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.
90 Reviews
Dark Re-telling of a Classic Fairy-Tale
RobertF874 March 2005
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.
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.
More Realistic than the fairytale version
Shooshoo8029 June 2001
Warning: Spoilers
I like the fairy tale version of Snow white,but I always had a couple of questions about the story. (1)Why did the evil queen die so easily? (Lighting strikes the cliff and the queen falls to her death. Come on! I was a little kid when I read the story but give me some credit.) (2)Why did Snow White fall deeply in love with the prince? She barely knows him. (3) Why did the huntsman decide not to kill Snow White? I doubt that her kindness had an effect on his decision. These are couple of questions I always had pertaining to Snow White. The movie version of the tale, which I found out recently is closer to the original version, answers most my questions. The characters were more realistic. The movie was a good mix of realism and fantasy. The movie isn't really scary or gruesome, but it is supenseful and creepy. I liked the change of the dwarfs. I would of liked the movie to go into more detail about the relationship between the stepmother and Snow White. The twist with the love interest was good too. Also, Snow White in this movie has more heart than in the Disney version. If this movie had a little bigger budget, some good advertising, and people seriously backing it than it probably would of been in the theaters around the same time as "Ever After". More people need to take notice of Monica Keena (Snow White), more likely known from the show Dawson Creek and the made for T.V. movie First Daughter, she's one of the few good young actors out today. Gil Bellows was good in his part too. And Mrs. Weaver is excellent in her role as the evil stepmother. Everybody else in the movie was decent. For all the people who are expecting a gorefest with nudity, look elsewhere because this isn't the movie for you. The movie is based more on atmosphere and the humanization of the characters. The movie is a gothic fantasy film with a little bit of horror, romance, and suspense mixed together. I give the movie a 7/10.
Enjoyably dark telling of the fairy tale
bob the moo29 November 2002
Warning: Spoilers
On a trip home, Lord and Lady Hoffman's coach turns over and is attacked by wolves. Lady Hoffman gives birth to her child in the midst of death and Lord Hoffman brings her up alone. Years later Hoffman remarries to Claudia but his daughter Lilly and her fail to hit it off. Claudia blames Lilly for keeping the memory of his first wife alive and for the death of her own child at birth. She tries to kill her but she flees into the forest where she is taken in by a gang of miners. However Claudia uses magic under the guidance of her all seeing mirror to strike at Lilly again.
I wasn't sure if this film had ever even seen the inside of an UK cinema but I decided to give it a go anyway and I found it to be enjoyable even if it felt like a pantomime without the comedy dame and a really big budget. The plot was quite intriguing to one who has only ever know the cartoon version, but it is close enough to that tale to be instantly recognisable. The dark, adult edge to it adds in some ways but at times it feels like it's trying too hard to be nasty. The film isn't too long which helps it have a brisk pace about it and it tries to skip from one reasonable exciting scene to another.
What really makes it worth watching is Weaver giving a really good performance as Claudia. She portrays a human face gradually being led into worse deeds by the lies of her mirror. She avoids hamming it up and is very enjoyable to watch. Neill is very much on the sidelines but another familiar face doesn't hurt. Keena isn't quite up to the role for me. She is good but when the danger comes she is really only a scream and not a character. The miners (7 dwarves) hold a few faces in Bellows and Glover but really they are either monsters or wear their "good guy really" badges on their sleeves from the start.
Overall this darker version is worth watching just to see a tale closer to the original version rather than the cartoon from Disney. Some of it feels like it doesn't have a good plot (the action scenes after the middle tended to blur together for me) but it holds together pretty well. The main reason for watching is a strong central role for Weaver.
I wasn't sure if this film had ever even seen the inside of an UK cinema but I decided to give it a go anyway and I found it to be enjoyable even if it felt like a pantomime without the comedy dame and a really big budget. The plot was quite intriguing to one who has only ever know the cartoon version, but it is close enough to that tale to be instantly recognisable. The dark, adult edge to it adds in some ways but at times it feels like it's trying too hard to be nasty. The film isn't too long which helps it have a brisk pace about it and it tries to skip from one reasonable exciting scene to another.
What really makes it worth watching is Weaver giving a really good performance as Claudia. She portrays a human face gradually being led into worse deeds by the lies of her mirror. She avoids hamming it up and is very enjoyable to watch. Neill is very much on the sidelines but another familiar face doesn't hurt. Keena isn't quite up to the role for me. She is good but when the danger comes she is really only a scream and not a character. The miners (7 dwarves) hold a few faces in Bellows and Glover but really they are either monsters or wear their "good guy really" badges on their sleeves from the start.
Overall this darker version is worth watching just to see a tale closer to the original version rather than the cartoon from Disney. Some of it feels like it doesn't have a good plot (the action scenes after the middle tended to blur together for me) but it holds together pretty well. The main reason for watching is a strong central role for Weaver.
