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{{Short description|1997 reimagining of the German fairytale about Snow White}}
{{Infobox television film
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
|name = Snow White: A Tale Of Terror
{{Infobox television
|image = Snowwhiteterror.jpg
| image = Snowwhiteterror.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = DVD cover for ''Snow White: A Tale Of Terror''
| caption = 1998 DVD cover
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Snow White]]''|[[the Brothers Grimm]]}}
|distributor = [[Gramercy Pictures]]
| writer =
|director = Michael Cohn
| screenplay = Tom Szollosi<br />Deborah Serra
|producer = Tom Engelman
| story =
|screenplay = Tom Szollosi<br />Deborah Serra
| director = Michael Cohn
|starring = [[Sigourney Weaver]]<br />[[Sam Neill]]<br />[[Monica Keena]]<br />[[Gil Bellows]]<br />[[David Conrad]]
| starring = {{plainlist|
|music = [[John Ottman]]
* [[Sigourney Weaver]]
|cinematography = [[Mike Southon (cinematographer)|Mike Southon]]
* [[Sam Neill]]
|editing = Ian Crafford
* [[Monica Keena]]
|studio = [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]]<br />[[Interscope Communications]]
* [[Gil Bellows]]
|country = [[:United States]]
* [[David Conrad]]
|language = [[English language|English]]
}}
|network = [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
| country = United States
|released = {{Film date|TV=y|1997|07|18|Greece}}<br />{{Film date|TV=y|1997|08|24|United States}}
| language = English
|runtime = 101 minutes
| producer = Tom Engelman
| editor = Ian Crafford
| cinematography = [[Mike Southon (cinematographer)|Mike Southon]]
| runtime = 101 minutes
| company = [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]]<br />[[Interscope Communications]]
| budget = $26-30 million<ref name="NUM">{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Grimm-Brothers-Snow-White-The#more|title = The Grimm Brothers' Snow White (1997) - Financial Information}}</ref><ref name="LATimesProzac"/>
| released = {{Start date|1997|08|24|United States}}
}}
}}


'''''Snow White: A Tale of Terror'''''{{efn|also known as ''Snow White in the Black Forest''<ref name="NYTreview">{{cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/158567/Snow-White-A-Tale-of-Terror/overview |title=''Snow White: A Tale of Terror'' (1997) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703102416/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/158567/Snow-White-A-Tale-of-Terror/overview |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Bill Warren |date=2013 |archive-date=2013-07-03 }}</ref>}} is a 1997 American [[dark fantasy]] [[gothic horror]] film based on the [[fairy tale]] [[Snow White|of the same name]]. It was directed by Michael Cohn and stars [[Sigourney Weaver]], [[Sam Neill]] and [[Monica Keena]]. It premiered on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] on August 24, 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-aug-23-ca-25018-story.html|title = Deliciously Twisted Adult 'Snow White'| website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date = 23 August 1997}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/sigourney-weaves-a-tale-of-terror/article_00590bbd-25b3-5f81-b9ff-2698523563af.html|title = Sigourney Weaves a Tale of Terror| date=18 August 1997 }}</ref>
'''''Snow White: A Tale of Terror''''' is a 1997 [[United States|American]] [[horror film|horror]] [[television film]] based on the "[[Snow White]]" [[fairy tale]]. It is directed by Michael Cohn and stars [[Sigourney Weaver]], [[Sam Neill]] and [[Monica Keena]]. The original music score is composed by [[John Ottman]]. The film is marketed with the tagline "The fairy tale is over." The film received mixed reviews but is praised for staying with the dark formulas that were once present in fairy tales.


==Plot summary==
==Plot==
<!--per [[WP:FILMPLOT]], plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words-->
Lilliana Hoffman dies in a carriage accident in the woods, caused by wolves that attack both the horses and the coachman. Her husband Fredric, at his dying wife's urging, reluctantly performs a [[caesarean section]] to save their unborn daughter. Years later, the young Lily Hoffman—the Snow White of the title, although she is never addressed or referred to as such in the film—plays mischievously on the grounds of the Hoffman estate. Lily reluctantly meets her new stepmother, [[Queen (Snow White)#A Tale of Terror version|Lady Claudia]] who gives the reticent Lily a [[Rottweiler]] puppy. Lily is pleased, but runs off with the puppy without thanking her.
Lord Frederick Hoffman and his pregnant wife, Lady Lilliana, are travelling home by carriage through the woods, when Lilliana suddenly goes into labour. Their carriage suddenly crashes while trying to avoid a pack of wolves and their driver is killed. Lilliana is critically wounded and Frederick is forced to perform an emergency [[c-section]] to save their unborn daughter, but at the cost of Lilliana's life.


