The Lair of the White Worm

The Lair of the White Worm is a 1988 British horror film about an archaeologist (Peter Capaldi) who discovers an enormous skull while on a dig and learns that the local legends regarding an ancient snake god may not be made-up stories after all. The film costars Amanda Donahue, Sammi Davis, Catherine Oxenberg, and Hugh Grant. The screenplay was written by noted British director Ken Russell (who also directed the movie), and was based on the 1911 Bram Stoker novel of the same name.

Plot Summary
While on a dig in Derbyshire, archaeologist Angus Flint (Capaldi) uncovers the skull of an extremely large snake. He believes that it may be the source of a local legend, that of the d'Ampton Worm, a monster said to have been slain centuries before by the brave John d'Ampton. Flint and d'Ampton's descendent James (Grant) begin to suspect that the Worm is still alive and living in the caverns beneath the countryside.

Part of the cave system connects to a manor house owned by Lady Sylvia (Donohoe), who is actually an immortal snakelike priestess to the snake god Dionin, the "Worm" of legend. Lady Sylvia violently disposes of any threats to her god (such as nosy archaeologists) and collects victims for sacrifice. One of the latter is Eve Trent (Odenberg), the owner of the land on which Flint found the skull. Sylvia uses her powers of hypnosis to bring Eve back to the manor house, and prepares to feed her to Dionin while Flint, d'Ampton, and Eve's sister Mary (Davis) try to save her.