Fascination is the main gift of this special short film. A film about women power. But, more important, about the power of friendship between two women using a Medieval image as lead tool against the rudeness of strangers. A film like a large opened window in early morning. Not only well crafted but proposing a real powerful message.
7 Reviews
This short has absolutely nothing to offer except style over substance
Horst_In_Translation17 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Here we have a pretty short short film by writer and director David Mahmoudieh. It runs for under 7.5 minutes and apparently the production company has made this one available for everybody to watch on Youtube and by now it has scored over two million views already. On imdb you can cut three zeros, but more than 2,000 ratings is also far from shabby. This was made back in 2020, so now that we have the year 2024, you can say that it is not a really new film and also not an old one. Impressive awards attention it scored too if you take a closer look. It was an American production, but Mahmoudieh is from England originally, London actually, so it is no huge surprise that most of said awards attention comes from America and the UK. Unfortunately, as you can see from my rating, I cannot agree with any of the praise. The film did almost nothing for me in terms of story and entertainment value. You can say that a lot of the success and attention it received is due to the exaggerated focus on females being harassed and what the film does with this idea. We have two women here getting out at night at a dine or gas station and there are two men that are older than the girls and these men (or rather one of them) start cracking sexist jokes. I mean it is not nice obviously, but also does not justify what happens next: One woman pulling a gun without any actual physical threat to her at all is already a bit much, but the wannabe cool twist then with what the other woman is hiding in her car and under her skirt and what she does with it is just really all for the sake of it. I did not care one bit anymore, but if I did, I could have wondered if she was an alien, a mutant or whatever and if this was some kind of postapocalyptic world they were living in. The last shot from outside the car and where the women are driving to makes it seem like this a bit.
The words we hear from one of them in the car shortly before the film ends also make no sense because it was really the same woman, the one being in the background initially, that has both the flute and the snake, so yeah I have no idea how they did not recognize that and even used these words a key message to promote the film. I mean Malmoudieh was far from a rookie back in 2020 and he should have seen this, already shooting content for about a decade or even longer if we look at his music video days for example. He worked with Coldplay among others and he was still in his 20s at that point, which is quite something. Now he is close to 40 and I hope he managed to improve. I guess him working on the new and fairly well-received Superman series says something positive, even if he only directed one episode. You could also wonder if this short film here will eventually get a sequel or even get a full-feature film based on the characters. I myself would have no interest to see such a thing as you probably guessed already, but seems the outcome here has a decent fanbase. Overall, it is a really low rating (my lowest) from my side for this short film here and I am glad it was this bad. It is just all about attention-seeking as you could have guessed from the baity title already, like a thumbnail that is needy in catching the viewers' attention. I highly recommend you to stay far away from this one here. Do not get tricked into seeing it by the awards attention it received. Anything positive I can say? The two girls are not unattractive and the post-credit scene with the two guys (well, only one then) is funny for a second or so, but also drags on for way too long and this is true for the entire film and if a movie that is way under ten minutes does so, then it says all about the quality really. Or lack thereof. Absolutely not recommended.
The words we hear from one of them in the car shortly before the film ends also make no sense because it was really the same woman, the one being in the background initially, that has both the flute and the snake, so yeah I have no idea how they did not recognize that and even used these words a key message to promote the film. I mean Malmoudieh was far from a rookie back in 2020 and he should have seen this, already shooting content for about a decade or even longer if we look at his music video days for example. He worked with Coldplay among others and he was still in his 20s at that point, which is quite something. Now he is close to 40 and I hope he managed to improve. I guess him working on the new and fairly well-received Superman series says something positive, even if he only directed one episode. You could also wonder if this short film here will eventually get a sequel or even get a full-feature film based on the characters. I myself would have no interest to see such a thing as you probably guessed already, but seems the outcome here has a decent fanbase. Overall, it is a really low rating (my lowest) from my side for this short film here and I am glad it was this bad. It is just all about attention-seeking as you could have guessed from the baity title already, like a thumbnail that is needy in catching the viewers' attention. I highly recommend you to stay far away from this one here. Do not get tricked into seeing it by the awards attention it received. Anything positive I can say? The two girls are not unattractive and the post-credit scene with the two guys (well, only one then) is funny for a second or so, but also drags on for way too long and this is true for the entire film and if a movie that is way under ten minutes does so, then it says all about the quality really. Or lack thereof. Absolutely not recommended.
This short NEEDS to be an HBO TV series
Top_Dawg_Critic21 October 2020
I'm a fan of short films, any they're a stepping stone for new filmmaker, and are usually just OK as such.
UK writer and director David Mahmoudieh isn't exactly a newb filmmaker, but also only has experience in short films. And this one is one of the best I've seen, and here's why:
The title - tell me that doesn't engage anyone's curiosity with a smirk. I was disappointed there was no trailer attached, so a quick Google search led me to a hilarious and stellar YouTube teaser Trump impersonator.
