Snow White: A Tale of Terror

Snow White: A Tale of Terror
1998 DVD cover
Also known asThe Grimm Brothers' Snow White
Snow White in the Black Forest
Based on"Snow White"
by the Brothers Grimm
Screenplay byTom Szollosi
Deborah Serra
Stephen Metcalfe (uncredited)[1]
Directed byMichael Cohn
Starring
Music byJohn Ottman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerTom Engelman
CinematographyMike Southon
EditorIan Crafford
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesPolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Interscope Communications
Budget$26–30 million[2][3]
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseAugust 24, 1997 (1997-08-24)

Snow White: A Tale of Terror (alternatively titled The Grimm Brothers' Snow White or Snow White in the Black Forest)[4][5] is a 1997 American Gothic dark fantasy horror film directed by Michael Cohn from a screenplay by Tom Szollosi and Deborah Serra. Co-produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Interscope Communications, the film is based on the 1812 German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, and stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill, and Monica Keena, with Gil Bellows, Taryn Davis, David Conrad, and Brian Glover in supporting roles. The film follows Lilli Hoffman (Keena), a young noblewoman forced to flee her home into the forest and join a group of societal outcasts to escape from her stepmother Claudia (Weaver), who blames Lilli for her miscarriage and seeks to kill her stepdaughter.

A Tale of Terror began development in 1993, after producer Tom Engelman successfully pitched the idea to Polygram. The script was developed by several screenwriters for three years before the final version was completed by Szollosi, Serra, and Stephen Metcalfe. Michael Cohn was appointed director of the film, which became his first big-budget production. Principal photography took place at Barrandov Studios in Prague, as well as at several other locations throughout the Czech Republic from October to December 1995.

A Tale of Terror was originally planned for a theatrical release, but eventually premiered as a television film on Showtime on August 24, 1997. It was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress (Weaver), Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Makeup.

Plot

In 1493 Germany,[1] Baron Frederick Hoffman and his pregnant wife Lilliana are travelling home through the woods when Lilliana goes into labor. Their carriage is attacked by wolves, which kill their coachman, while Lilliana is mortally wounded. Frederick is forced to perform a caesarean section on her to save their unborn daughter, whom he names Lilli after her mother.

Seven years later, Frederick remarries the French noblewoman Claudia Alvise, who brings with her an ornate mirror that belonged to her witch mother. Despite Claudia's attempts to win Lilli's favor, she still mourns her mother and refuses to accept her stepmother. On Frederick and Claudia's wedding night, Lilli witnesses her nanny being killed by an invisible force from Claudia's mirror, which further increases her distrust of her stepmother.

Nine years later, Claudia is pregnant with her first child. She gives Lilli a dress that belonged to her as a girl to wear to the ball they are hosting, but Lilli arrives wearing her mother's gown, taking Frederick's attention away from Claudia. Hurt and jealous, Claudia goes into premature labor and the baby is a stillborn, while she is rendered unable to have other children. The spirit from Claudia's mirror (taking the form of her reflection) consoles her and promises revenge on Lilli.

Several weeks later, Claudia's mute brother Gustav tries to kill Lilli, forcing her to flee into the forest. Gustav brings Claudia a pig's heart as if it were Lilli's, but the mirror reveals his trick, and Claudia curses Gustav with hallucinations that drive him to suicide. Frederick goes in search of his daughter, but gets injured and is forced to return home. In the forest, Lilli discovers an abandoned abbey, where she is confronted by a group of outcasts; Will, Lars, Gilbert, Scar, Konrad, Bart, and Rolf. Rolf tries to rape Lilli, but their leader, Will, stops him and throws him out.

With nowhere else to go, Lilli follows the group into the mine. Claudia uses magic to kill Lilli by collapsing the mine, but Will saves her, while Gilbert is buried alive. Despite the initial mutual antagonism, Lilli warms up to Will after learning that he lost his family due to his refusal to fight for the Crusaders. Claudia tries to kill Lilli again by conjuring a gale to knock down the trees, but the outcasts manage to save her, although Lars is killed by a fallen tree. That night, Lilli and Will share their first kiss.

