first because he was always testing you all the time. Difficult but not as difficult as Klaus Kinski. Because Oliver actually had a sense of humour. I was rather fond of him; he could be tricky but he was quite warm really. He just played games and was rather macho and so on. Klaus Kinski was very cold. The main problem with the film was that the two didn’t get on and they fought like cats. Kinski of course is a fabulous film actor and he’s good in the part, the part suits him very well. They were both well cast but it was a very unhappy film. I think Klaus was the problem but then Oliver spent half the movie just trying to rub him up, pulling his leg all the way. There were shouting matches because Oliver just wouldn’t let up. None of this is about art. All the things that you’re trying to concentrate on tend to slip. So it was not a happy period. Release The film was released theatrically in the United States by Paramount Pictures on 29 January 1982. It grossed $5,229,643 at the box office. The film was released on special edition DVD by Blue Underground on 29 July 2003. It features audio commentary by Haggard. Critical reception On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 43% based on 7 reviews with an average rating of 4.8/10. Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote, "If Venom doesn't turn out to be the silliest film of 1982, it's a good bet that it will land within a hoot and a holler of that distinction." See also List of killer snake films References External links 1981 films 1981 horror films 1980s horror thriller films British natural horror films British horror thriller films 1980s English-language films Films about hostage takings Films about snakes Films based on South African novels Films directed by Piers Haggard Films produced by Martin Bregman Films scored by Michael Kamen Films set in London Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios Films shot in London HandMade Films films Paramount Pictures films 1980s British films