Now I'm laughing and really curious. Oddly enough, YouTube also had the actual short film on the LA SHORTS channel, and at only 8 min long, I watched it
Start to finish, absolutely brilliant and stellar! Directing: 10/10. Originality/story: 10/10. Cinematography: 10/10. Sound: 10/10. Casting and performances: 10/10. Set/props/FX: 10/10.
Please, PLEASE make this a TV series! It's a perfect and well deserving 10/10 from me. To read more of my 1000+ ratings and reviews, simply click on my username. But first watch the teaser and this short film!
UK writer and director David Mahmoudieh isn't exactly a newb filmmaker, but also only has experience in short films. And this one is one of the best I've seen, and here's why:
The title - tell me that doesn't engage anyone's curiosity with a smirk. I was disappointed there was no trailer attached, so a quick Google search led me to a hilarious and stellar YouTube teaser Trump impersonator.
Now I'm laughing and really curious. Oddly enough, YouTube also had the actual short film on the LA SHORTS channel, and at only 8 min long, I watched it
Start to finish, absolutely brilliant and stellar! Directing: 10/10. Originality/story: 10/10. Cinematography: 10/10. Sound: 10/10. Casting and performances: 10/10. Set/props/FX: 10/10.
Please, PLEASE make this a TV series! It's a perfect and well deserving 10/10 from me. To read more of my 1000+ ratings and reviews, simply click on my username. But first watch the teaser and this short film!
Short of the year, feature must happen.
RobRoen31 October 2020
I don't often review films but boy for this one I had to. I first heard of Snake D*** on Instagram when someone (I think the cinematographer) posted some images. Poppy is the most brilliant actress, severely underrated, and I was excited to see her in such a different role. I searched everywhere for a link, could not find it, then the production company announced the film was playing at LA Shorts and I would finally get to see it.... I was not disappointed.
I have watched this film at least ten times and will watch it many times more, everything about it is perfect. I won't ruin the surprise ending but..... wow wow wow. It is one of those moments you just can not look away, you realize you are watching something truly special happening before your eyes. The music as well, simply breathtaking.
Why can't Hollywood make bold and original ideas like this one? The comeback of the eighties is popular right now, this movie deserves to be a full length cult classic. There is nothing else like it, everyone else I have shown the film to agrees. I am surprised to see the screenwriter // director has only made one feature.... I will be following him very closely after this.
Hollywood, make this movie!
I have watched this film at least ten times and will watch it many times more, everything about it is perfect. I won't ruin the surprise ending but..... wow wow wow. It is one of those moments you just can not look away, you realize you are watching something truly special happening before your eyes. The music as well, simply breathtaking.
Why can't Hollywood make bold and original ideas like this one? The comeback of the eighties is popular right now, this movie deserves to be a full length cult classic. There is nothing else like it, everyone else I have shown the film to agrees. I am surprised to see the screenwriter // director has only made one feature.... I will be following him very closely after this.
Hollywood, make this movie!
This needs to be a full film!
BandSAboutMovies24 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Jill's got the snake. Julia's got the flute. Alone, they have nothing. But together, they have a secret weapon to fight the darkness."
This short may only be around eight minutes long, but it has a neon-hued look and just enough mystery to see where this story will go with more time and budget.
Jill (Poppy Drayton) and Julia (Sierra Pond) break down in the desert and have to fix their car while two men named Earl (Ross Francis) and Joe (Micah Fitzgerald) harass them. What they didn't realize was just how tough both of these women are, much less the secret appendage that Jill is between her thighs.
High on visual look and ideas and low on time and budget, this has made me take note of David Mahmoudieh, the writer, producer and director of this short. I can't wait to see what happens when he gets the time and funding to do something big.
This short may only be around eight minutes long, but it has a neon-hued look and just enough mystery to see where this story will go with more time and budget.
Jill (Poppy Drayton) and Julia (Sierra Pond) break down in the desert and have to fix their car while two men named Earl (Ross Francis) and Joe (Micah Fitzgerald) harass them. What they didn't realize was just how tough both of these women are, much less the secret appendage that Jill is between her thighs.
High on visual look and ideas and low on time and budget, this has made me take note of David Mahmoudieh, the writer, producer and director of this short. I can't wait to see what happens when he gets the time and funding to do something big.
Ridiculous..but also brilliant (studios, take note)
paulv8528 April 2021
I spent the whole pandemic watching every show, every movie, documentary, short, music video the internet had to offer. I thought I had seen everything..then along came Snake Di*k. WTH! I am traumatized for life and may require therapy. However I fully appreciate the talent and craftsmanship behind this film. If there is a more original, cinematic oddity that carries as much commercial appeal as Snake Di*k, I am yet to see it. Poppy Drayton is a revelation as 'Jill', I need more of her in this role and in my life, I have no idea how she is not a megastar already. The lighting is gorgeous too, I assume it was shot on film or with very old lenses because it has that vintage look. Someone please sign this film and these filmmakers to a huge studio contract so they can make a feature version. Then I might actually be excited about movies again.
Simply blown away
petergreenreviews20 March 2021
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