Roughly seven years later, Lilli, named after her late mother, has grown into a spoiled and mischievous child. Frederick remarries a noble woman named Claudia, who brings with her a large, ornate, mysterious wardrobe mirror. Accompanying her is her mute brother, Gustav. However, despite Claudia's kindness, Lilli is unwilling to accept her new stepmother. On her father's wedding night, Lilli throws [[Holy Water]] on Claudia out of spite and runs off, hiding under Claudia's bed. Her nursemaid pursues her but is suddenly killed by an unseen force when she mistakenly looks into Claudia's mirror.
On the Hoffmans' wedding night, Lily spoils the communal blessing of the marriage bed by dashing the contents of her small ceremonial cup at Claudia.


Nine years have passed, Lilli has grown into a beautiful but self-centered young woman. Claudia is now pregnant with her first child. Despite her best efforts to connect with Lilli, the latter remains cold and distant. The Hoffmans throw a ball to celebrate the impending birth of Frederick and Claudia's son. Claudia gives Lilli a gown to wear at the ball that belonged to her as a girl, but Lilli rebuffs it.
As Lily grows into womanhood, Claudia keeps her dressed in girl's clothing. On the night of a ball, Claudia gives Lily a dress that belonged to her mother and tells Lily that is now her turn to wear it as her step-daughter. Lily rebels by wearing one of her own mother's gowns to the ball. Her father is startled, then pleased at Lily's evocation of her mother; as the two dance. Claudia, in a paroxysm of jealousy, goes into an early labor and delivers a [[stillbirth|stillborn]] boy. The doctor informs Fredric that Claudia can never have another child. Claudia, looking haggard from her ordeal, stares into her wardrobe-like mirror, where an ideally beautiful reflection replaces her real one and demands revenge against Lily for doing this to her.
Claudia entertains the guests with a song, when Lilli suddenly arrives dressed in a white gown that belonged to her late mother. Frederick is startled but pleased at the evocation of her mother. However, Claudia is both hurt and jealous. The distress causes her to go into premature labor but the baby is a [[stillborn]]. Claudia is distraught by the loss of her son and that she'll never again bear another child, when the mirror suddenly calls to her. Her hagged reflection transforms into a more beautiful version of herself. The mirror consoles her and tells her that Lilli must be punished.
The next morning, a remorseful and sympathetic Lilli attempts to make peace with Claudia, who appears to forgive her. The Hoffman's physician, Dr Gutenburg proposes to Lilli who happily accepts. As he leaves to ask her father for his approval, she comes across Gustav who attempts to kill under Claudia's orders, but she escapes deep into the woods and shelters in a ruined church. Gustav resorts to killing a boar instead and presents its heart to Claudia, who orders him to place the rest of the remains in the stew pot intended for the Hoffmans' dinner, which she later eats with wicked relish. However, when she coughs up the boar's blood, she realizes that Gustav has failed her. Enraged at his betrayal, the mirror urges her to punish him, and she curses him with horrific hallucinations that drive him to suicide. Frederick and the household search for Lilli in the woods but he is forced to return to the castle when he is injured after falling from his horse.
