Snow White: A Tale of Terror

This version of the what may be the Grimm's most famous fairy tale holds very true to the original story. There have been so many film adaptations of Snow White that, although unique and creative renditions, stray very far from the original. I was impressed with the minor details that they included from the Grimm's version, such as the "hair as black as ebony, skin white as snow, and lips as red as blood" and the fact that the heroine is choked by the apple and not put into a magical sleep (like Sleeping Beauty). The story is dark and ominous, which also holds true to the fairy tale, in contradiction to the popular belief that these stories were light-hearted and innocent (we have Walt Disney to blame for that). They did take some creative license with names, character traits, and certain plot elements, but I didn't find it terribly offensive. It served to make the story more realistic and deep. It kept my attention the whole way through and kept me wondering what was going to happen next despite the fact I knew the story. The thing that makes this movie good is the great attention to detail and the awareness of the material the film makers had. I was impressed. Do not be fooled though. This is not a movie for little children. Do not go into it thinking that, or you will completely miss what makes it so special. I would even suggest reading the actual fairy tale before watching it so you can truly appreciate the small but significant specific aspects the film artists obviously took so much care to preserve.

One word of warning, this isn't the Disney film of "Snow White" and it would be wise to think twice before letting the children watch it.

The tensions between "Snow White", here named Lilli Hoffman (Played by Taryn Davis as a child and then by Monica Keener as a teenager) and her step-mother Claudia (Sigourney Weaver) are quite well-drawn. Claudia is not completely unsympathetic and Lilli is not quite as innocent as in some versions of the story. Also the dwarfs are presented as a group of scarred, bitter outlaws.

The film sustains a wonderful medieval atmosphere and has some very good performances, particularly from Sigourney Weaver. However it suffers a lot from an unevenness of tone. It's far too dark and violent for children, but then it's not quite scary enough for adults.

That being said, horror and fantasy fans may find it quite enjoyable.

Although I liked Disney's version of the Snow White tale (and still keep it as the classic example of fairy-tale screen- handling), still I was positively struck with this adaptation. Now here's the version no-one would have dreamed of ever seeing. The all-innocent victimised princess has been turned into a proud little brat who despises her step-mother from the very first time she sees her; the mean, scheming, mirror-gazing step-mother was changed into a lady doing her best to be accepted by her husband's intolerant daughter - only after miscarrying her son does she turn into the stereotype of evil; the adorable seven little dwarfs were metamorphosized into seven miners, some of whom really hate the girl. Best of all the Prince charming has been erased and the silly "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" likewise. Anyway the film is a masterpiece from beginning to end - the highlights being the spells cast by the maddened step-mother. Being a gothic horror movie, it still has some spurts of really dark humour, such as Claudia saying, "Mmmm... Delicious!" when eating the supposedly cooked Lilly; and "I have brought someone to keep you company" (to the crucifix). The on-location shooting is very adequate and the superb performances from everyone make this a movie worth watching and appreciating.

Here's something to check out if you're not too into the "Disneyfied" version of the classic Grimm brothers fairy tale. While the Disney adaptation wasn't free from dark and spooky elements itself, this one takes those elements and runs with them, all the way. It's definitely a Snow White for the adults in the family, presented as a 1990s update of a Hammer type Gothic horror film.

Monica Keena is Lilli Hoffman, a young woman whose mother died in childbirth (after a bad roadside accident). Her father Frederick (ever reliable Sam Neill) ultimately remarries, to the seemingly well meaning Lady Claudia (a vampy Sigourney Weaver). When the Lady miscarries the child that she would have born Frederick, she decides that Lilli, who never really warmed up to her, is responsible, and vows to destroy her. When the first attempt fails, Lilli is soon lost in the wilderness of the Black Forest, where she encounters a sextet of scruffy characters.

People should know right up front what they're getting into. Hell, it's right there in the title: this is NOT a movie for kiddies, with a decent amount of gore and the playing up of some sexual elements. It's appropriately moody, and gloomy, with vivid on location filming in the Czech Republic, a passable effort at emulating the period, and cinematography by Mike Southon that is wise to never, ever get too bright or colorful.

People familiar with the animated take on the tale will be amused to note the differences in this version. For one thing, among the seven "dwarves" is only one actual little person.

The acting is mostly sturdy. Keena is fairly appealing. Neill is good as always, and Gil Bellows gives his part of Will some depth. Brian Glover is fun as Lars, another of the seven forest dwellers. Sigourney takes the opportunity to do some welcome - and not exactly inappropriate - scenery chewing.

Atmospheric and darkly humorous at times, "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" should be interesting entertainment for horror fans.

Seven out of 10.

Trying to rent a "known" horror movie is somewhat of a Herculean task at 7:30 PM on Halloween night, and as such, I was down to the "slim pickins" on the horror shelf at the local video outlet, so I was surprised to see this movie still on the shelf, what with the star power attached to it and attractive video box. I'd never heard of it!

What a surprise to find a genuinely creepy and atmospheric horror story contained within, and a PERFECT movie to watch on Halloween night. The cinematography is sumptuous and lush, especially during the scenes in which the evil Lady is casting spells on Lilliana and her various compatriots. The story itself, though, is a little muddy and hard to follow (not much time is spent on character development, presuming the characters will all be familiar to you in an alternate-Disney-universe sort of way) and thus the film isn't as good as it could be. But all the actors and filmmakers make the best out of what they have, and the result is a genuinely creepy, and at some points disturbing (I challenge anyone to stay calm during the Lady's final confrontation with Lilliana) re-telling of a classic fairy tale. I highly recommend this movie as one to spring on one's friends, unaware ... in the dark.