Dir: David R. Ellis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips

It is incredulous that a film can be billed as a ‘cult movie’ before it has been released. A cult film is measured by the reaction of the audience. They are taboo and outside the mainstream. It is impossible to predict their success beforehand. However, cult cinema is also ritualistic. It is about rites, outlaw status, embracing otherness and a sense of discovery and ownership. It can be argued that although Snakes on a Plane does not fit into the formula of the former, it most certainly does fit into the latter.  The New-Line Cinema-produced film has somewhat of a unique internet following, not seen since The Blair Witch Project. The fan parodies and video mockery of the film (mostly based on the comically simple title) has created a unique marketing campaign and may have transformed the film into a huge success.

The plot is quite straightforward. On a flight transporting a witness of a brutal murder, an assassin determined to stop the man from testifying unleashes a large amount of deadly snakes onto the plane.

The film lacks all logic throughout. First we are expected to believe that the FBI discovered there was a definite witness to the murder because they found a can with fingerprints on near the body. How did they know it was a witness and not the actual murderer?! Then we are forced to accept the fact that it is so very easy for a Honolulu police officer to smuggle a crate full of snakes on a plane. Also, we probably aren’t supposed to question why a plane would take off during a thunderstorm in the first place, nor how the wind velocity can suck off the metal exterior of the plane but not one plastic chair from inside! However, once you realise that there is no logic needed in this film and it is more tongue-in-cheek than story driven, it is a hurdle that is easy to clear.

The character development in this film is very good. Each role was well thought out and enough background was given on the characters for us to understand them individually. This was also helped by a well-assembled cast and solid acting.

Samuel L. Jackson was superb as FBI officer Neville Flynn. I did wonder what he was getting himself into, but the man really does know the right roles to pick. The intensity he brought to the film was strong and his comic timing was unexpectedly perfect. Julianna Margulies was excellent as the female lead and there was a host of comedy stars (Flex Alexander, David Koechner and Kenan) who supported well.

The film was very well scripted with some hilarious dialogue. Samuel L. Jackson’s line “You know all those security scenarios we ran? Well I'm smack in the middle of one we didn't think of !” was off the charts. There are a number of lines that will be repeated and repeated and add to the audience’s arcane knowledge of the movie, which is a distinctive trait of cult cinema. Also, sex and violence runs (or slithers) rampant in this movie. It brings a completely different meaning to the idiom ‘to cherish a snake in one’s bosom’ as these snakes seem to particularly enjoy the most exploitative parts of the body.
The snakes themselves are poorly animated and could have been better with the technology available. I do question whether or not this is intentional to make it more comical than scary, which may be giving them too much credit.

The cinematography was, at times, itself questionable. The snake-eye view shot where a lime green filter was used as the snake enclosed on its prey was awful while also an unwitting tip of the hat to Natural Born Killers.

The soundtrack is solid. It adds to the tension when necessary and there is also some modern rock thrown in as well.

The film had elements of trash cinema. If Divine was still alive, he would most probably be in this film. Some scenes were ludicrous but, at the same time, had the audience in stitches. This is billed as an action/horror/thriller but this is most definitely a comedy and the best one in a while.

If Snakes on a Plane is intended as a serious thriller then it is a very poor piece of cinema. However if it is meant to come across how the audience took it in, then it is a genius piece of comedy. In many ways this is not a cult film, but it does have some stylistic traits and it is certainly memorable. If you are still unsure whether or not you want to watch it, look at it like this. Take Airplane! and throw in some snakes on speed and this is the result. Thoroughly entertaining.

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