Lilli is confronted by seven rough, combative miners: Will, Lars, Gilbert, Scar, Konrad, Bart, and Rolf. Rolf attempts to rape her but is stopped by Will, who throws him out. With nowhere else to go, Lilli follows them to the men to the mines, where Claudia makes another attempt on her life using black magic to collapse the mines. Lilli is rescued by Will, but Gilbert is buried alive in the rubble.
The men debate whether they should ransom Lilli, ultimately deciding to keep her under their wing. Will flirts with her but expresses disdain for her noble status. Lilli likewise is repulsed and frightened by his rough demeanour. Later that night Lars reveals that Will was branded with an iron cross by [[Crusaders]] who burned his family at the stake after he refused to fight for their cause.
Under Claudia's influence, the castle falls into an eerie sleep-like state, with barely any servants in attendance. Dr Gutenburg arrives to find the place seemingly abandoned, save for Claudia. She tells him she was forced to dismiss everyone due to a plague outbreak. In an attempt to get rid of him, she seduces and pleads with him to find Lilli.
Claudia makes another attempt on Lilli's life by luring her out in the middle of the woods and conjuring a gale to knock down the trees. She is almost crushed while trying to save Lars but Will is forced to pull her away to safety. As Lilli and the remaining four miners mourn their deceased friends, she and Will share a moment and they kiss.
Claudia is enraged and distraught by Lilli's repeated survival. The mirror persuades her to resurrect her stillborn son by sacrificing Frederick. She then makes her way to his bedchamber and rapes him to take his seed for the ritual.
In a final attempt to kill Lilli for good, Claudia turns Gustav's eviscerated heart into an apple. The mirror then transforms her into a frightening and hideous old woman. Claudia tracks down Lilli's whereabouts and tricks her into accepting the poisoned apple, putting her into a [[locked-in syndrome]]. Will soon finds her body and is devastated. Dr. Gutenberg shortly arrives and attempts to revive her but sadly pronounces her dead. As the men prepare to bury her, Will notices that Lilli's eyes have opened. He removes her body from the coffin, desperately shaking her and begging her to breathe. This dislodges the piece of rotten apple that had been stuck in her throat and she comes to.
In the castle, Claudia takes Frederick to the chapel, ties him to a crucifix and suspends it upside down, preparing to [[exsanguinate]] him to complete the ritual.
Will and Gutenberg accompany Lilli back to the castle to stop Claudia and rescue Frederick. On arriving, they discover that the entire household has been placed under a spell rendering them into a mindless and hostile zombie-like state. They find a weak and delirious Frederick, who mistakes her for a ghost. Will takes him outside to safety but Gutenburg is killed when Claudia throws him out the window.
Lilli then confronts Claudia, cradling her newly revived but weak and malformed baby. A struggle ensures, Lilli accidentally sets the room on fire. Claudia becomes distracted by her son's cries of distress. This allows Lilli to grab a dagger and stab the mirror, wounding both Claudia and her demonic reflection. Claudia removes the dagger from the mirror and is horrified to see her appearance transform to that of an old woman. The mirror shatters and Claudia is injured by the shards, causing her to accidentally step backwards into the path of the fire. As she screams and flails helplessly around the room, she falls over the nearby burning bed, which crashes down on top of her and kills her. Lilli then joins Will and Frederick outside. Her father finally comes to and is overjoyed to see her again.
The film ends with snow down falling on the trio.


