Films like The Serpent and the Rainbow.

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) reads as Heavy, kinetic, extreme voodoo / zombie, inventive in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Bewitched (1981) poster
1. Bewitched1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Night of the Living Dead (1990) poster
2. Night of the Living Dead1990

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Candyman (1992) poster
3. Candyman1992

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Sweet Home (1989) poster
4. Sweet Home1989

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Aenigma (1987) poster
5. Aenigma1987

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Hex (1980) poster
6. Hex1980

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Corpse Mania (1981) poster
7. Corpse Mania1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Sect (1991) poster
8. The Sect1991

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Johnsons (1992) poster
9. The Johnsons1992

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Church (1989) poster
10. The Church1989

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Raat (1992) poster
11. Raat1992

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) poster
12. A Nightmare on Elm Street1984

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are The Serpent and the Rainbow’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →