Snow White: A Tale of Terror

Snow White: A Tale of Terror is a 1997 American Gothic dark fantasy horror film directed by Michael Cohn from a screenplay by Tom Szollosi and Deborah Serra. Co-produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Interscope Communications, it is based on the 1812 fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, and stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Neill, Gil Bellows, and Monica Keena. Set in the 15th century Germany, the film follows Lilli Hoffman (Keena), a young noblewoman forced to flee her home into the forest and join a group of outcasts in order to escape from her stepmother Claudia (Weaver), who blames Lilli for her miscarriage and seeks to kill her.

Originally titled The Grimm Brothers' Snow White in the Black Forest, the film began development in 1993, after producer Tom Engelman successfully proposed the project to Polygram. Several screenwriters spent three years working on the story, which was conceived as a darker and more realistic retelling of the tale. Michael Cohn was appointed director of the film, which became his first big-budget production. Principal photography took place at Barrandov Studios in Prague, as well as at several other locations throughout the Czech Republic, beginning in October 1995 and continuing into 1996.

The film was originally intended for a theatrical release, but made its premiere on Showtime on August 24, 1997, as a television movie retitled Snow White: A Tale of Terror. It received mixed reviews from critics and was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress (Weaver), Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Makeup at the 50th Primetime Emmy Awards.