==Cast==
Claudia orders her brother Gustav to kill and eviscerate Lily in the woods. When Lily escapes, Gustav kills a pig and presents its organs to Claudia, who keeps what she believes to be Lily's heart. Claudia orders Gustav to place the rest of the remains in the stew pot, then coos over the deliciousness of the stew as she eats and urges Fredric to join her. When Claudia learns the truth from the mirror, she drives a terrified Gustav to suicide.
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Sigourney Weaver]] as Claudia Hoffman
* [[Sam Neill]] as Frederick Hoffman
* [[Monica Keena]] as Lilli Hoffman
* [[Gil Bellows]] as Will
* [[David Conrad]] as Peter Gutenberg
* [[Miroslav Táborský]] as Gustav
* [[Brian Glover]] as Lars
* [[Andrew Tiernan]] as Scar
* [[Anthony Brophy]] as Rolf
* [[Chris Bauer]] as Conrad
* [[Frances Cuka]] as Nannau
* [[Bryan Pringle]] as Father Gilbert
* Taryn Davis as Little Lilli
* [[Joanna Roth]] as Lilliana
* John Edward Allen as Bart
* Dale Wyatt as Maidservant Ilsa
{{div col end}}


==Production==
In the meantime, the quite alive Lily is found by seven rough, combative miners—outcast by civil or ecclesiastical authority—who grudgingly give her shelter. When one of them threatens her with rape, their unofficial leader, Will, stops him. Meanwhile Claudia discovers that Lily is still alive and uses her black magic to kill her, instead killing two of the miners (Father Gilbert and Lawrence), all the while keeping an injured Fredric infirm and afflicting the estate's staff with the black Death. Claudia then convinces Lily's fiancé, Dr. Peter Gutenberg, to continue searching for Lily.
In 1995, David Conrad got an offer to play "a decoy Prince Charming" in ''Snow White in the Black Forest'', in his last year in the graduate theater program at the [[Juilliard School]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/12/arts/a-neo-romantic-for-a-harsh-age.html|title=A Neo-Romantic for a Harsh Age|newspaper=The New York Times|date=12 January 1997|last1=Diamond|first1=Jamie}}</ref> Shooting for the film started in 1995 on locations in [[Prague]], [[Barrandov Studios]],<ref name=variety/> and castles around [[the Czech Republic]] including [[Kost Castle|Kost]], [[Dobřichovice]], [[Pernštejn]], and [[Valdek Castle|Valdek]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmcommission.cz/en/film/snow-white-a-tale-of-terror/|title = Snow White: A Tale of Terror}}</ref> [[Stromovka Park]] was used as the Black Forest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.praguereporter.com/home/2017/10/24/20-hollywood-horror-movies-that-were-filmed-in-prague|title = Boo! 20 Hollywood Horror Movies That Were Filmed in Prague| date=24 October 2017 }}</ref> Shooting was reportedly continuing in May 1996.<ref name="LATimesProzac">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-05-ca-521-story.html|title = 'Snow White' on Prozac| website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date = 5 May 1996}}</ref>


==Reception==
As the four remaining miners mourn their losses, Lily touches Will's scars, inflicted by Crusaders, and the two fall in love. Claudia disguises herself as an old woman and turns her brother's eviscerated heart into a poisoned apple. Transported to Lily's refuge, the disguised Claudia speaks kindly to her and gives her the apple, which puts her into a [[locked-in syndrome]] that makes her appear dead. Will finds Lily seemingly dead on the ground from a bite of the apple. Dr. Gutenberg, the last person still searching for Lily, arrives and pronounces her dead. Seeing her eyes appear to open through her [[mosaic]] glass coffin during her burial, Will leaps into the grave, pulls Lily's body from the coffin, and shakes her as he commands her to breathe, causing the piece of apple lodged in her throat to fall out so that she wakes.
===Critical reception===
{{RT data|prose}}<ref name=rt>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror|type=m|snow_white_a_tale_of_terror/|access-date={{RT data|accessdate}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> Weaver was widely praised for her performance, even by those who reviewed the film negatively.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-01-01 |title=Snow White: A Tale Of Terror |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/snow-white-tale-terror-review/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Empire |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TVGR" /><ref name="variety" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-05 |title=SNOW WHITE: A TALE OF TERROR |website=Dennis Schwartz Reviews |url=https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/snowwhiteataleofterror/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-03-29 |title=Snow White: A Tale Of Terror |url=https://www.avclub.com/snow-white-a-tale-of-terror-1798195933 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/03/05/snow-white-tale-terror/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>}}


''[[TVGuide]]'' praised the directing which "shows a flair for horror in this expensive production that emphasizes the disturbing elements", adding "[t]he quick pacing, excellent medieval costume design, top-flight makeup effects, and the beautiful locations in Prague and the Czech Republic also help to sharpen this slick effort."<ref name="TVGR">{{Cite web |title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/snow-white-a-tale-of-terror/review/2030009257/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>
Gutenberg takes Lily back to the mansion to destroy Claudia; Will follows and joins them to help. Lily's grown dog attacks Will; Lily counterattacks with her torch, and they escape. On finding her father, Lily charges Will with getting him safely outside. Claudia kills Gutenberg, and Lily—rather gratuitously armed with a crossbow—confronts Claudia. Claudia gloats, clutching her newly revived, not fully formed baby boy; disappears; then reappears to attack Lily, smashing her into mirrors and deliberately cutting her face with one of the shards. Scrambling for safely, Lily knocks over a burning brazier. When the fire threatens the baby, Claudia is distracted; Lily finds a knife, and the evil mirror cries out to warn Claudia. Realizing the source of Claudia's strength and weakness, Lily plunges the knife into the mirror. Claudia then burns to death. Lily joins Will and a delirious Fredric, who finally recognizes her.


