Bardlerx
Strictly average movie
Senteur
As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin
The movie really just wants to entertain people.
Nicole
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Peter Pluymers
"Good day, Paula. I'm Jim, but you can call me Pommie."My expectations are pretty high strung whenever I encounter an Australian movie again. I was pleasantly surprised already a few times after discovering a film from Down Under. Even though "Cut Snake" put me on the wrong track at a certain moment, the film in general wasn't really surprising. The denouement was even extremely predictable. The two main characters Jim "Pommie" Stewart (Sullivan Stapleton) and Mervyn "Sparra" Farrell (Alex Rusell) shared a grim past. That was kind of obvious. I didn't expect those two former prisoners to have a connection on a whole different level. At first it seemed Pommie had traced his partner in crime just to convince him to pick up the thread on a criminal level. As it becomes clear that Sparra has chosen to walk the right path, this throws a spanner in the works. Sparra has resolutely opted for the ordinary life with his fiancée Paula (Jessica De Gouw). Even a poorly paid job can't convince him to go back to a world of crime. What follows is a complex and tumultuous love triangle.It's safe to say that "Cut Snake" is a melodramatic thriller. What certainly stands above the rest in this film is the acting of Sullivan Stapleton. Pommie is the type of figure who makes you feel a little uneasy instantly. A burly, heavily tattooed and intimidating appearance whose uncontrollable rage suddenly breaks out and then quickly disappears. Unerringly if unwittingly, Sparra is sucked into a destructive spiral of aggression and violence. And he himself will end up in an inner conflict. Even though it appears from the outset it's heading for a typical crime film, the movie makes an unexpected twist, changing it into a very different mood. In contrast to the terrifying face of Stapleton, Alex Rusell has an angelic face. An ordinary guy who appeared out of nowhere in Paula's life and whose dark past remained hidden until Pommie appeared on the scene. The film is set in the 70s and situated in an Australian town near Melbourne. The whole film is made in the outspoken style from the 70's. Clothing, vehicles and used soundtrack fit perfectly. My compliments to the decor department. And if you're wondering what the film title exactly means, then I suggest you look up the Australian statement "mad as a cut snake". "Cut Snake" is an indie with a two-faced character. On the one hand it's a simple crime film. On the other hand it's a rather bold melodramatic love story. The twist incorporated in the film is not without a risk. An experiment where some of the viewers will have second thoughts about. I appreciated the subtlety with regard to how everything was imaged. No overly explicit scenes were being used. Not even during the violent scenes. The highlight for me was the moment the tough and resolute Pommie emotionally crashed and briefly showed how fragile and helpless he was. A strong and persuasive piece. Are you an adventurous movie lover? Then this film is really something for you.More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT
geraldohanna
Cut Snake is one of those rare films you find one night while searching through an endless list of films you have yet to see. You've looked over it numerously, thought about watching, even pressed played and quickly stopped... Why? I have no clue... Maybe because it's a little film with a cast and director i have no previous knowledge of... But Cut Snake is a good film... Just flawed with a sprinkle of Cliché undertones.Merv (Alex Russell, "Chronicle") has a good life going with his girlfriend Paula (Jessica De Gouw, "Underground") but with the unexpected arrival of James (Sullivan Stapleton, "Blindspot") a friend from his shadowy past, he is forced to revisit closed doors. From here we enter a character study of these two men and how they both interactive and somehow fit together. With Merv, we see quiet and fragile; but a temper hidden deep within. James, anger, sadness and neglect. Blake Ayshford and Tony Ayres ("The Slap") do a wonderful job of dissecting both men and yet showing how they fit together or most importantly what brought them together. But because we've already seen a movie like this before... (Brookeback Mountain) the emotional gravitas of this film falls flat. It feels as we are getting the same movie only with a slightly different plot and characters. Swapping the late Ledger for Russell, and Gyllenhaal for Stapleton; who unlike Gyllenhaal is a closeted homosexual but unsure why he resents his feelings. We even having the awe-struck girlfriend who is saddened by what she sees. But the real star of this film is Stapleton, who honestly carries the burden of coming home to find your love one has moved on. He affectedly shows us anger and yet humorously makes jokes about the situation with each step. Cut Snake is an entertaining film if your in the mood for another Brookeback Mountain.
sinnerofcinema
Just saw this film and it left me absolutely speechless. I did not know what to expect. A friend told me I had to rent this movie. She had just seeing it. She Saw. It kept me at the edge of my seat. This is one of the few film where I was actually rooting for the bad guys hoping that they would be able to work things out. Seek this film out. Get it, watch it. I can assure you after you have watched it, you'll want to own it. Bravo to the filmmakers, actors and all involved the story was well paced, drafted & executed. I will be adding this film to my personal collection. No other best way to describe this film other than a m a z i n g!
Red-Barracuda
A man called Pommie is released from prison and hooks up with an ex-con friend called Sparra who has settled down with a wife in a life away from crime. Before long a dangerous chemistry begins to take effect between them and things start to get out of control.This Australian thriller is set in the mid 70's. It benefits from a strong performance from Sullivan Stapleton in the role of the psychotic character Pommie. This is not a typical psychopath however, as there is an unusual sensitivity to this character, completely at odds to his hard man exterior. The main thing that underpins this aspect is the big surprise turning point in the movie, where we discover that both cons history is not one solely of violence but of love. They were lovers in prison and seemingly still have strong attractions for one and other now, meaning that the movie becomes an unorthodox love triangle. This adds a further layer of tension to proceedings to top of a scenario that is pretty tense as it is, as both men get involved in violent crime that threatens to destroy the home life of Sparra. It's a situation that can only end in tears and events escalate accordingly.This is a well-acted and daringly written thriller that goes places that remain unusual in these kinds of films especially. Worth catching for these reasons.