Snake Expert Reviews Indiana Jones’ Raiders of the Lost Ark Snake Pit Scene

Raiders of the Lost Ark introduced Indiana Jones to the world in a movie that would become one of the most iconic films of either Harrison Ford or Steven Spielberg’s respective careers as an actor and director. The film stands the test of time in most regards, and continues to thrill audiences with its period setting, storyline full of adventure and impressive special effects. But how does the accuracy of the film’s unforgettable Well of the Souls snake pit scene hold up? Surprisingly, very well indeed, according to snake expert Sara Ruane – as long as you ignore the fact that many of them are not actually snakes.

In a new video from Insider, Ruane shares her thoughts on the scene in which Indy and Marion (Karen Allen) find themselves trapped in a snake-infested pit. Although some have suggested that more of the snakes in the scene would be poised to attack in such a scenario, it appears that Spielberg got things pretty much spot on with how the sleek reptiles respond in the scene. Ruane explained:

“What we’re seeing is a mixture of heavy-bodied snakes, boas and pythons, and then a bunch of legless lizards that aren’t snakes at all. The snake sitting there like that but not really doing anything is pretty accurate. Snakes are doing almost everything in their power to not bite. Venom is only used defensively as a secondary defensive system. Snakes primarily use venom to acquire prey.

“To avoid getting bit in a situation like that, staying still is a good strategy to start with. Staying calm, no herky-jerky motions. Anything that’s going to startle the snake is more likely to make it bite because it’s going to get scared. Trying to back away very slowly and calmly would be the next step. That’s a python and it’s just hanging out. That seems pretty realistic. That’s what most snakes do. Most snakes, even if you’re up close in their face, are going to remain pretty calm. One of the best way snakes defend themselves is by not moving and hoping you don’t really see them.

“I’m going to give it a five [out of 10]. What I like about this clip is the snakes for the most part are acting the way snakes do. I have to take some points off because most of the animals in this clip aren’t snakes at all.”

Indiana Jones’ History with Snakes Became a Common Thread Through the Franchise

From his first adventure to his last, the line of “Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?” became synonymous with Indy’s various adventures. Whether tracking Nazis, discovering aliens, or traveling through time, the adventuring archeologist always seems to come up against what could almost be his greatest adversary.

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Of course, Ford’s frequent face-to-face moments with the serpents have never been quite as it seems. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ford and one cobra he memorably finds right in front of him are separated by a pane of glass. In later movies, a combination of fake rubber snakes and CGI were used to create more encounters, but however the scenes were achieved, those moments have always delivered a nervous laugh from audiences, especially those with a touch of ophidiophobia themselves.