Sheri Linden of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' thought that the film "suffers from a decided lack of momentum", and in the end, while it is "[g]ood to look at, this ''Snow White'' isn't the chilling experience it should be".<ref name=variety>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/reviews/snow-white-a-tale-of-terror-1117432505|title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror|date=1997-08-31|last=Linden|first=Sheri|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|accessdate=2023-11-10}}</ref>
==Awards==
Sigourney Weaver's critically acclaimed performance earned her an [[Emmy Award]] nomination as well as a [[Screen Actors Guild]] nomination as Outstanding Lead Actress in a TV Movie. The film also earned two Emmy nominations for Makeup and Costume Design.<ref>[http://www.emmys.com/shows/snow-white-tale-terror Snow White: A Tale Of Terror] at Emmys.com</ref>


==Main cast==
===Awards===
* '''Nominated''' — 3 [[50th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Awards]]<ref>[http://www.emmys.com/shows/snow-white-tale-terror Snow White: A Tale Of Terror] at Emmys.com</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
** [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie]]: [[Sigourney Weaver]]
|- bgcolor="CCCCCC"
** [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special|Outstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Movie]]: [[Marit Allen]], [[Charles Knode]]
! Actor !! Role
** [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)|Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special]]: Ann Brodie, [[Linda de Vetta|Linda DeVetta]]
|-
* '''Nominated''' — 1 [[4th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Award]]
| [[Sigourney Weaver]] || Lady Claudia Hoffman
** [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie|Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries]]: Sigourney Weaver
|-
* '''Nominated''' — 1 [[24th Saturn Awards|Saturn Award]]
| [[Sam Neill]] || Lord Fredric Hoffman
** [[Saturn Award for Best Television Presentation|Best Television Presentation]]: ''Snow White: A Tale of Terror''
|-
* '''Nominated''' — 1 [[American Society of Cinematographers Award]]
| [[Monica Keena]] || Lily Hoffman
** Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/Pilots: Mike Southon
|-
* '''Nominated''' — 1 [[CableACE Award]]
| [[Gil Bellows]] || Will
** Cinematography in a Movie or Miniseries: Mike Southon
|-

| [[David Conrad]] || Dr. Peter Gutenberg
==Home media==
|-
''Snow White: A Tale of Terror'' was initially released on [[VHS]], as well as a [[DVD]] edition in the United States on August 25, 1998 via [[Polygram Filmed Entertainment|Polygram]].<ref>{{cite book| title=Snow White:a Tale of Terror [VHS]| asin=630464972X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000F0CH| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror| website=Amazon| date=25 August 1998| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> It was re-issued on DVD from [[Universal Home Entertainment]] on August 13, 2002, containing identical artwork to the previous edition<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000694XX| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror| website=Amazon| date=13 August 2002| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> and most recently on May 1, 2012 from Universal, containing newly commissioned artwork.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JT79Z4| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror| website=Amazon| date=May 2012| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> A multipack DVD including the film (with ''[[Darkman II: The Return of Durant]]'' and ''[[Firestarter: Rekindled|Firestarter 2: Rekindled]]'') was made available from Universal.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G8RHRUK| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror / Darkman II:The Return of Durant / Firestarter 2: Rekindled| website=Amazon| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
| [[Miroslav Taborsky]] || Gustav

|-
In the United Kingdom, Universal Home Entertainment released the film on VHS format on June 1, 1998,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00366BGSK| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror [VHS]| date=June 1998| publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]]| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> while a re-issued VHS became available via Universal from September 17, 2001.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00004R72E| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror [VHS]| website=Amazon UK| date=17 September 2001| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> The film has been issued twice on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment in the UK, with the first on February 6, 2006,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000CEXDXU| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD] [1997]| date=6 February 2006| publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]]| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> and a subsequent version containing new artwork on May 14, 2012.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007ML5ZWS| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD]| date=14 May 2012| publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]]| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> All editions from Universal are now out-of-print as distribution company Fabulous Films currently acquire ownership rights for distribution in the United Kingdom. Fabulous released the film on April 4, 2016 on DVD,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CNXG2Y4| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD]| date=4 April 2016| publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]]| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref> and for the first time in any country, on [[Blu-ray]] format on July 4, 2016.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GDBC65Q| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror [Blu-ray]| date=4 July 2016| publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]]| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
| [[Brian Glover]] || Lawrence