Meanwhile, Claudia rapes Frederick to take his seed for a ritual to resurrect their stillborn child. She then turns Gustav's eviscerated heart into an apple and tracks down Lilli's whereabouts. Disguised as an old crone, Claudia tricks Lilli into eating the apple, which puts her into a death-like trance. Lilli's fiance Dr. Peter Gutenberg arrives shortly after and declares her dead. As the outcasts prepare to bury Lilli, Will notices that her eyes have opened and shakes her, dislodging a piece of apple from Lilli's throat and reviving her.

Along with Will and Peter, Lilli returns to her castle, discovering that the entire household is under a spell that has driven them into a mindless and hostile state. Claudia takes Frederick to the chapel, where she tries to exsanguinate him to complete the ritual. Lilli and Will discover a weakened Frederick and take him to safety, while Claudia kills Peter by throwing him out of the window. Lilli finds Claudia cradling her revived child and confronts her, accidentally setting fire to the room in the ensuing fight. Lilli pierces the mirror with a dagger, wounding Claudia, who is further injured by the mirror shards and the spreading fire, before she and her child are crushed by debris. With Claudia gone, her spells are broken, and Lilli is reunited with her father and Will outside the castle.

Cast

Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill, and Monica Keena portrayed the lead roles in the film.
  • Sigourney Weaver as Lady Claudia Hoffman (nee Alvise), Frederick's narcissistic second wife and Lilli's stepmother, who becomes determined to destroy her stepdaughter after suffering a severe miscarriage, gradually descending into madness as the film progresses.[1][6][7] Weaver described her character as an "impeccable woman—she's French, she's very beautiful, she's very seductive and she loves her husband very much. When she feels she loses him to [Lilli], she just goes berserk… Claudia's just a great character. She's diabolic."[3]
    • Weaver also portrays the Mirror, a manipulative spirit that serves as Claudia's confidant and manifests itself in her reflection.[3][7] Producer Tom Engelman commented on the film's interpretation of the mirror as "two-fold. It could be Claudia's alter-ego, the reflected ravings of a mad woman and the excuse for her hallucinations. Or it could be a supernatural entity taking on a form that's most pleasing to Claudia—herself! We deliberately never answer that question to keep the psychological readings complex."[1]
  • Sam Neill as Baron Frederick Hoffman, Lilli's widowed father and Claudia's husband, who desperately wants his family to be united.[7][8][9] Commenting on the character, Weaver said that "it all hinges on Frederick. [Claudia and Lilli] both wanted Frederick, to be first in his heart. And when [Claudia] saw that she couldn't be because she'd lost the heir, the son, she just crumbled. It meant everything to her to have his love."[6]
  • Monica Keena as Lilliana "Lilli" Hoffman, Frederick's 16-year-old daughter and Claudia's stepdaughter, who forms a rivalry with her stepmother.[5][10] Keena described her character as "pretty spunky, and she's sensitive and she's open to learn a lot of things just like anyone else growing up in the world."[3] Engelman elaborated that Lilli is not "a naive individual who doesn't even think twice about taking a bite from an apple offered to her by a complete stranger. She's smarter than that. One of the reasons Claudia doesn't like her is because Lilli hasn't even tried to make an effort [to trust her]."[1]
    • Taryn Davis as 7-year-old Lilli[6]
  • Gil Bellows as Will, the branded leader of a band of outcasts, who initially antagonizes Lilli before becoming her protector and love interest.[3][6]
  • David Conrad as Dr. Peter Gutenberg, Lilli's suitor.[6][11]

