Sssssss (1973)
A chilling tale of a mad scientist, a deadly serum, and one young man's horrifying transformation into a King Cobra.
Sssssss - Movie Information
- Original Title: Sssssss
- Release Year: 1973
- Directed by: Bernard L. Kowalski
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi
- Age Rating (US): PG
- Runtime: 1h 39m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 6, 1973 (United States - PG), November 10, 1973 (Germany)
- Alternative Titles: SSSSnake (UK), Hissssss (US)
- Production Companies: The Zanuck/Brown Company, Universal Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Sssssss - Plot
David, a college student, is looking for a job. He is hired by Dr. Stoner as a lab assistant for his research and experiments on snakes. David also begins to fall for Stoner's young daughter, Kristina. However, the good doctor has secretly brewed up a serum that can transform any man into a King Cobra snake—and he plans to use it on David.
Sssssss - Trailer
See the terror unfold in the official trailer for this 1973 cult horror classic:
Terror is ready to strike!
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Sssssss - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Bernard L. Kowalski
Main Cast
- Strother Martin
- Dirk Benedict
- Heather Menzies
- Richard B. Shull
- Tim O'Connor
- Jack Ging
- Reb Brown
- Ted Grossman
- Kathleen King
- Charles Seel
Writers
- Daniel C. Striepeke
- Hal Dresner
Producers
- Daniel C. Striepeke
Sssssss - FAQs
Where can you stream or watch Sssssss (1973)?
Sssssss (1973) is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It is not currently available on a major subscription streaming service, so digital rental is the easiest way to watch it.
What actually happens to David at the end of Sssssss?
By the film's conclusion, David Blake's transformation into a King Cobra is complete and irreversible. Dr. Stoner's serum has fully converted him into a snake. In a grim twist of poetic justice, the newly transformed David is killed by a mongoose kept on the property, leaving Kristina to witness the horrifying outcome.
Is Sssssss based on a true story?
No, Sssssss is a work of pure fiction. The screenplay by Hal Dresner draws on classic mad-scientist horror tropes and the real-world danger of venomous snakes to craft a cautionary tale, but the central premise of a serum that transforms humans into cobras has no basis in reality.
Who are the main actors in Sssssss?
The film stars Strother Martin as the obsessive Dr. Carl Stoner, Dirk Benedict as unsuspecting lab assistant David Blake, and Heather Menzies as Kristina Stoner. Supporting roles are filled by Richard B. Shull, Tim O'Connor, Jack Ging, and Reb Brown, among others.
What is Sssssss about?
Sssssss follows David, a college student who takes a job as a lab assistant for the eccentric Dr. Stoner. While David falls for Stoner's daughter Kristina, he is unknowingly subjected to a serum designed to transform him into a King Cobra, revealing the doctor's terrifying obsession with snakes.
What is the age rating for Sssssss?
Sssssss carries a PG rating from the MPA. While the film features unsettling body-horror transformation sequences and scenes involving live snakes, it was considered suitable for general audiences with parental guidance under the rating standards of the early 1970s.
Who directed Sssssss and who wrote it?
Sssssss was directed by Bernard L. Kowalski, a veteran television and film director. The screenplay was written by Hal Dresner, based on a story by Daniel C. Striepeke, who also served as the film's producer and contributed to the script.
How long is Sssssss and when was it released?
Sssssss has a runtime of 99 minutes. It was theatrically released in the United States on July 6, 1973, and later opened in Germany on November 10, 1973. The film was produced by The Zanuck/Brown Company and distributed by Universal Pictures.
More About Sssssss
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