|-
The film is additionally available to rent or buy on [[Amazon Video]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EYF4K8| title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror| website=Amazon| access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
| [[Andrew Tiernan]] || Scar

|-
The film finally debuted on Blu-ray in the United States for the first time on October 6, 2020 by Mill Creek Entertainment. The disc contains no special features.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Snow-White-A-Tale-of-Terror-Blu-ray/51670/|title = Snow White: A Tale of Terror Blu-ray}}</ref>
| [[Anthony Brophy]] || Rolf

|-
==Notes==
| [[Chris Bauer]] || Conrad
{{notelist}}
|-
| [[Frances Cuka]] || Nannau
|-
| [[Bryan Pringle]] || Father Gilbert
|-
| [[Taryn Davis]] || Lily Hoffman (young)
|-
| [[Joanna Roth]] || Lilliana Hoffman
|}


==References==
==References==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{imdb title|id=0119227|title=Snow White: A Tale of Terror}}
* {{TCMDb title}}
* {{Amg movie|158567|Snow White: A Tale of Terror}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}


{{Snow White}}
{{Snow White}}


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[[Category:Films based on Snow White]]
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[[Category:Fiction about fratricide]]
[[pt:Snow White: A Tale of Terror]]
[[Category:Films about poisonings]]
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[[Category:Films based on fairy tales]]
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[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
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[[Category:English-language independent films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy films]]

Latest revision as of 06:15, 1 January 2025

Snow White: A Tale of Terror
1998 DVD cover
Based onSnow White
by the Brothers Grimm
Screenplay byTom Szollosi
Deborah Serra
Directed byMichael Cohn
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerTom Engelman
CinematographyMike Southon
EditorIan Crafford
Running time101 minutes
Production companiesPolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Interscope Communications
Budget$26-30 million[1][2]
Original release
ReleaseAugust 24, 1997 (1997-08-24TUnited States)

Snow White: A Tale of Terror[a] is a 1997 American dark fantasy gothic horror film based on the fairy tale of the same name. It was directed by Michael Cohn and stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill and Monica Keena. It premiered on Showtime on August 24, 1997.[4][5]

Plot

[edit]

Lord Frederick Hoffman and his pregnant wife, Lady Lilliana, are travelling home by carriage through the woods, when Lilliana suddenly goes into labour. Their carriage suddenly crashes while trying to avoid a pack of wolves and their driver is killed. Lilliana is critically wounded and Frederick is forced to perform an emergency c-section to save their unborn daughter, but at the cost of Lilliana's life.

Roughly seven years later, Lilli, named after her late mother, has grown into a spoiled and mischievous child. Frederick remarries a noble woman named Claudia, who brings with her a large, ornate, mysterious wardrobe mirror. Accompanying her is her mute brother, Gustav. However, despite Claudia's kindness, Lilli is unwilling to accept her new stepmother. On her father's wedding night, Lilli throws Holy Water on Claudia out of spite and runs off, hiding under Claudia's bed. Her nursemaid pursues her but is suddenly killed by an unseen force when she mistakenly looks into Claudia's mirror.