The film also features Brian Glover, Anthony Brophy, Christopher Bauer, John Edward Allen, Andrew Tiernan, and Bryan Pringle as Lars, Rolf, Konrad, Bart, Scar, and Father Gilbert, a band of societal outcasts who work in a mine for a living.[6][12] Miroslav Táborský plays Gustav, Claudia's enigmatic mute brother.[11][13] Frances Cuka plays Nannau, Lilli's devoted nanny.[6][12] Dale Wyatt plays Ilsa, Lilli's maidservant and best friend.[3][12] Joanna Roth plays Lady Lilliana Hoffman, Frederick's first wife and Lilli's biological mother.[6]

Production

Development

I was reading the Grimm tale to my young niece, and as I was reading, I felt this sudden rush of discovery. Here was an untouched—at least by filmmakers—malevolent rollercoaster ride dealing with a young girl surviving a tough ordeal and emerging from it as a strong and determined woman. Not only that. In the course of her brutal experiences she's forced to descend into her own private Hell (the spell cast by the Queen) and must face her psychological confusion and some terrifying personal demons.

—Tom Engelman, on coming up with the idea of Snow White: A Tale of Terror[14]

Development on Snow White: A Tale of Terror began in 1993, when producer Tom Engelman approached PolyGram Filmed Entertainment to pitch a film adaptation of the eponymous 1812 fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.[14] He came up with the project after reading the tale to his niece, finding it a good basis for a complex coming-of-age story, as well as wanting to create a closer retelling of the tale with its darker aspects than in the more commonly known Walt Disney's animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).[14] The script underwent many changes over the course of three years, with a number of different writers involved in the production; one of the earlier versions of the story suggested a New York City setting, with the seven dwarfs being replaced by gang members.[6][15] More than 30 famous and little-known directors were interviewed for the project before Michael Cohn landed the job; at this stage, it was fully decided that the film would be a Gothic thriller-type.[15] Cohn got involved with the project after an unsuccessful attempt to pitch a potential script for HBO to Interscope Communications, which instead suggested him to work on A Tale of Terror (originally titled The Grimm Brothers' Snow White in the Black Forest).[15] The project marked the first high-budget production for Cohn, who had earlier worked on two direct-to-video films, Interceptor (1992) and When the Bough Breaks (1994).[3][15] Engelman stated that Cohn "fully embraced the dark philosophy of the piece. I didn't want a technology-driven movie at the expense of character and Michael's past two films proved he knew how to build suspense, how to handle special effects and let the actors work in a natural vein… We took a leap of faith."[15]

Casting

Who else would have been the perfect Claudia? Sigourney has fought Aliens and Ghostbusters, for heaven's sake! Rarely have I ever had an actress so firmly in mind from the very beginning. It was a case of, if I can't make this with Sigourney, then it isn't worth making at all. Only she could bring a level of evil intensity to Claudia without sacrificing her humanity or intelligence. Claudia was the hero of her own story and she had to be real and be played straight.

—Tom Engelman, on casting Sigourney Weaver as Claudia[9]

The casting process began by 1995.[16] Sigourney Weaver, who had worked with Tom Engelman on Working Girl (1988), was the only choice for the role of Claudia; Engelman further stated that the film would not have been made if she had refused.[9] Weaver was paid $4 million for her performance.[9]

Hundreds of European and American actresses were auditioned for the role of Lilli, with Alicia Silverstone being the top contender for a while, before Monica Keena was cast.[3][15] Commenting on the choice of Keena, Engelman said that she "had the face of a Botticelli angel but also a level of toughness that would be requisite for a girl from this time period… You know she'd cope and survive to become strong enough to take on [Claudia]."[15] David Conrad was offered to play Peter Gutenberg during his last year in the graduate theater program at the Juilliard School, which he had to drop out to accept the role.[16] Other principal cast members included Gil Bellows as Will, Taryn Davis as the younger Lilli, and Brian Glover as Lars. Snow White: A Tale of Terror marked one of the last performances of Glover, who died in July 1997, shortly before the film was released.

