I can’t help but feel a little perplexed by the Aussie film industry and it’s fascination with crime. Is Australia riddled with this dark underworld I’m oblivious to? It all seems like sunshine, lollipops and rainbows to me. Plus, I like to think we’ve progressed a little since our convict roots….but maybe I’m just being naïve.
CUT SNAKE follows “Sparra” (Alex Russell) your typical Aussie-battler who is all set to settle down with his girlfriend Paula (Perth girl Jessica De Gouw), when a spanner is thrown in the works by the unexpected reappearance of an old thug friend Pommie (Sullivan Stapleton) who is ready to get up to mischief.
It sounds like a simple (and arguably overdone) plot, but don’t be too quick to judge: CUT SNAKE has an interesting extra layer to it…. If you’re an astute viewer, you may even be able to predict it before it plays out.
I can’t help but feel a little sad when I watch little homegrown flicks like this one. It’s a really well made movie; the cast put on strong performances and are utterly convincing in their roles. The soundtrack is well thought out, with sometimes unusual – but always appropriate – choices.
Visually the flick looks good, embodying the 70s era in a realistic, yet understated, way and the story is sufficiently gripping.
Yet despite all these good points, CUT SNAKE won’t get a wide release, and it’s likely that it won’t get the audiences it deserves.
It’s a sad state of affairs really. I hope to be proven wrong in this instance!
CUT SNAKE is a gripping little film that showcases a trio of strong Aussie actors. While it’s not quite in the league of Aussie offerings like THE WATER DIVINER, ANIMAL KINGDOM or RED DOG, it is well made and deserves a good audience. I rate it 6 stars.
