Making his mind to begin a new and clear life, Sparra Farrell, a young former convict, who after being released from prison, goes to the city of Melbourne, where he has a good work and a quiet life, till the arrival of his cell mate, who turns his life upside down.
A young crim out of jail, trying to go straight... hardly an original concept, but Blake Ayshford's screenplay gives it a novel twist and extra layers, while director Tony Ayres pushes for an edgy delivery
An inconsistent film covering too much familiar ground, Cut Snake often gets distracted by the need to service an admittedly striking (though largely pointless) 1970s production design.
Perhaps the low-ish budget shows here and there, but Ayres' filming of Blake Ayshford's script has a fittingly lived-in '70s look, a cool soundtrack, strong work from the leads (and the supporting cast) and, at times, a sense of real foreboding.
Glenn Dunks
September 29, 2015
In Tony Ayres' Cut Snake, the true blue Aussie crime flick gets a queer coat of paint. It masks itself as a standard crime flick, but subverts what we have come to expect from these films...
A tough little crime drama full of muted anger, growled dialogue and whispered threats...Much as we applaud the achievements of filmmakers working on small budgets, you can't hand out free passes when those limitations hobble the flow and feel of a film.
Is wasting a great idea better than having none at all? It's up for debate in Cut Snake, where one smart spin on crime caper conventions just isn't enough.
Artfully shot by Simon Ford, with fine period detail from production designer, Josephine Ford, Cut Snake is technically top-notch, and emotionally uncompromising, as Ayres again strides into largely virgin territory for Australian cinema.
Los Angeles Times
November 12, 2015
In terms of plot and motivation ... an illogical mess that no amount of carefully moody cinematography can save.