Interesting Gothic fairytale that should have focused more on its subversions
ThrownMuse5 May 2005
I hated this when it was initially released, but I really appreciated it this second time around. It is no Disney flick and not intended for children. From what I understand, it is based on the original source by the Grimm Brothers. While it is never particularly scary, the effects are great, and it is darkly atmospheric (especially the scenes outside of the castle and in the surrounding woods). Sigourney Weaver is excellent as the Wicked Stepmother (who, it is suggested, isn't inherently wicked but driven insane after a miscarriage). Monica Keena does a decent job as Lily, the Snow White figure who has never been beyond the castle, and knows nothing but her privileged upbringing. The "seven dwarfs" (only one is an actual "little person") are actually a group of miners trying to strike it rich and find a better life, and they aren't exactly cordial when the princess stumbles upon their abode. They are led by the unbelievably foxy Gil Bellows (who knew a castmember of Ally MacBeal could be...sexy?!). The story is ultimately a successful tale of looking beyond social class, but it would have benefited more from focusing on the eschewing of Prince Charming as well as showing what was going on inside of the stepmother's head. She is unfortunate but never a sympathetic character. My Rating: 7/10.
Despite the Stupid Name, A Great Movie
gavin694210 March 2007
A wealthy man (Sam Neill) remarries years after his first wife dies during childbirth. However, the new wife (Sigourney Weaver) despises her stepchild and the daughter (played by the lovely Monica Keena) is forced to flee into the woods where she befriends seven miners (not dwarfs). Will the stepmother get away with her wickedness? My friend Jason had been suggesting we watch this film for a while and I couldn't bring myself to do it. With the movie being based on Snow White and the silly cover photograph, this just didn't seem like a decent horror film. And I know Sam Neill makes some decent horror appearances, but Sigourney Weaver? Come on! Then when I saw Monica Keena was in it (who I know from "Dawson's Creek" but many horror fans will know her from "Freddy vs. Jason") I couldn't get the DVD in the slot fast enough.
This film comes from director Michael Cohn, whom I've never heard of and I suspect neither have you. And despite his relative obscurity (ten years later and I still haven't seen anything else he's done) he can weave a very well-visualized tale. The man has a knack for the realm of fantasy.
This really is the film's strength. We are treated to a land of fantasy with witches and magic mirrors, but there is no silliness about it. This is not a kid's tale like "Labrynth" or "The Dark Crystal", but something much more adult and terrifying. There is even a scene where -- dare I say it -- we get hints of rape.
All the acting is strong, which should come as no surprise. Keena is great, and Sam Neill really cannot do a bad job acting even if he wanted to as far as I can tell. The effects were fine, the music was alright, and there was a scene where a horse did a back-flip, which was pretty intense. Don't be discouraged like I was about the title, this is a horror film worth seeing and a nice change of pace from the usual modern-day fare.
This film comes from director Michael Cohn, whom I've never heard of and I suspect neither have you. And despite his relative obscurity (ten years later and I still haven't seen anything else he's done) he can weave a very well-visualized tale. The man has a knack for the realm of fantasy.
This really is the film's strength. We are treated to a land of fantasy with witches and magic mirrors, but there is no silliness about it. This is not a kid's tale like "Labrynth" or "The Dark Crystal", but something much more adult and terrifying. There is even a scene where -- dare I say it -- we get hints of rape.
All the acting is strong, which should come as no surprise. Keena is great, and Sam Neill really cannot do a bad job acting even if he wanted to as far as I can tell. The effects were fine, the music was alright, and there was a scene where a horse did a back-flip, which was pretty intense. Don't be discouraged like I was about the title, this is a horror film worth seeing and a nice change of pace from the usual modern-day fare.
At last!
Haplo-410 February 1999
This is a great movie for all fantasy-lovers. For the first time they have made a "Grimm-tale" that actually follows the original story. It is sad to admit that the Grimm-brothers destroyed most of the folk-lore of Germany when they collected them. One might wonder why they did it ( what they did is that they made the folk-lore into stories for children and eliminated all the original horror, darkness and pessimism and made them all to nice tales with happy endings). One must admit that Sigourny Weaver is perfect in her role as an angry stepmother, and Sam Neill is not bad himself. So to all I must recommend this movie.
The Snow White story with an overlay of "The Omen"...unappetizing, to say the least
moonspinner5526 August 2011
Sigourney Weaver appears to have a field-day playing the wicked stepmother of a beautiful princess who is aided by her magic mirror in dispensing with the pesky girl. Gothic rendering of the Grimm Brothers' tale of "Snow White" features wolves and dogs with glowing eyes, a fiancé for the fair maiden who is also ensnared in the stepmother's web, also a motley gang of excavators with bad teeth who suddenly find themselves saddled with the young woman (they have an unexpected change of heart towards her--and she to them--which seems to happen off-screen). Prominent among the miscreants is a lightly-bearded hunk with bedroom eyes (sure, why not!) who touches the princess with his sensitive soul and facial scar. Theatrical production debuted on cable-TV in the US; it isn't badly made, but one can see right away this never would have worked in theaters. The continuity is shabby, the cinematography is murky, and young actress Monica Keena is far too modern as Lilly. Weaver gives it a little kick, and her fiery send-off boasts showmanship if not style. *1/2 from ****
Very Good Horror/Fantasy Film That Deserves Wider Recognition
BrandtSponseller21 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This is a more horror-oriented version of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", in which Snow White, in this case named Lilliana, or "Lila" (Monica Keena), has to deal with a psycho stepmother, named Claudia Hoffman (Sigourney Weaver) here, and ends up living with the seven dwarfs, or in this case, one dwarf and seven "rogues of the forest".
Snow White as a horror tale sounds like a good deal, and for the most part, it is when it comes to this film. However, there were a couple flaws that brought down my score to an 8 out of 10, but overall, this is a very good movie, well worth watching.