Filming

Principal photography on Snow White: A Tale of Terror began on October 2, 1995, taking place at Barrandov Studios in Prague, as well as on locations and castles throughout the Czech Republic, including Kost, Dobřichovice, Pernštejn, and Valdek.[17][18][19] Stromovka Park was used as the Black Forest.[20] Shooting was reportedly continuing in May 1996.[3] The film was completed in 1996.[21]

Broadcast

Snow White: A Tale of Terror premiered on Showtime on August 24, 1997.[22]

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.[23][24] It was re-issued on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment on August 13, 2002, containing identical artwork to the previous edition[25] and most recently on May 1, 2012 from Universal, containing newly commissioned artwork.[26] A multipack DVD including the film (with Darkman II: The Return of Durant and Firestarter 2: Rekindled) was made available from Universal.[27]

In the United Kingdom, Universal Home Entertainment released the film on VHS format on June 1, 1998,[28] while a re-issued VHS became available via Universal from September 17, 2001.[29] The film has been issued twice on DVD from Universal Home Entertainment in the UK, with the first on February 6, 2006,[30] and a subsequent version containing new artwork on May 14, 2012.[31] 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,[32] and for the first time in any country, on Blu-ray format on July 4, 2016.[33]

The film is additionally available to rent or buy on Amazon Video.[34]

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.[35]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that Snow White: A Tale of Terror had a 55% approval rating based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10.[37]

The New York Daily News gave a positive review, describing A Tale of Terror as "intense and gruesome, although brilliant," and praising both the film's use of locations in the Czech Republic and the performances of the cast (especially Sigourney Weaver's).[38] Bill Warren wrote for The New York Times that the film "out-grims the Brothers Grimm, telling their oft-told tale as a horror movie/adventure — and it works," complimenting the character writing, production design, and costumes, and concluding that "it's a shame this attractive, imaginative film didn't have any theatrical release in the United States; originality, especially in a field as well-ploughed as fairy tales, should be encouraged."[39] Howard Rosenberg of Los Angeles Times praised Weaver's acting, Michael Cohn's direction, and the cinematography, and called the film "delicious, at once fun and foreboding despite some plot gaps."[40] TVGuide highlighted the script, Cohn's direction, and the performances, adding that the "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."[41]

William Thomas from Empire gave A Tale of Terror three out of five stars, complimenting the acting of Weaver and Monica Keena and stating that the film "succeeds by drawing deep, fearful uncertainty from its ambiguity."[42] Writing for Variety, Sheri Linden praised the cinematography and production design, but criticized the pacing and the performances of the cast (with the exception of Weaver's), concluding that while it is "good to look at, this Snow White isn't the chilling experience it should be."[13] Ty Burr of Entertainment Weekly awarded the film a "D+" and called it a "lugubrious, overcooked mess that forgets fairy tales are meant to entertain as well as instruct."[43] In his 2002 DVD review for The A.V. Club, Nathan Rabin criticized the film, but highlighted Weaver's acting, describing it as "easily the best thing about this muddled, confused and disappointing film."[44] A Time Out reviewer wrote that the film provides "insufficient atmosphere or developed characterisation to satisfy grown-ups. The film plays like light Hammer horror with inappropriate period finery and design."[45]

