A trio of criminals kidnap the son of a wealthy hotelier for ransom...but they soon discover there's a deadly black mamba snake roaming the hallways of the townhouse in which they're now all trapped.

Will their diabolical plan see success or does darkest Fate hold a different card?

Two seemingly divergent plotlines merge nicely in this action thriller-cum-horror tale, highlighted by some superb tension (including the powerful finale).

The entire cast manages some solid performances, most notably Williamson as police commander and Miles as the genial toxicologist turned hostage.

Best scene: the fanged one's unforgiving attack on maid George and her agonizing, rough edged last moments (via a very cool snake POV).

Really quite underrated overall.