Nine years have passed, Lilli has grown into a beautiful but self-centered young woman. Claudia is now pregnant with her first child. Despite her best efforts to connect with Lilli, the latter remains cold and distant. The Hoffmans throw a ball to celebrate the impending birth of Frederick and Claudia's son. Claudia gives Lilli a gown to wear at the ball that belonged to her as a girl, but Lilli rebuffs it. Claudia entertains the guests with a song, when Lilli suddenly arrives dressed in a white gown that belonged to her late mother. Frederick is startled but pleased at the evocation of her mother. However, Claudia is both hurt and jealous. The distress causes her to go into premature labor but the baby is a stillborn. Claudia is distraught by the loss of her son and that she'll never again bear another child, when the mirror suddenly calls to her. Her hagged reflection transforms into a more beautiful version of herself. The mirror consoles her and tells her that Lilli must be punished. The next morning, a remorseful and sympathetic Lilli attempts to make peace with Claudia, who appears to forgive her. The Hoffman's physician, Dr Gutenburg proposes to Lilli who happily accepts. As he leaves to ask her father for his approval, she comes across Gustav who attempts to kill under Claudia's orders, but she escapes deep into the woods and shelters in a ruined church. Gustav resorts to killing a boar instead and presents its heart to Claudia, who orders him to place the rest of the remains in the stew pot intended for the Hoffmans' dinner, which she later eats with wicked relish. However, when she coughs up the boar's blood, she realizes that Gustav has failed her. Enraged at his betrayal, the mirror urges her to punish him, and she curses him with horrific hallucinations that drive him to suicide. Frederick and the household search for Lilli in the woods but he is forced to return to the castle when he is injured after falling from his horse. Lilli is confronted by seven rough, combative miners: Will, Lars, Gilbert, Scar, Konrad, Bart, and Rolf. Rolf attempts to rape her but is stopped by Will, who throws him out. With nowhere else to go, Lilli follows them to the men to the mines, where Claudia makes another attempt on her life using black magic to collapse the mines. Lilli is rescued by Will, but Gilbert is buried alive in the rubble. The men debate whether they should ransom Lilli, ultimately deciding to keep her under their wing. Will flirts with her but expresses disdain for her noble status. Lilli likewise is repulsed and frightened by his rough demeanour. Later that night Lars reveals that Will was branded with an iron cross by Crusaders who burned his family at the stake after he refused to fight for their cause. Under Claudia's influence, the castle falls into an eerie sleep-like state, with barely any servants in attendance. Dr Gutenburg arrives to find the place seemingly abandoned, save for Claudia. She tells him she was forced to dismiss everyone due to a plague outbreak. In an attempt to get rid of him, she seduces and pleads with him to find Lilli. Claudia makes another attempt on Lilli's life by luring her out in the middle of the woods and conjuring a gale to knock down the trees. She is almost crushed while trying to save Lars but Will is forced to pull her away to safety. As Lilli and the remaining four miners mourn their deceased friends, she and Will share a moment and they kiss. Claudia is enraged and distraught by Lilli's repeated survival. The mirror persuades her to resurrect her stillborn son by sacrificing Frederick. She then makes her way to his bedchamber and rapes him to take his seed for the ritual. In a final attempt to kill Lilli for good, Claudia turns Gustav's eviscerated heart into an apple. The mirror then transforms her into a frightening and hideous old woman. Claudia tracks down Lilli's whereabouts and tricks her into accepting the poisoned apple, putting her into a locked-in syndrome. Will soon finds her body and is devastated. Dr. Gutenberg shortly arrives and attempts to revive her but sadly pronounces her dead. As the men prepare to bury her, Will notices that Lilli's eyes have opened. He removes her body from the coffin, desperately shaking her and begging her to breathe. This dislodges the piece of rotten apple that had been stuck in her throat and she comes to. In the castle, Claudia takes Frederick to the chapel, ties him to a crucifix and suspends it upside down, preparing to exsanguinate him to complete the ritual. Will and Gutenberg accompany Lilli back to the castle to stop Claudia and rescue Frederick. On arriving, they discover that the entire household has been placed under a spell rendering them into a mindless and hostile zombie-like state. They find a weak and delirious Frederick, who mistakes her for a ghost. Will takes him outside to safety but Gutenburg is killed when Claudia throws him out the window. Lilli then confronts Claudia, cradling her newly revived but weak and malformed baby. A struggle ensures, Lilli accidentally sets the room on fire. Claudia becomes distracted by her son's cries of distress. This allows Lilli to grab a dagger and stab the mirror, wounding both Claudia and her demonic reflection. Claudia removes the dagger from the mirror and is horrified to see her appearance transform to that of an old woman. The mirror shatters and Claudia is injured by the shards, causing her to accidentally step backwards into the path of the fire. As she screams and flails helplessly around the room, she falls over the nearby burning bed, which crashes down on top of her and kills her. Lilli then joins Will and Frederick outside. Her father finally comes to and is overjoyed to see her again. The film ends with snow down falling on the trio.