Let's get the flaws out of the way first--there are only two. The first is that some of the performances can tend towards melodrama, especially since director Michael Cohn does his best to ensure that no humor enters the proceedings. It's a very slight flaw, however, and is barely enough to subtract a point. On the whole, the performances here are very good, especially Keena and Weaver, and they are the focus of the film.
The more serious flaw is that a number of important developments in the plot go unexplained. There may have been an assumption that the audience is so familiar with the source material that they would be able to figure out these leaps, but most of the audience will only be familiar with filmic versions of Snow White, especially the Disney version. Questions such as "How did she awaken? Why did she spit the apple out?" are most easily answered by those with a familiarity with the original Brothers Grimm story. However, that's probably not a huge percentage of the film's audience. Having to piece together some of the plot is enough to draw the viewer out of the film's world a bit, and in conjunction with the melodrama, was significant enough for me to subtract two points.
But this film does a huge number of things right. It's clear from the opening scene, where Lilliana's parents are on their way home, riding in a carriage through a menacing forest. Vicious wolves, perhaps looking for food, attack, and the carriage goes tumbling down a hill. Lilliana's mother, pregnant and close to giving birth, is fatally wounded, and her father, Friedrich Hoffman (Sam Neill, playing a character undoubtedly named after E.T.A. Hoffman, another famous 19th Century fantasy writer), at Lilliana's request, cuts the baby out to save it, thereby also killing the mother. Although this isn't graphically shown, we do see blood pouring down the snow, which is another reference to the Grimm text, and this leads to the titles.
That kind of horror material occurs throughout the film. Make no mistake, this is not your typical family fare. We have hints of incest, cannibalism, rape, shrines to dead babies that later come back to life, and so on. Horror fans who also love more straightforward fantasy, such as myself, will love it, and in a way, it is much more consistent with the tone of the typical Brothers Grimm story (although the script is as far removed from this particular tale as Disney's is). Anyone with a more "sensitive" constitution should probably avoid the film, or at least make sure that they don't begin watching with preconceptions of a live action version of Disney's film.
Despite its flaws, this is a gem of a horror film--horror is "dark fantasy" after all--and deserves to be more well known.
Snow White as a horror tale sounds like a good deal, and for the most part, it is when it comes to this film. However, there were a couple flaws that brought down my score to an 8 out of 10, but overall, this is a very good movie, well worth watching.
Let's get the flaws out of the way first--there are only two. The first is that some of the performances can tend towards melodrama, especially since director Michael Cohn does his best to ensure that no humor enters the proceedings. It's a very slight flaw, however, and is barely enough to subtract a point. On the whole, the performances here are very good, especially Keena and Weaver, and they are the focus of the film.
The more serious flaw is that a number of important developments in the plot go unexplained. There may have been an assumption that the audience is so familiar with the source material that they would be able to figure out these leaps, but most of the audience will only be familiar with filmic versions of Snow White, especially the Disney version. Questions such as "How did she awaken? Why did she spit the apple out?" are most easily answered by those with a familiarity with the original Brothers Grimm story. However, that's probably not a huge percentage of the film's audience. Having to piece together some of the plot is enough to draw the viewer out of the film's world a bit, and in conjunction with the melodrama, was significant enough for me to subtract two points.
But this film does a huge number of things right. It's clear from the opening scene, where Lilliana's parents are on their way home, riding in a carriage through a menacing forest. Vicious wolves, perhaps looking for food, attack, and the carriage goes tumbling down a hill. Lilliana's mother, pregnant and close to giving birth, is fatally wounded, and her father, Friedrich Hoffman (Sam Neill, playing a character undoubtedly named after E.T.A. Hoffman, another famous 19th Century fantasy writer), at Lilliana's request, cuts the baby out to save it, thereby also killing the mother. Although this isn't graphically shown, we do see blood pouring down the snow, which is another reference to the Grimm text, and this leads to the titles.
That kind of horror material occurs throughout the film. Make no mistake, this is not your typical family fare. We have hints of incest, cannibalism, rape, shrines to dead babies that later come back to life, and so on. Horror fans who also love more straightforward fantasy, such as myself, will love it, and in a way, it is much more consistent with the tone of the typical Brothers Grimm story (although the script is as far removed from this particular tale as Disney's is). Anyone with a more "sensitive" constitution should probably avoid the film, or at least make sure that they don't begin watching with preconceptions of a live action version of Disney's film.
Despite its flaws, this is a gem of a horror film--horror is "dark fantasy" after all--and deserves to be more well known.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the grimmest one of all?
Hey_Sweden13 October 2016
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.
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.
OK adult Gothic retelling of the classic fairy tale.
