Review of Black Snake Moan (2006) by Kenr — 21 Jan 2019

This sexploitatioal Paramount Vantage release cost some millions and lost almost all of them, and it’s easy to see why. Writer/director Craig Brewer seemed to be getting his rocks off with his half naked nymphomaniac character (a victim of child abuse buts it’s never made exactly clear by who) She’s grimly played by Christina Ricci – who pops pills, swilling them down with alcohol, between getting her gear off with any number of the unwashed locals - only to end up bashed and dumped by the side of the road.

Enter black farmer and ex-blues singer (Sam. L. Jackson) who decides the only way to ‘save’ her is to chain her to his fireplace (literally!) Brewer then introduces a bunch of Southern Baptist types to shift the focus (slightly).

Now our movie maker attempts to please both the porn lovers and those who want to play it ‘straight’ – this mix sits uncomfortably together and one hardly justifies the other. The players work harder than the script deserves and the results shift off in all kinds of perverse directions to an almost tacked on finale.

If you don’t object to spending a couple of Hrs looking at a series of grungy situations with foul mouthed despots – you might feel at home – otherwise, you may want to give this rather ugly exploitation flick a wide burst.