Venom (1981)

An international terrorist (Klaus Kinski) plots with a maid (Susan George) and a chauffeur (Oliver Reed) to kidnap the son (Lance Holcomb) of the wealthy owner of a hotel chain. But everything goes horribly wrong when the boy's "harmless" new pet snake turns out to be a deadly Black Mamba, who's crawling around the house! Based on the novel by Alan Scholefield and directed by Piers Haggard. The film was begun by Tobe Hooper (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) who left over the usual "creative differences" and completed by Haggard. The film is really nothing more than JAWS with a snake but it's surprisingly effective. If you have ophidiophobia, this is not the film for you! I can't stand snakes myself and the film literally makes my flesh crawl but it's pretty nerve wracking if you can take it. Of course, if you're not afraid of snakes, you may well find it dreary going. Michael Kamen's score is suitably intense. With Sterling Hayden, Sarah Miles, Michael Gough and Cornelia Sharpe.