Accolades

Award Category Recipient(s) Result
American Society of Cinematographers Award[46] Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or Pilot Mike Southon Nominated
CableACE Awards[47] Cinematography in a Movie or Miniseries Mike Southon Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards[48] Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Sigourney Weaver Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or a Special Marit Allen, Charles Knode Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Ann Brodie, Linda DeVetta Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Television Presentation Snow White: A Tale of Terror Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards[49] Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Sigourney Weaver Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jones, Alan (September 1997). "Snow White in the Black Forest" (PDF). Cinefantastique. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 26. Retrieved July 8, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "The Grimm Brothers' Snow White (1997)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Green, Peter (May 5, 1996). "'Snow White' on Prozac". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  4. ^ King, Susan (June 29, 1997). "Cable, public channels compete for summer audience". Los Angeles Times. The Daily Gazette. p. 3. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  5. ^ a b "Snow White". The Nation. November 15, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved July 8, 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i O'Hare, Kate (August 24, 1997). "Sigourney Weaver Stars in a Dark "Snow White"". Boca Raton News. p. 5. Retrieved July 8, 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ a b c Stone, Sally (August 17, 1997). "Sigourney Weaver: Mirror, mirror!". Portsmouth Daily Times. p. 16. Retrieved July 10, 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  8. ^ Elber, Lynn (August 23, 1997). "Horrors! This 'Snow White' is no Disney cartoon". The Standard-Times. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Jones, Alan (September 1997). "Snow White: Sigourney Weaver" (PDF). Cinefantastique. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 27. Retrieved July 8, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Handelman, Jay (August 22, 1997). "Bloody 'Snow White'". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved July 10, 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  11. ^ a b Jones, Alan (September 1997). "Snow White: Sigourney Weaver" (PDF). Cinefantastique. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 28. Retrieved July 9, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ a b c "Snow White: A Tale of Terror - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Linden, Sheri (August 31, 1997). "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Variety. Archived from the original on April 23, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Jones, Alan (September 1997). "Snow White in the Black Forest" (PDF). Cinefantastique. Vol. 29, no. 3. pp. 25–26. Retrieved July 8, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Jones, Alan (September 1997). "Snow White: Sigourney Weaver" (PDF). Cinefantastique. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 29. Retrieved July 9, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ a b Diamond, Jamie (January 12, 1997). "A Neo-Romantic for a Harsh Age". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  17. ^ "Film Production". The Hollywood Reporter. December 26, 1995. p. 3. Retrieved July 9, 2025 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ Jones, Alan (September 1997). "Snow White: Sigourney Weaver" (PDF). Cinefantastique. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 30. Retrieved July 9, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror".
  20. ^ "Boo! 20 Hollywood Horror Movies That Were Filmed in Prague". October 24, 2017.
  21. ^ Smith, Liz (June 27, 1997). "Prince Charles seems happy out of the paparazzi madness". Los Angeles Times. Toledo Blade. p. 1. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via Google News Archive.
  22. ^ "Sigourney Weaves a Tale of Terror". The Buffalo News. August 18, 1997. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  23. ^ Snow White:a Tale of Terror [VHS]. ASIN 630464972X.
  24. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. August 25, 1998. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  25. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. August 13, 2002. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  26. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. May 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  27. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror / Darkman II:The Return of Durant / Firestarter 2: Rekindled". Amazon. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  28. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. June 1998. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  29. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [VHS]". Amazon UK. September 17, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  30. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD] [1997]". Amazon.co.uk. February 6, 2006. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  31. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. May 14, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  32. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. April 4, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  33. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror [Blu-ray]". Amazon.co.uk. July 4, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  34. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Amazon. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  35. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror Blu-ray".
  36. ^ Mah, Emmelyn (March 22, 2025). "7 live action Snow White movies and TV shows to check out". Prestige Hong Kong. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  37. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  38. ^ "SCARY 'SNOW WHITE': SO GRIMM, SO GREAT". The New York Daily News. August 21, 1997. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  39. ^ Warren, Bill. "Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  40. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (August 23, 1997). "Deliciously Twisted Adult 'Snow White'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 27, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  41. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  42. ^ Thomas, William (January 1, 2000). "Snow White: A Tale Of Terror Review". Empire. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  43. ^ Burr, Ty (March 5, 1999). "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  44. ^ Rabin, Nathan (March 29, 2002). "Snow White: A Tale Of Terror". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  45. ^ "Snow White: A Tale of Terror". Time Out. September 11, 2012. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  46. ^ "Past Nominees and Winners". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  47. ^ "Mike Southon BSC". British Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on April 17, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  48. ^ "Snow White: A Tale Of Terror". Television Acamedy. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  49. ^ "The 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.