Venomous (film)

Venomous is a 2001 American science fiction horror film directed by Fred Olen Ray, starring Treat Williams, Mary Page Keller, and Catherine Oxenberg. The film centers on a small town in California that is terrorized by genetically engineered snakes created by a rogue scientist.

The plot revolves around Dr. Christine Edmonton (Keller), a herpetologist, who is called in to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. She discovers that the victims have been killed by a highly venomous and aggressive snake. Further investigation reveals that the snakes are the creation of Dr. Leonard Vance (Williams), who was experimenting with gene splicing to create super-snakes. Vance's experiments went awry, resulting in the snakes escaping into the town's water system and rapidly multiplying.

The film follows the efforts of Dr. Edmonton, Sheriff Thomas (Anthony Denison), and a team of specialists as they attempt to stop the snakes before they kill more people. They must contend with the snakes' intelligence, venom, and ability to quickly adapt to their environment. Ultimately, they devise a plan to eliminate the snakes using a combination of poison and electrocution within the town's water treatment plant.

Venomous is a low-budget creature feature that features standard horror tropes such as isolated settings, unsuspecting victims, and a looming threat. It received generally negative reviews, with critics citing the film's predictable plot, low-quality special effects, and subpar acting. While not a critical success, Venomous is considered a typical example of the B-movie horror genre and has found a niche audience among fans of creature features.