Cast

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Production

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In 1995, David Conrad got an offer to play "a decoy Prince Charming" in Snow White in the Black Forest, in his last year in the graduate theater program at the Juilliard School.[6] Shooting for the film started in 1995 on locations in Prague, Barrandov Studios,[7] and castles around the Czech Republic including Kost, Dobřichovice, Pernštejn, and Valdek.[8] Stromovka Park was used as the Black Forest.[9] Shooting was reportedly continuing in May 1996.[2]

Reception

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Critical reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 55% of 11 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10.[10] Weaver was widely praised for her performance, even by those who reviewed the film negatively.[b]

TVGuide praised the directing which "shows a flair for horror in this expensive production that emphasizes the disturbing elements", adding "[t]he quick pacing, excellent medieval costume design, top-flight makeup effects, and the beautiful locations in Prague and the Czech Republic also help to sharpen this slick effort."[12]

Sheri Linden of Variety thought that the film "suffers from a decided lack of momentum", and in the end, while it is "[g]ood to look at, this Snow White isn't the chilling experience it should be".[7]

Awards

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Home media

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Snow White: A Tale of Terror was initially released on VHS, as well as a DVD edition in the United States on August 25, 1998 via Polygram.[17][18] It was re-issued on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment on August 13, 2002, containing identical artwork to the previous edition[19] and most recently on May 1, 2012 from Universal, containing newly commissioned artwork.[20] A multipack DVD including the film (with Darkman II: The Return of Durant and Firestarter 2: Rekindled) was made available from Universal.[21]

In the United Kingdom, Universal Home Entertainment released the film on VHS format on June 1, 1998,[22] while a re-issued VHS became available via Universal from September 17, 2001.[23] The film has been issued twice on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment in the UK, with the first on February 6, 2006,[24] and a subsequent version containing new artwork on May 14, 2012.[25] All editions from Universal are now out-of-print as distribution company Fabulous Films currently acquire ownership rights for distribution in the United Kingdom. Fabulous released the film on April 4, 2016 on DVD,[26] and for the first time in any country, on Blu-ray format on July 4, 2016.[27]

The film is additionally available to rent or buy on Amazon Video.[28]

The film finally debuted on Blu-ray in the United States for the first time on October 6, 2020 by Mill Creek Entertainment. The disc contains no special features.[29]

Notes

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  1. ^ also known as Snow White in the Black Forest[3]
  2. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[11][12][7][13][14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "The Grimm Brothers' Snow White (1997) - Financial Information".
  2. ^ a b "'Snow White' on Prozac". Los Angeles Times. May 5, 1996.
  3. ^ Bill Warren (2013). "Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013.
  4. ^ "Deliciously Twisted Adult 'Snow White'". Los Angeles Times. August 23, 1997.
  5. ^ "Sigourney Weaves a Tale of Terror". August 18, 1997.
  6. ^ Diamond, Jamie (January 12, 1997). "A Neo-Romantic for a Harsh Age". The New York Times.
  7. ^ a b c Linden, Sheri (August 31, 1997). "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror".
  9. ^ "Boo! 20 Hollywood Horror Movies That Were Filmed in Prague". October 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 1, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  11. ^ "Snow White: A Tale Of Terror". Empire. January 1, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "SNOW WHITE: A TALE OF TERROR". Dennis Schwartz Reviews. August 5, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "Snow White: A Tale Of Terror". The A.V. Club. March 29, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". EW.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Snow White: A Tale Of Terror at Emmys.com
  17. ^ Snow White:a Tale of Terror [VHS]. ASIN 630464972X.
  18. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. August 25, 1998. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  19. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. August 13, 2002. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  20. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. May 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  21. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror / Darkman II:The Return of Durant / Firestarter 2: Rekindled". Amazon. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  22. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. June 1998. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  23. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [VHS]". Amazon UK. September 17, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  24. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD] [1997]". Amazon.co.uk. February 6, 2006. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  25. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. May 14, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. April 4, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  27. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [Blu-ray]". Amazon.co.uk. July 4, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  28. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  29. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror Blu-ray".
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