poolandrews5 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Snow White: A Tale of Terror begins in a thick snow covered forest. A horse drawn carriage speeds along narrow mud paths. The coach crashes and rolls down a steep embankment. The horses and the driver are attacked and killed by wolves as passenger Friedrich Hoffman (Sam Neill) attends to his badly injured and pregnant wife Lilliana (Joanna Roth). Lilliana begs Freidrich to save their baby and hands him a knife. Friedrich takes it and soon after the snow is reddened with Lilliana's blood. Several years later. Friedrich has a young daughter who he named Lilliana (Taryn Davis) after his late wife, and is about to marry Claudia (Sigourney Weaver). Lilliana, called Lilli for short, takes an instant dislike to Claudia. Friedrich and Claudia marry regardless. Nine years later and Claudia is pregnant with her's and Friedrich's first child. Lilli (Monica Keena), now a beautiful young woman, still dislikes Claudia and has a boyfriend named Peter Gutenberg (David Conrad) who happens to be a Doctor. Claudia and Friedrich's son is still born and Claudia will be unable to conceive another child. After some guidance, comfort and influence from her magical mirror Claudia sees Lilli as an enemy and tells her mute brother Gustav (Miroslav Taborsky) to kill her. Gustav attacks Lilli in the forest but loses her. Lilli becomes lost but discovers an abandoned Church and a group of roughneck miners including future prince charming Will (Gil Bellows), whom she befriends. Claudia eventually finds out that Lilli is still alive and begins to use evil spells to finish the job. Claudia manipulates Friedrich and isolates him, gets rid of all the servants and begins to exert her evil over the castle. Eventually Lilli decides she must seek her Father out and put an end to her wicked step mothers ways. Directed by Micheal Cohn, based on the Grimm Brother's fairy tale, I thought this was a reasonable film that was neither brilliant or particularly bad. The script by Thomas Szollosi and Debrah Serra is simply too slow at times. This needed to be paced a little better and have a few more things going on to maintain the viewers interest, it's over half an hour of somewhat dull character development before Claudia starts to talk to her magical mirror and becomes the wicked step mother proper, for instance. Szollosi & Serra keep well know elements from the story intact, magical mirrors, apples, miners and the wicked step mother. Shot on location in various castles in the Czech Republic and the Czech countryside itself the photography by Mike Southon captures the scenery very well and overall this is a gorgeous looking film. The period costumes are also impressive and as a whole the film has good production values throughout, Snow White: A Tale of Terror also features the coolest glass multi-coloured coffin I've ever seen that probably wouldn't look out of place in an art show. There isn't much blood or gore, but there is a cut out heart and another couple of dark moments. Acting is variable, Weaver is great, Neill is given virtually nothing to do and doesn't seem that interested, Keena is OK as Lilli but everyone else is forgettable & don't really stand out. The name Snow White is not mentioned once during the film, which may or may not be strange to you as I admit that it was to me. Generally speaking it's a good film overall but it was just to sedate & slow to get my blood pumping that much and I don't think I would be in any hurry to see it again, in fact I'll probably have forgotten about it by next week. Certainly worth a watch, but nothing that's going to knock your socks off.
Superb adaptation of soapy tale
Johnny B7 May 1999
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.
Much more 'Fantasy' than 'Horror'...
hotlurvemachine20 February 2002
I had high hopes for this film, but could not help but feel rather disappointed having seen it for the first time...
I was expecting to see a gothic-horror version of the traditional kiddies story tale, but instead this film seems to be more of an attempt to re-tell the tale in a more realistic and believable way by filling it with lots of (more) historically accurate details. For example -: the 'drawfs' are now a cross between outlaws from Sherwood Forest and the Dirty Dozen. One of them even pounces upon the unsuspecting Snow White at the first chance he gets !
The (unfamiliar) actress playing 'Snow White' struck me as being very pretty, but she seemed rather wooden in most of her scenes.
Sigorney Weaver was surprising good as the 'wicked witch', however.
This was not one of Sam Neill's better films. He usually strikes me as having quite a strong screen presence, but in this film he just seems to be just 'going through the motions' of acting.
Visually and atmospherically speaking - this film is pretty good. But the background/incidental music was very lackluster. A gothic-sounding orchestral musical score would have improved this film considerably.
Probably due to a limited budget and an unadventurous director, the 'special effects' aren't particularly special either, though they can best be described as 'adequate'.
If you have a passion for traditional fantasy films though (as opposed to gothic horror) then this film could be for you. But for someone with a fondness of horror and gothic horror (such as myself), then I'd give this one a miss.
Overall, I give this movie 6/10. It could have been much better - and a lot more scary !
I was expecting to see a gothic-horror version of the traditional kiddies story tale, but instead this film seems to be more of an attempt to re-tell the tale in a more realistic and believable way by filling it with lots of (more) historically accurate details. For example -: the 'drawfs' are now a cross between outlaws from Sherwood Forest and the Dirty Dozen. One of them even pounces upon the unsuspecting Snow White at the first chance he gets !
The (unfamiliar) actress playing 'Snow White' struck me as being very pretty, but she seemed rather wooden in most of her scenes.
Sigorney Weaver was surprising good as the 'wicked witch', however.
This was not one of Sam Neill's better films. He usually strikes me as having quite a strong screen presence, but in this film he just seems to be just 'going through the motions' of acting.
Visually and atmospherically speaking - this film is pretty good. But the background/incidental music was very lackluster. A gothic-sounding orchestral musical score would have improved this film considerably.
Probably due to a limited budget and an unadventurous director, the 'special effects' aren't particularly special either, though they can best be described as 'adequate'.
If you have a passion for traditional fantasy films though (as opposed to gothic horror) then this film could be for you. But for someone with a fondness of horror and gothic horror (such as myself), then I'd give this one a miss.
Overall, I give this movie 6/10. It could have been much better - and a lot more scary !
Fabulous Sigourney, confusing setting
princedelapau1 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, I'm a fan of Sigourney Weaver, but even putting that prejudice aside and examining the film critically, I can honestly say that it was only her performance that saved this film.
Snow White (Lilly) was frankly an annoying, wooden, two-dimensional character and I found myself genuinely hoping that Claudia (Sigourney Weaver) would succeed in destroying her.
