Cult of the Cobra

1955

Action / Fantasy / Horror

8
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 23% · 2 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 23% · 100 ratings
IMDb Rating 5.8/10 10 1740 1.7K

new york city snake giant snake snake charmer revenge snake woman

Plot summary

While stationed in Asia, six American G.I.'s witness the secret ritual of Lamians (worshipers of women who can change into serpents). When discovered by the cult, the High Lamian Priest vows that "the Cobra Goddess will avenge herself". Once back in the United States, a mysterious woman enters into their lives and accidents begin to happen. The shadow of a cobra is seen just before each death.

Director

Francis D. Lyon Photo
Francis D. Lyon

Top cast

Richard Long Photo
Richard Long as Paul Able
John Roy Photo
John Roy as Stagehand
Jack Kelly Photo
Jack Kelly as Carl Turner
David Armstrong Photo
David Armstrong as Party Guest
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
734.81 MB
1280*682
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 20 min
Seeds ...
1.33 GB
1920*1024
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 20 min
Seeds 5

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Bernie4444 7 / 10

You must have Faith, Domergue that is.

I came across this movie by accident as part of a collection. Not reading any reviews ahead of time I was surprised to see so many well-known actors; then I realized this is 1955 and a lot of them were just starting.American G. I.s who trespass on a cult called Lamia.Lamia - a mythical monster, with the body of a woman or with the head and breasts of a woman and the body of a snake, said to prey on human beings and suck the blood of children.You know what happens next as they get cursed, and someone must pay.Great formula and suspense; we get to see the shadow of metamorphosis and sometimes even root for the misunderstood dispatcher.Trailer - "From halfway around the world she had come to make friends with five unsuspecting young men. And when she walked in the night, death followed swift and violent."
Reviewed by Bunuel1976 6 / 10

CULT OF THE COBRA (Francis D. Lyon, 1955) **1/2

On paper, this was arguably the least promising entry among Universal's second exclusive "Sci-Fi Collection" – but it turned out to be quite enjoyable in its unassumingly campy way, lying somewhere between the exotic fancy of Universal's earlier COBRA WOMAN (1944) and the cautionary Gothic of Hammer's THE REPTILE (1966). Director Lyon generally cut his teeth on a variety of Western oaters and, while not exactly inspired by the material at hand, elicits a very good performance from his leading lady Faith Domergue – a former protégée' of the legendary Howard Hughes. The story starts at the tail-end of WWII where six G.I. buddies, looking for some kicks before leaving Asia for home, attend a clandestine ceremony held by the titular sect where no reptiles are actually worshipped – instead we have a woman painted like one who comes out of a large vase and crawls around on the floor! Suspicious Richard Long, embittered (and incredulous) Marshall Thompson and a carefree David Janssen comprise half of the band of infidels who incite the wrath of the cultists by their irreverent presence (foolishly, one of them photo-graphs the ceremony, even if he had been repeatedly warned beforehand not to); needless to say, the proverbial curse is invoked on them by the High Priest which is subsequently enforced when they return to the United States. In quick succession, four of them get offed (including bowling alley owner Janssen who expires in a fairly spectacular car crash) after having a close encounter with a cobra; their demise coincides with Thompson's meeting with his sensuous but enigmatic neighbor Domergue. There are virtually no transformation scenes (or, rather, only in silhouette and via a quick dissolve to boot!) and we only get a good look at the large cobra during its last attack backstage in a theater, where it eventually receives its come-uppance by being pushed out a high window by Thompson (for whom the conflicted Domergue actually almost jeopardized her mission!)...and which is just as well, since there is no creature on earth that I loathe or fear more! Incidentally, I was somewhat bugged by the fact that when the dead snake inevitably regains human form, it is unaccountably dressed in the black gown Domergue wore prior to her demise!
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