Snakeskin

I loved this film so much I've seen it several times, and with each viewing am rewarded with another layer of story telling, symbolism, character development and references to Kiwiana - & NZ v USA culture.

On first viewing it's a twisty road trip with lashings of humour and a sci fi flavour, but subsequent viewings reveal a much darker story and complicated characters - once you recognise clues delivered in short sequences, or understand that throwaway lines are crucial to the story.

Cinematically it's an eye popping feast of vast landscapes and gorgeous lush scenery, but it's the dark twisty story which satisfies the most. Melanie Lynskey as Alice blew me away in her first sexy lead role rather than as the usual "suburban friend" she gets cast as; even Dean O'Gormon surprised as I'd only ever seen him acting in a soap before.

The soundtrack deserves special mention - especially the mood inducing soundscapes as the road trip progresses.

Overall this is a classic NZ film which will affect an entire generation of New Zealanders as Goodbye Pork Pie did in the 70s. Well worth a look.

Superb acting and cinematography compliment a fresh writing style that skillfully guides us through this modern-day "Alice in Wonderland" set in New Zealand. Lynskey especially takes us on an ultra-realistic joy/horror ride, as the subtle changes in her character hook us almost subconsciously, and before we know it, drag us forever down the rabbit hole, screaming for more!

Gillian Ashurst's films are generally characterised by fetishistic use of kitchy character images from sci-fi, the wild west and 1950s pin-ups. It's anchoring, but can come across as objectifying and seems to contribute to a lack of plot.

Snakeskin does not entirely diverge from the kitchy character theme but definitely has a tight plot with good momentum. The main characters are believably drawn, although they're not particularly likeable.

The acting in Snakeskin varies. Oliver Driver is brilliant in a challenging role as a skinhead. Melanie Lynskey tends to overact somewhat, and Dean O'Gorman at his best, although this is not saying much. The "comic relief" characters, the local ice-cream van drug vendors, are both annoying and extraneous to the plot.

There are some very well executed sequences and ideas, for example the grief caused to a family by a fatal car crash, the CGI section when one of the characters is tripping on LSD and a tender moment shared between a skinhead and women's underwear. These snipets in themselves give an idea as to the diverse tone of this film.

Snakeskin is an interesting development for Ashurst as a filmmaker, and worth a watch, although more in the sense of 'fun' than 'challenging'.

New Zealand movies have a knack for being slightly 'quirky' and this film is no exception. The characters are somewhat enigmatic, the scenes are at times surreal, and the plot is suitably 'dark'. Unfortunately, "Snakeskin" is unable to live up to its premise, and the viewing experience is somewhat unfulfilling. However, this is not to say that the film is without its good points: Firstly, the cinematography is absolutely breathtaking and showcases the beauty of Southern New Zealand; secondly, the camera work is extremely effective (especially in the first half) thus adding an element of intrigue; and thirdly, the acting is slick and well-polished (in particular Melanie Lynskey and Oliver Driver).

Despite its good intentions, "Snakeskin" does not run as smoothly as it ought too. The first half of the film runs like a typical road movie, and this is reinforced by the use of humour and brisk action (car chases etc). The second half of the film takes a dramatic change however, and veers into thriller territory. The scenes become darker, more complex, and more serious. I found this shift in genres quite distracting, and it made the film increasingly difficult to comprehend. Obviously, the snake motif plays a central part in the film, but this is undermined by the 'twilight zone' treatment it receives in the latter stages. Ultimately, I think the film would have been more effective if it stuck to a simpler story-making formula.

I was not surprised when i saw the rating because i always viewed Snakeskin as a film that you have to watch multiple times in order to understand. The first time i watched it, i really liked how the story built up the characters in the first half of the movie, while the second half left me with a lot of question marks. Although, when i watched it for the third time, i really grasped the symbolism and profound thoughts presented in the third act.

Snakeskin starts off as a fun action film, but then it turns into a thriller with very suspenseful scenes in claustrophobical environments. I also liked how the director chose to have all the minor characters shown in previous scenes, reappear later on to show that everyone is heading in the same direction. The music is really well chosen, the landscapes shown in both day and night scenes are really beautiful, and the actors, especially Oliver Driver, give the film an even higher level. I definitely recommend watching it, but as i previously said, you need to watch it multiple times in order to understand it.