In fact, the only character really drawn with any care and attention is that of Claudia. I found myself believing that she'd been driven mad and to murder purely through the unpleasant behaviour of Lilly and therefore found her character to be realistic, sympathetic and attractive. All the other characters were ciphers: Sam Neil, who plays Lord Hoffman, barely had a role at all in the film; although it was a starring part, he played it very much like a tired cameo role in a B-movie.
The film is apparently set at the time of the Crusades, but there were a terrible number of gaffes:
Costumes ranged from 14th to 16th century and even early 17th century, whilst the furniture ranged mainly from 15th to 18th century.
Mention was made of a globe showing the countries of the world, something impossible at a time when the flat-earth theory was firmly established science.
Lilly somehow managed to pick an apple from an obvious oak tree near her mother's grave - and it was the ONLY apple visible - which made the entire scene rather forced and unnecessary.
When Claudia told Dr. Guttenberg about the "disease" afflicting the servants, he said "The Black Death!", something which took place quite a while after the Crusades had been forgotten.
Nevertheless, the film on the whole is fairly well-crafted, although very uneven in places. The castles and ruins used as backdrops were good choices, although not quite appropriate to the Crusades period, but that's probably just me being pedantic.
I think that the true horror could have been wound up a few notches, since the film has an R rating anyway and is definitely not suitable for children. Otherwise, I found it an extremely entertaining film with plenty to engross one's attention.
Snow White (Lilly) was frankly an annoying, wooden, two-dimensional character and I found myself genuinely hoping that Claudia (Sigourney Weaver) would succeed in destroying her.
In fact, the only character really drawn with any care and attention is that of Claudia. I found myself believing that she'd been driven mad and to murder purely through the unpleasant behaviour of Lilly and therefore found her character to be realistic, sympathetic and attractive. All the other characters were ciphers: Sam Neil, who plays Lord Hoffman, barely had a role at all in the film; although it was a starring part, he played it very much like a tired cameo role in a B-movie.
The film is apparently set at the time of the Crusades, but there were a terrible number of gaffes:
Costumes ranged from 14th to 16th century and even early 17th century, whilst the furniture ranged mainly from 15th to 18th century.
Mention was made of a globe showing the countries of the world, something impossible at a time when the flat-earth theory was firmly established science.
Lilly somehow managed to pick an apple from an obvious oak tree near her mother's grave - and it was the ONLY apple visible - which made the entire scene rather forced and unnecessary.
When Claudia told Dr. Guttenberg about the "disease" afflicting the servants, he said "The Black Death!", something which took place quite a while after the Crusades had been forgotten.
Nevertheless, the film on the whole is fairly well-crafted, although very uneven in places. The castles and ruins used as backdrops were good choices, although not quite appropriate to the Crusades period, but that's probably just me being pedantic.
I think that the true horror could have been wound up a few notches, since the film has an R rating anyway and is definitely not suitable for children. Otherwise, I found it an extremely entertaining film with plenty to engross one's attention.
Flawed, but still excellent
acesis0425 July 2004
When I picked this up, I wasn't sure I wanted to see it. I thought it looked kind of interesting, and I guess for five bucks in Wal-Mart, why not? I tend to like bad B movies, so what's the harm?
And despite my initial misgivings, I thought it was excellent.
The story wavered from the Grimm's version, but that's part of what makes it original. The portrayal of the era wasn't perfect, but then that didn't hurt the story much either. I thought the acting was done pretty well, especially Sigourney Weaver. She worked well with a character that was pretty weirdly written. I loved her as the old woman in the forest and in the final scene. Very eerie. Very cool.
The scenes with Lilliana and the dwarfs were a bit choppy in parts--first Will threatened her, then he saved her, then he yelled at her, then...yadda yadda yadda--but Monica Keena played the sheltered damsel well and Gil Bellows was good at the whole "tortured but sincere" act. I was definitely left imagining what the screenwriters should have put in the holes, but all in all I thought that storyline was sweet.
Definitely not a movie for children, but then the title and rating suggest so. Again, some of the story needed to be filled out and explained more, but in total, I loved it. Creepy and cool and fun.
And despite my initial misgivings, I thought it was excellent.
The story wavered from the Grimm's version, but that's part of what makes it original. The portrayal of the era wasn't perfect, but then that didn't hurt the story much either. I thought the acting was done pretty well, especially Sigourney Weaver. She worked well with a character that was pretty weirdly written. I loved her as the old woman in the forest and in the final scene. Very eerie. Very cool.
The scenes with Lilliana and the dwarfs were a bit choppy in parts--first Will threatened her, then he saved her, then he yelled at her, then...yadda yadda yadda--but Monica Keena played the sheltered damsel well and Gil Bellows was good at the whole "tortured but sincere" act. I was definitely left imagining what the screenwriters should have put in the holes, but all in all I thought that storyline was sweet.
Definitely not a movie for children, but then the title and rating suggest so. Again, some of the story needed to be filled out and explained more, but in total, I loved it. Creepy and cool and fun.
Angela Carter and Jack Zipes would be proud...
Musidora9 March 2002
I'm finding that I frequently read comments here at IMDB for the same reason that I watch moments of trash or extremist religious television: just to rile myself and feel dizzy as my blood pressure rises. That's just how I react to idiocy, and when I read idiotic, IMDB comments, I not only rile myself and feel dizzy, but I fear for the well being of the world.
