CUT SNAKE

Australia, 2015, 94 minutes, Colour.

Sullivan Stapleton, Alex Russell, Jessica De Gouw, Kerry Walker.
Directed by Tony Ayres.

Cut Snake is a psychological crime thriller, opening in New South Wales but most of the action taking place in Victoria. It was directed by Tony Ayres, who directed a number of interesting films including the semi-autobiographical Home Song Stories and the film on homosexuality, Walking on Water. In later times, he has worked on television, especially in production and direction of The Slap.

The initial focus of the film is an ex-convict, Jimmy (Sullivan Stapleton), nickname Pommy, walking along the streets, hitching a ride, trying to track down a friend from prison days, visiting friend’s mother, getting the address, finding his friend, Merv, working in a factory. At first, it just seems to be making re-acquaintance – but there is a certain look and expression on Jimmy’s face.

In the meantime, Merv (Alex Russell), has settled down after his prison sentence, working in a factory, engaged to an attractive young woman, Paula (Jessica De Gouw). At which stage, audiences become wary of Jimmy and his presence in the house, seemingly friendly, doing the washing up, yet with something of a sense of menace.

Which seems to be a catalyst for some kind of action is the fact that Paula and her friend, Yvonne, take Merv and Jimmy to a club, with performances by drag queens, which seems to upset Jimmy. In fact, he still has robberies on his mind and really wants Merv to take part in the jobs.

While there is some activity, especially some bashings, and Merv, losing his cool as a reformed X-prisoner, indulges in the brutality, the film becomes more of a psychological drama, the conflict escalating between Jimmy and Merv, Paula learning more about her fiance’s past which, of course, upsets her.

As might be expected, there is a buildup to a showdown, the crisis between Merv and Paula and her shock and his taste and whether it will be resolved, and how will Jimmy fare in his persuading Merv to go on a job with the but also to continue a relationship that began in prison.

This kind of psychological interaction, with crime background, always has some interest but, on the whole, this is something of an average entertainment.

1. Crime thriller? Australian tone? Universal story?

2. 1974, the look, cars, clothes, style? Sydney? The country? Victoria? Homes, clubs, factories, the streets? The songs of the period?

3. The title, the reference?

4. The focus on Jimmy, his nickname Pommy, walking the roads, hitching? The visit to Mervyn’s mother? Ominous, getting the address? The factory? The initial interaction with Merv? Going to the house, meeting Paula, the meal, washing up? Settling into his room? The outing with Yvonne, going to the club, the drag queens, performance, sitting on his lap, his negative reaction, anger? Robbing the club? His hold over Merv? The revelation of the past, prison, sexual relationship, his making advances? Merv’s response and kissing? Finding the house trashed? The return to the club, persuading Merv, breaking the lock, bashing the men, pulling off the owner’s wig? His telling Paula the truth? The visit to Yvonne, her flirting, Paula's arrival? The plea to Merv? Going to the prostitute, his violent reaction? The setup, the meal and being taken notice of at the restaurant? Going to the club, Merv locking him in the room, his setting the fire? Using Paula as a hostage? His love for Merv, letting himself be shot – for the sake of Merv?

5. The focus on Merv? Seen at work, the broom factory, the relationship with the boss, the workers? The 30th anniversary party, his playing with the kids? The relationship with Paula, happy, at the house? His secrets? Jimmy’s arrival, his reaction, the meal, washing up? Settling in his room? Going to the club, his concern about Jimmy, the robbery? His love for Paula? The background of prison, the flashbacks, the sexual relationships? Four years? His response to Jimmy? The trashed house, his deal in buying the gun? The threats? The return to the club, his anger and his bashing the men? Paula’s reaction, his plea to her? The idea for setting up Jimmy, rudeness at the restaurant, the phone call, setting up the trap, into the club, locking Jimmy in, saying he was sorry? Paula’s arrival, Paula as hostage? The two together? The police, Jimmy and the threats with the gun? His memories, in the cell with Jimmy, Jimmy’s death?

6. Paula, in herself, her parents, love for Merv, together, the friendship with Yvonne, work together, hopes? Jim’s arrival, friendly, the wash up? Going to the club, her puzzled reaction? Jimmy telling her the secrets, the prison issue, her being upset, yet the love for Merv, the sexual encounter? Moving out, going to Yvonne’s? The police interrogating her? The phone call, going to the club, held hostage?

7. Yvonne, friend, at work, the drag queens, flirting with Jimmy?

8. The club, the drag queens in performance, the owners, the types?

9. The police, interrogations, investigations, the siege?

10. An average crime thriller?