center of this erotic thriller, sometimes it is best to leave well enough alone. Serpent’s Lair might be simple enough in the horror department with its story, but – with a fine performance from Lisa Barbuscia (Almost Heroes) as the Lilith figure – the movie scores some big (and sexy) psychological points.

This is why you don’t move into a place where the last owner offed himself in. And the demonic seduction in this apartment begins with a damn black cat crossing paths with Tom (Jeff Fahey) the new tenant. Don’t pet the pussy, Tom! Don’t let it in! But the feline is so damn cute, there’s no way that he is going to let it walk by without a scratch of two.

The cat, of course, has a hidden agenda and, oh yes, Tom will be hers. Meow. But first it must transform into a beautiful butterfly. And what a transformation it is. Lilith (otherwise known as Lisa B) appears where once there was a kitty and hell follows in the wake of her multiple orgasms.

At night, much to Alex’s (Heather Medway) dismay, the cat leaves mice for her and perches on Tom’s chest while Tom moans with pleasure. Weird. Tom wakes up feeling great while Alex wakes up with her allergies kicking her ass. What gives you ask? Well, it turns out that there’s a succubus ravaging Tom’s body and soul and she’s playing for keeps.

Directed by Jeffrey Reiner and written by Marc Rosenberg, it becomes all too obvious – especially when the kitty starts circling Alex – that the black cat has it out for her. Get Alex out of the picture and then drain Tom of all his sexual energy. That’s the not-so hidden plan here. Too bad there isn’t a bit more suspense. Horror fans are already well versed in these types of seduction narratives. And, unfortunately, this one completely sticks to the script.

Serpent’s Lair, preferring the cream to the coffee, isn’t original by any stretch of the imagination. The movie feels like Rosemary’s Baby and it looks quite a bit like The Tenant. Not a bad combination at all, yet this one fails to create much suspense and  

And because Fahey is our leading man, well, the end result is a B movie that tries its best to be shocking and sexy thanks to the beefed-up bedroom scenes. Things don’t go totally off the supernatural rails until the final act of the movie and, by then, who really cares?! We are already laughing at its attempts to sensually prance about like the Cat People it isn’t.

Bringing new meaning to a nightcap, Serpent’s Lair finds itself opened on blu-ray courtesy of Code Red.

Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R for sexuality, language and some violence.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Marc Rosenberg
Cast: Jeff Fahey, Lisa Barbuscia, Heather Medway
Genre: Horror
Tagline: She hunts to mate and mates to kill..
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor:
Official Site: 
Release Date:
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 27, 2018
Synopsis: Tom (Jeff Fahey, The Lawnmower Man, Body Parts, Psycho III) and Alex (Heather Medway, TV’s Viper, Models Inc., Fear) are a young couple who move into an apartment where a mysterious suicide has just taken place. Almost immediately their lives take a strange turn as Tom is seduced by a mysterious woman (Lisa Barbuscia, Highlander, Endgame, Almost Heroes) who turns out to be a seductive succubus!

Blu-ray Review

Home Video Distributor: Code Red
Available on Blu-ray - February 27, 2018
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles:Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo track 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Code Red presents Serpent’s Lair on 1080p with a brand new 2016 HD scan of archival elements that is detailed and fleshy. It definitely has a new life on blu-ray. With an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and Dolby Digital Stereo track, the film is treated nicely by Scream’s efforts. Nicely saturated, there are no dents in its shiny armor. Colors are strong throughout and are particularly memorable with their inclusion of details and strong edges. Black levels are clearly defined, too. Important considering the film takes place during the evening hours.

Supplements:

Commentary:

None.

Special Features:

Outside of the new HD scan, fans get an introduction to the film from Heather Medway and a new interview with her, too.