Granted, SNOW WHITE is not perfect; however, it is simultaneously faithful to the original Grimm story and a true original in terms of films that take a revisionist approach to conveying fairy tale narratives and motifs. I'd venture to guess that the people behind this film wouldn't bat an eyelash at the mention of Angela Carter's name, and are familiar with her short story collection, THE BLOODY CHAMBER. Also, by the way motifs and semiotics function in the mise-en-scene--the serpent in the trees and the moon over the forest--I'd bet that they studied Neil Jordan's THE COMPANY OF WOLVES, the film adaptation of Carter's Red Riding Hood revisions.
Let's get the three cardinal sins of the film out of the way first and swiftly: Sam Neil and a few other minor actors are not compelling; for all the attention to period (14th century?) and fairy-tale, Gothic detail, no attention seems to have been given to diction and dialects--in fact, one of the "dwarves" actually sounds like he is from the Bronx; and the direction is erratic with frequently obvious and cliché juxtapositions of images teaming with a certain awkwardness that creates a sometimes slow and slightly confusing first half.
Now, on to the three cardinal virtues of the film: Sigourney Weaver's interpretation of Claudia Hoffmann, the "evil queen" of the film, is grand, like an exceptional red wine breathing and progressing from a certain reserve to a full-blown expression of its true, deeper flavor. The final third of the film is delirious in its terrors and perversions with Weaver at the center of it all as a veritable and displaced Erzsebet Batori, the famous "Blood Countess" of 16th/17th c. Hungary.
The second virtue regards the producers' and director's respect for the source material. Certainly, the film is by no means slavish to the Grimms; but enough elements have been retained from the original tale to make this a thinking person's film and a relief for those who remember all too well the bit of poison apple left on Snow White's tongue and the wicked queen dancing in red hot, iron shoes (she doesn't exactly dance in iron shoes but, boy, does she do a hot dance!).
The third virtue is something of the inverse of one of the film's cardinal sins: the direction is erratic, though, in the second half of the film, all Hell, fury, pathology, and sex-death breaks loose in a torrent of fantastic, poetic, and ravishing images. Think of a blood drenched VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS meeting THE COMPANY OF WOLVES with a dash of Dreyer's VAMPYRE and the old Melusine legend thrown in and you'll be on the right track...sort of.
The images I most appreciate and will remember are those depicting Lilianne's ominous birth; the cabinet of fairies with its dreadful mirror; the little bird in the hour glass and the mine disaster; the horned goddess crone and her apples; the toppled statues and falling trees; the homunculus hand at a weird mother's breast; the dream in the coma; the stained-glass coffin; the "sleeping" castle of enchanted retainers referencing the charmed demesne of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY; the Janus-headed crucifix; the knive in the bleeding glass; and the evil's last, shard studded, harrowing death dance.
So pay no attention to those comments that read something like, "I was so bored...you call this a horror film?...like, uh, yeah, there's no plot...Like, oh-my-God! She meets this prince and falls happily in love. How stupid do you think I am? Like, oh-my-God!...Cheesy special effects, I mean, couldn't they afford computers?" You know which ones I'm talking about. Instead, let me get riled and rant for you. My blood pressure's used to it by now.
Granted, SNOW WHITE is not perfect; however, it is simultaneously faithful to the original Grimm story and a true original in terms of films that take a revisionist approach to conveying fairy tale narratives and motifs. I'd venture to guess that the people behind this film wouldn't bat an eyelash at the mention of Angela Carter's name, and are familiar with her short story collection, THE BLOODY CHAMBER. Also, by the way motifs and semiotics function in the mise-en-scene--the serpent in the trees and the moon over the forest--I'd bet that they studied Neil Jordan's THE COMPANY OF WOLVES, the film adaptation of Carter's Red Riding Hood revisions.
Let's get the three cardinal sins of the film out of the way first and swiftly: Sam Neil and a few other minor actors are not compelling; for all the attention to period (14th century?) and fairy-tale, Gothic detail, no attention seems to have been given to diction and dialects--in fact, one of the "dwarves" actually sounds like he is from the Bronx; and the direction is erratic with frequently obvious and cliché juxtapositions of images teaming with a certain awkwardness that creates a sometimes slow and slightly confusing first half.
Now, on to the three cardinal virtues of the film: Sigourney Weaver's interpretation of Claudia Hoffmann, the "evil queen" of the film, is grand, like an exceptional red wine breathing and progressing from a certain reserve to a full-blown expression of its true, deeper flavor. The final third of the film is delirious in its terrors and perversions with Weaver at the center of it all as a veritable and displaced Erzsebet Batori, the famous "Blood Countess" of 16th/17th c. Hungary.
The second virtue regards the producers' and director's respect for the source material. Certainly, the film is by no means slavish to the Grimms; but enough elements have been retained from the original tale to make this a thinking person's film and a relief for those who remember all too well the bit of poison apple left on Snow White's tongue and the wicked queen dancing in red hot, iron shoes (she doesn't exactly dance in iron shoes but, boy, does she do a hot dance!).
The third virtue is something of the inverse of one of the film's cardinal sins: the direction is erratic, though, in the second half of the film, all Hell, fury, pathology, and sex-death breaks loose in a torrent of fantastic, poetic, and ravishing images. Think of a blood drenched VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS meeting THE COMPANY OF WOLVES with a dash of Dreyer's VAMPYRE and the old Melusine legend thrown in and you'll be on the right track...sort of.
