Snow White: A Tale of Terror
| Snow White: A Tale of Terror | |
|---|---|
DVD cover for Snow White: A Tale Of Terror
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| Genre | Horror Fantasy |
| Based on | "Snow White" |
| Screenplay by | Tom Szollosi Deborah Serra |
| Directed by | Michael Cohn |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | John Ottman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Tom Engelman |
| Cinematography | Mike Southon |
| Editor(s) | Ian Crafford |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Interscope Communications |
| Budget | $26 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | Showtime |
| Original release |
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Snow White: A Tale of Terror is a 1997 American dark fantasy horror television film based on the fairy tale "Snow White". Also known as Snow White in the Black Forest it was directed by Michael Cohn and stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill and Monica Keena. The original music score was composed by John Ottman. The film was marketed with the tagline "The fairy tale is over".
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 Lilli Hoffman, named after her dead mother, plays mischievously on the grounds of the Hoffman estate. Fredric remarries a noble woman named Lady Claudia. Despite Claudia's kindness to her, Lilli is resentful and bitter towards her new stepmother. On the Hoffmans' wedding night, Lilli runs from her nursemaid and hides under Claudia's bed. However the nursemaid is mysteriously killed by an unseen force when she looks into Claudia's mirror.
Years later, Lilli grows into a beautiful young woman. On the night of a ball, Claudia now pregnant with Lilli's half brother, gives her a gown to wear at the ball that belonged to her as a child. Lilli rebuffs the gift and rebels by wearing one of her own mother's gowns to the ball. Her father is startled, then pleased at the evocation of her mother. As the two dance, a hurt and jealous Claudia, goes into an early labor and delivers a stillborn boy. Doctor Gutenberg informs Fredric that although Claudia is perfectly healthy she can never have another child. Distraught, she is soon corrupted by the power of the mirror.
The next morning, a remorseful and sympathetic Lilli attempts to make peace with Claudia who appears to forgive her. Dr Gutenberg proposes to Lilli which she happily accepts and he goes to ask for her father's consent. While waiting for him, she is confronted by Gustav who tries to kill her as per Claudia's orders but she escapes deep into the woods. Gustav then 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 her and Fredric's dinner. However, when she coughs up the boar's blood she realises that Gustav has failed her. Enraged at his betrayal, she bewitches him causing him to have horrific hallucinations and he commits suicide. In the meantime, Lilli is found by seven rough, combative miners, led by Will, who grudgingly take her under their wing. Claudia makes another attempt on Lilli's life by using witchcraft to crush her in the mines but she is rescued by Will. Doctor Gutenberg returns to the castle to find it almost abandoned save for Claudia who in an attempt to get rid of him, seduces and pleads with him to find Lilli.
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