The Serpent and the Rainbow
“Don't Bury Me...I'm Not Dead!”
A Harvard anthropologist is sent to Haiti to retrieve a strange powder that is said to have the power to bring human beings back from the dead. In his quest to find the miracle drug, the cynical scientist enters the rarely seen netherworld of walking zombies, blood rites and ancient curses. Based on the true life experiences of Wade Davis and filmed on location in Haiti, it's a frightening excursion into black magic and the supernatural.
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Cast
29 people
Bill Pullman
Dennis Alan
Known for
Independence Day
Spaceballs
Cathy Tyson
Marielle Duchamp
Known for
Criminal Record
Dune: Prophecy
Zakes Mokae
Dargent Peytraud
Known for
Outbreak
Waterworld
Paul Winfield
Lucien Celine
Known for
The Terminator
White Dog
Brent Jennings
Louis Mozart
Known for
Moneyball
Witness
Conrad Roberts
Christophe
Known for
The Scorpion King
A Wrinkle in Time
Badja Djola
Gaston
Known for
Mississippi Burning
The Hurricane
Theresa Merritt
Simone
Known for
Billy Madison
The Wiz
Michael Gough
Schoonbacher
Known for
Batman Returns
Corpse Bride
Paul Guilfoyle
Andrew Cassedy
Known for
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Air Force One
Dey Young
Mrs. Cassedy
Known for
Rock 'n' Roll High School
Flicka
Aleta Mitchell
Celestine
Known for
Valmont
No Mercy
Wes Craven Director · Richard Maxwell Screenplay Adam Rodman Screenplay
Worldwide gross $20M · Budget $11M · United States release February 5, 1988
Box office
Budget
$11,000,000
Worldwide gross
$19,595,031
Gross vs. budget
1.8×
Production
Universal Pictures
Production · Studio
United States · Haiti · Dominican Republic
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · French · Spanish
Release dates
United States · February 5, 1988
Theatrical
Australia
July 21, 1988 · Theatrical
Brazil
September 15, 1988 · Theatrical
Colombia
June 9, 1988 · Theatrical
Denmark
July 29, 1988 · Theatrical
Finland
June 10, 1988 · Theatrical
France
May 11, 1988 · Theatrical
September 6, 2017 · Physical
Germany
June 23, 1988 · Theatrical
Ireland
June 9, 1989 · Theatrical
Italy
September 1, 1988 · Theatrical
Japan
May 28, 1988 · Theatrical
Netherlands
May 26, 1988 · Theatrical
Philippines
October 9, 1990 · Theatrical · Davao
Portugal
January 13, 1989 · Theatrical
Russia
September 18, 2001 · Physical · Video Premiere
Spain
April 21, 1988 · Theatrical
Sweden
February 13, 2002 · Physical · DVD Premiere
Thailand
September 24, 1988 · Theatrical
Türkiye
October 19, 1990 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.