The images I most appreciate and will remember are those depicting Lilianne's ominous birth; the cabinet of fairies with its dreadful mirror; the little bird in the hour glass and the mine disaster; the horned goddess crone and her apples; the toppled statues and falling trees; the homunculus hand at a weird mother's breast; the dream in the coma; the stained-glass coffin; the "sleeping" castle of enchanted retainers referencing the charmed demesne of THE SLEEPING BEAUTY; the Janus-headed crucifix; the knive in the bleeding glass; and the evil's last, shard studded, harrowing death dance.
So pay no attention to those comments that read something like, "I was so bored...you call this a horror film?...like, uh, yeah, there's no plot...Like, oh-my-God! She meets this prince and falls happily in love. How stupid do you think I am? Like, oh-my-God!...Cheesy special effects, I mean, couldn't they afford computers?" You know which ones I'm talking about. Instead, let me get riled and rant for you. My blood pressure's used to it by now.
Neither grounded, nor "Terror"-fying
jp-aventurier8 January 2012
"Snow White: A Tale of Terror" is a ship that never manages to find its current. Neither a grounded, realistic re-telling (a la "Ever After"), nor a full-blown faerie story; neither an adventure/drama, nor a horror flick. The plot unrolls like an old tapestry, with all the same familiar plot points decorated with historical and psychological additions.
The "evil step-mother" (Sigourney Weaver) is very much our main character; easily contrasted against a pugnacious Snow White. Weaver is gorgeous and has perfect poise in this role; being naturally more an Athena than an Aphrodite.
There are some truly gory moments, some great costumes, and we see more of how an ambitious lady can become an evil "witch". However, the story moves too quickly, relying on our already knowing the story, and only Sigourney Weavers performance makes this worth watching. I absolutely recommend drinking for this one.
The "evil step-mother" (Sigourney Weaver) is very much our main character; easily contrasted against a pugnacious Snow White. Weaver is gorgeous and has perfect poise in this role; being naturally more an Athena than an Aphrodite.
There are some truly gory moments, some great costumes, and we see more of how an ambitious lady can become an evil "witch". However, the story moves too quickly, relying on our already knowing the story, and only Sigourney Weavers performance makes this worth watching. I absolutely recommend drinking for this one.
This movie isn't perfect but Is definitely worth watching based on the combination of cast and plot
kevin_robbins5 January 2022
Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997) is a currently available on Tubi. The storyline follows a king whose wife dies during the child birth of his daughter. He remarries a woman obsessed with her beauty and power. She speaks to a magic mirror and discovers the only way to power is to rid the kingdom of her stepdaughter. She tries to kill her stepdaughter who flees into the woods and into the home of some poor miners who are happy to help her. The queen will have to go to extreme measures to find her stepdaughter and finish the deed...
This movie is directed by Michael Cohn (Interceptor) and stars Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), David Conrad (Wedding Crashers), Monica Keena (Freddy vs Jason), Brian Glover (Aliens 3) and Gil Bellows (The Shawshank Redemption).
The cast in this is absolutely awesome and are fun to watch in this familiar fairytale. I enjoyed the storyline weaving in the feel of the rich vs the poor during the religious crusades (a little like Robinhood). The settings, attire and makeup were great. They did a great job of turning Weaver into both the Witch and The Temptress. I'll never forget Weaver's teeth in this. There's an amazing kill scene with a candle in this that's a must see also.
Overall this movie isn't perfect but Is definitely worth watching based on the combination of cast and plot. I would score this a 6.5-7/10 and recommend seeing once.
This movie is directed by Michael Cohn (Interceptor) and stars Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), David Conrad (Wedding Crashers), Monica Keena (Freddy vs Jason), Brian Glover (Aliens 3) and Gil Bellows (The Shawshank Redemption).
The cast in this is absolutely awesome and are fun to watch in this familiar fairytale. I enjoyed the storyline weaving in the feel of the rich vs the poor during the religious crusades (a little like Robinhood). The settings, attire and makeup were great. They did a great job of turning Weaver into both the Witch and The Temptress. I'll never forget Weaver's teeth in this. There's an amazing kill scene with a candle in this that's a must see also.
Overall this movie isn't perfect but Is definitely worth watching based on the combination of cast and plot. I would score this a 6.5-7/10 and recommend seeing once.
SNOW WHITE : A TALE OF TERROR (DIDIER BECU)
Didier-Becu8 November 2003
Can't remember why (perhaps a strange childhood) but the first cartoon I saw in life with the company of my grandmother was Disney's "Snow white" and it scared the hell out of me, 30 years later I see the so-called horrorversion I was just wishing to see my pillow as I was falling asleep. Indeed this is not the story as we used to know but we are into the middle of a B-movie in the worst sense of the word. The sole "highlights" are the performances from both Sigourney Weaver (just don't ask me why such a good actress makes movies like these) and the rather charming Taryn Davis who plays Snow White as a child. It's more about the bad queen rather than the romantic Snowy White (there are 7 workers, not 7 gnomes...) and director Michael Cohn who never made something decent brings on some decors that are straight out of out televisionmovies no one wants to see... Bad performances, a script that sucks and the question is just : for whom is this made??? Not for kids (unless you wanna let your kid see how a human heart is eaten) and not for adults (therefore the cheap tricks are just too much like some very bad Jim Henson-movie). A real fiasco this movie....
A Pleasant Halloween Surprise!
