Review of Black Snake Moan (2006) by Kashiki H — 04 Jun 2011
A Southern Gothic tale worthy of Tennesee Williams grafted onto the music of Son House and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Small-time Tennessee farmer and former bluesman Jackson, going through a bitter breakup with his wife, hopes to find redemption by nursing back to health and reforming young nymphomaniac Ricci, found badly beaten outside his shack, whether she wants his help or not.
Seeing as it's not, he ends up padlocking and chaining her to his radiator until she 'gets right'. Once you get past the seemingly seedy, provocative and sensationalist novelty of an older black man tying up a much younger white sex fiend to his radiator (nicely summed up in the film's pulpy promotional materials), the film is really standard cinema therapy ready for the Lifetime Channel.
However, it does have a good feel for blues music and an appropriately steamy atmosphere. Jackson and Ricci are very good playing off each other, but as the movie progresses the material becomes increasing pedestrian, and the final reel just pitters out.
This review of Black Snake Moan (2006) was written by Kashiki H on 04 Jun 2011.
Black Snake Moan has generally received positive reviews.
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