I love this movie so much

The Age of Commercialism

Please don't spend money on this.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I saw this on regular TV in the 80s, and then recently saw it on one of the cable channels uncut. This is one of those 70s horror films that came out that experimented with the way out genre. I think if there was some idea to experiment with mixing this with that kinda thing, they tried it and made a movie out of it in the 70s with small budgets. Come on, it's too much to take seriously - but for some, it can be scary because of the theme of snakes and especially towards the end.Strother Martin plays the 'mad scientist' that has lost his mind in his ambition to make people into snakes. He gets a new research assistant after the other one 'goes missing', played by Dirk Benedict and proceeds to turn him into a snake. The 'mad scientist's' daughter, played by Heather Menzies, falls in love with the new research assistant, of course.The thing about these low-budget 70s movies is that they do not have a happy ending. This one doesn't either. The town seems to be populated with people who are very dense, and films like this defy folks realizing the worst is happening until the worst has happened. And the police? Always arriving at the last minute--unable to 'save the day' but scratch their heads and wonder what has been going on right under their noses. So yeah, this film is formulaic in that sense. It could be a thrill for those who like all kinds of snakes, as this film shows them. I'm not a lover of snakes, however, I could not help but cheer for the Cobra near the end, and feel really, really bad for the mongoose.The acting is 70s overacting - and you find yourself thinking how different this film would have been with more money and a script where people would have at least a gun or garden hoe to save themselves - but that's how these films went. Not very bad, but not very good either, looks more like a 70s movie of the week instead of a 70s feature film, but its just enough to keep some interest and a good entry for those reviewing the 70s history of inexpensive, "what were they thinking' horror films. Don't take it too seriously.

Just saw this on Me-TV. This isn't a snake; it's a damn dog. Boring as hell with zero payoff. The doctor has some random (completely ridiculous) idea that snakes will somehow survive in the future when humans won't or something like that. Well, being cold-blooded, snakes would be lost in the cold so there's one of many evolutionary advantages we have. That we have limbs, vastly superior hearing and the power to reason are just other reasons why snakes being evolutionary darlings over us is moronic. That neither Dirk (poor Dirk) or the girl wouldn't have a clue all those shots were causing trouble (or even necessary) is dumbfounding. Then the doctor dies, not by getting bit by Dirk, but by getting cocky and getting bit by a cobra! He's just talking to a snake, as usual, and, oops, gets bit and dies. Oh, and there's the thing with the python killing and eating that guy even though the snake is way too small and the guy way too big to be realistic. They even had a doll shoe sticking out of the snake's mouth to make it look like he'd been eaten.

A well executed 1970s update of mad scientist type stories, "Sssssss" is good, solid horror from the mind of story author Daniel C. Striepeke. It definitely has the appeal of classic schlock, right down to that goofy title, but it's made with skill, with Bernard L. Kowalski ("Attack of the Giant Leeches") in the directors' chair. The performances are excellent, as is the convincing makeup devised by John Chambers (the "Planet of the Apes" series), Nick Marcellino, and Mr. Striepeke.Once again, the great screen character actor Strother Martin is pleasing to watch, in the role of Dr. Carl Stoner, our crazed protagonist. Carl, a noted snake expert, runs a laboratory with his daughter Kristina (Heather Menzies-Urich, "Piranha" '78), and he currently needs another assistant. So he procures the services of college student David (Dirk Benedict, 'The A-Team'). Unfortunately, poor David has just been selected to not really be an assistant, but a new guinea pig for Carls' insane, hideous experiments.Ordinarily, one wouldn't root for a character as twisted as Carl, but Martin is just such an engaging actor that you can't bring yourself to completely hate him. The hunky Benedict and the cute Menzies-Urich are similarly likable, which makes the ultimate transformation all the more horrific. Richard B. Shull, Tim O'Connor, and Jack Ging give solid supporting performances, and veteran B movie stud Reb Brown amuses in his debut film role as bullying, egotistical jock (is there any other kind in movies?) Steve Randall.There are a number of fine scenes, but one highlight for sure is when Kristina lays eyes on the "snake boy" in a carnival and makes a stunned realization.A worthy viewing for horror buffs.Eight out of 10.

Demented herpetologist Dr Carl Stoner (Martin) develops a serum capable of transforming human beings into King Cobras, whilst ostensibly conducting neurotoxin research for the local university. With his research grant under threat from rival academic nemesis (Shull), Dr. Stoner must take matters into his own hands to secure the birth of his penultimate mutation – arousing the suspicions of his somewhat bookish daughter (Menzies) who has fallen for his unfortunate intern cum guinea pig.Taut little shocker succeeds with marvellous make-up effects (courtesy of John Chambers), convincing action sequences, and, particularly good characterisations from the versatile cast. Martin is superb as the reclusive, brilliant but ultimately disturbed scientist, spellbound by his King Cobra's majestic superiority, and possessed to find the formula to transform man into snake. Benedict (future "Battlestar Gallactica" and "The A-Team" star) is also good as his ill-fated assistant, while veterans Jack Ging and Richard B.Shull provide contrasting characterisations amply in support.Whilst the film's climax requires a fair amount of creative latitude to be appreciated, it's the gradual transformation and constant obstacles that generate the most interest throughout the film. Benedict's character suffers from a major case of minor hero worshipping of the eminent snake doctor, leading him to almost blindly accept painful inoculations that cause strange abnormalities to emerge with each lethal injection. With his naïve assistant plagued by severe, chronic dermatitis and deformation of the facial features, the spectre of being discovered becomes too intense for the usually mild-mannered doctor, and he employs his deadly black mamba to full effect on those who threaten the success of his deranged experiments.Made on a b-grade budget, the sets are simple but realistic, the outdoor shots garish, with a truly seventies surrealist hallucination scene, intelligent dialogue and memorable music. Overall, if you can suspend disbelief for an hour-and-a-half, you'll be well entertained with "Sssssss".