WolfDad1 November 1999
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.
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.
Meh
chase-bunny12 January 2013
had i have known that half of this was that troll-bitch sigourney weaver masturbating i probably would've selected other *coughs* material 'cause honestly I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I CAN EVER GET IT UP AGAIN.
i mean, the little girl is hot, i'd snuggle her face off any day the week, and the older little girl reminds me of that girl i bunny'd in high school bu's that wretched crone slut wot acts like she can act but certainly can't and i finks this proofs that it's not just that shitty director cos i mean the alien movies yeah they's okay she's like a strong female woman in that she looks like a man & i don't expect it stops below the belt like does she even have any tits?
i mean, the little girl is hot, i'd snuggle her face off any day the week, and the older little girl reminds me of that girl i bunny'd in high school bu's that wretched crone slut wot acts like she can act but certainly can't and i finks this proofs that it's not just that shitty director cos i mean the alien movies yeah they's okay she's like a strong female woman in that she looks like a man & i don't expect it stops below the belt like does she even have any tits?
A mediocre dark take
daniel-mannouch10 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
An early example of a Hollywood gritty fairytale as well as being illustrative of the identity crisis of 90s cinema, A Tale of Terror tries to add realistic touches to Snow White, but also attempts to be an overtly baroque adaption. The result for me was something very underwhelming.
The cinematography is bland, which probably played into why this film didn't secure a theatrical release. For a Sigourney Weaver vehicle in the 90s, this film feels very small. The performances are not bad really, and the screenplay has it's odd moments of charm, however there is something lacking here. I don't know why, but i was expecting more. More of a spectacle, more tighter a narrative, more scenes of Weaver going insane, which I thought were the best moments of the film. But, overall the film feels average. Apart from a barnstorming finale, none of the film feels truly cinematic and I'm left struggling to remember any of it.
The cinematography is bland, which probably played into why this film didn't secure a theatrical release. For a Sigourney Weaver vehicle in the 90s, this film feels very small. The performances are not bad really, and the screenplay has it's odd moments of charm, however there is something lacking here. I don't know why, but i was expecting more. More of a spectacle, more tighter a narrative, more scenes of Weaver going insane, which I thought were the best moments of the film. But, overall the film feels average. Apart from a barnstorming finale, none of the film feels truly cinematic and I'm left struggling to remember any of it.
A fun and gripping tale of terror without all the gore
blhenkle24 October 2005
We stumbled on this movie by chance and have now seen it at least three times. This is a must see, and see again, and again, and again... From the opening scene, the movie pulls you in and keeps you hooked until the end. This is definitely not a movie for kids. All the basic elements of the classic "Snow White" tale are in place, but with a twist that sets them slightly within the realm of possibility. There are no cute bearded dwarfs here, and it's just not as simple as an evil witch versus an innocent girl. Sigourney Weaver as Claudia Hoffman is entirely too scary for words, while Monica Keena as Lili is a sweet but strong Snow White. Gil Bellows is highly satisfying as Will, an intense forest rogue with more to him than meets the eye. A very satisfying movie all around.
Grimmer than Grimm
Meeyum27 August 1998
This version of Snow White would astonish the Grimm Brothers. It is considerably grimmer than their version. Superb special effects, costumes, make-up, cinematography, and acting make this film well worth watching, but be prepared; it *is* a horror flick!
A Great Disappointment
sbox17 November 1998
Warning: Spoilers
Despite the worthy talents of Ms. Weaver and company, this film fails to ever develop. The viewer, at the end of this anti-climatic movie is left wondering, "who cares?" This is due to the utter lack of character development.
The loathesome queen is clearly the most intriguing character. However, we never really learn what makes her tick. I was left wondering whether she was simply evil for evil's sake, or was this some sort of allegory for female hysteria?
Snow White a/k/a Lilliana garners little sympathy from this viewer. Puppy dog eyes, and open mouthed innocence only goes so far. In this film, the distance traveled barely gets past the starting gate.
As for the other characters in the film, they are totally under-developed. The good doctor, whom I presume to be Prince Charming, is flung out of a castle window near the end of the film. To be sure, his death had little impact.
The forest people who save Snow White to begin with are only lightly brushed over. Moreover, many of them are conveniently killed off by the evil queen who is trying to do in her daughter in law. It never really occurs to the nonconformist woodsmen that their trouble stems with harbouring Snow White.
It has been said of this film that it is the real story of Snow White. Maybe so. But I can tell you this. The shoddy portrayal of this story makes it cornier than the Disney version.
The loathesome queen is clearly the most intriguing character. However, we never really learn what makes her tick. I was left wondering whether she was simply evil for evil's sake, or was this some sort of allegory for female hysteria?
Snow White a/k/a Lilliana garners little sympathy from this viewer. Puppy dog eyes, and open mouthed innocence only goes so far. In this film, the distance traveled barely gets past the starting gate.
As for the other characters in the film, they are totally under-developed. The good doctor, whom I presume to be Prince Charming, is flung out of a castle window near the end of the film. To be sure, his death had little impact.
The forest people who save Snow White to begin with are only lightly brushed over. Moreover, many of them are conveniently killed off by the evil queen who is trying to do in her daughter in law. It never really occurs to the nonconformist woodsmen that their trouble stems with harbouring Snow White.
It has been said of this film that it is the real story of Snow White. Maybe so. But I can tell you this. The shoddy portrayal of this story makes it cornier than the Disney version.
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