Rattlesnakes (2019) User Reviews

Quite a good effort for a low budget thriller

[omendata · 6/10 · 19 May 2019]

I was not expecting much going into this when i saw Jack Coleman from Dynasty was starring in this but I was pleasantly surprised as the film is quite short but it does well with what it had to work with on the budget so re-iterates you should never judge on appearances.

Jimmy Jean-Louis does steal the show though; he blows all the other actors out of the water; the BLM movement are always complaining about good black actors in movies and yet we have actors like Jimmy who deserve more roles yet they give them to zero talent wasters like John Boyega. Just goes to show there are a lot of good black actors out there but for some reason they insist on casting any old black actor just so that it can fulfill the "BLM quota" when we have immensely talented actors like Forrest Whittaker, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Cuba Gooding and many more.

It easily beats a lot of multi million pound so called thrillers that have come out this year and as we say in Scotland the "double twist in the tale" denoument was a very pleasant surprise and puts the cherry on top of the cake and elevates this above merely an average 5 stars for me to a 6/10.

We are soulmates.

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 24 May 2019]

Robert McQueen (Jimmy Jean-Louis) is a licensed therapist who instructs rich bored housewives in yoga. He also gives private lessons as a life coach. Seems wives have issues with their husbands. Three of the husbands suspect something is amiss and hire an investigator. They opt to have an intervention with Mr. McQueen which involves a knife, a hammer, and duct tape.

The "rattlesnakes" was mostly metaphorical. The film was an interesting drama with a nice twist ending.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

Not good at all!

[Mjm00653 · 4/10 · 22 August 2019]

Thought this movie was horrendous! Acting couldn't be any worse than what it was! Direction was average to pitiful. Don't waste your time.

Watchable

[daviddunn-90653 · 5/10 · 23 June 2020]

Storyline was reasonably well crafted, albeit very slow paced. And, the background music was somewhat overpowering. Not a movie I would watch again.

Impressive thriller!

[FIoret · 7/10 · 20 June 2019]

Randomly picked this movie to watch without knowing anything about it. This is a low budget straight to DVD movie. The storyline is suspenseful that keeps your attention and guessing who's actually the bad guy(s). I especially loved Kathleen McClellan , who played "Lizzy" . She was intense and unhinged without overplaying it, which could have easily ruined the scenes but she played it perfectly.

Story of a Therapist !!!

[saptesh786 · 4/10 · 14 May 2019]

Just watch this movie for a difference that for not much famous names nor hearing this movie name on internet so far. I found that the movie is a little bit watchable with simple one liner story of a Therapist who is treating women with therapy to move away stress & problems from their lives. Three businessmen connected each other with some connections found that the therapist was cheating their wives and sleeping with them. Then they planned to capture him to finish. But actually drama starts here. What is the real truth? Who is therapist? For this you have to see the movie. There is a twist at the climax and end is predictable. (You can get early this prediction if you can pick link). Acting by McQueen (Jimmy Jean-Louis) is just okay, not perfect and others are only wasted. Overall acting department is totally empty only story line with suspense gripped you till end. Then you look for story you can enjoy it, but aware from its slowness too, though movie is not so long, but it is going very slow in its half and more part. Just a B grade movie with a better story line.

Unpredictable...

[teodoramonika · 7/10 · 1 August 2021]

6.5 / 10.

The film was very interesting. He kept his attention and was tense all the time. The end is unpredictable.

Look, a recommendation.

bit slow for me

[watcher2019 · 6/10 · 9 May 2019]

Ah not too bad just a bitty slow. but a real twister at the end.

MUST-SEE neo-noir psychological thriller!

[egioffre-97537 · 10/10 · 11 December 2019]

Karma is a bi... zarre element in storytelling that can twist the mind and conscience of an audience with great force. It can manipulate and entertain the viewer in such effective way that the viewer feels they have a say in the ending of such tales.

Rattlesnakes is a neo-noir psychological thriller brought to you by visionary director Julius Amedume and the gifted Jimmy Jean-Louis, who champions an incomparable performance while also triumphing as a producer.

Rattlesnakes is a tale that follows Robert McQueen, an eccentric licensed therapist, who will live the most dramatic day of his life. This film won't leave your memory any time soon!

"Remember who loves you" are the words the protagonist leaves his home with that day. What is he hiding? A masterful use of flashbacks throughout Ademude's vision demonstrates his beautiful craft and not only reveals secrets but intensifies the suspense.

Robert McQueen has a happy family and a passion for his job but is still a disturbed man. Whether he is conscious of it or not, he is playing with fire...

The story focuses on one client - Lizzy Hanson, who is brilliantly portrayed by the talented actress Kathleen McClellan. Her character arch will leave you speechless!

Beautiful cinematography, mesmerizing soundtrack!

But is the audience ready for what is to come? No matter, Amedume displays beautiful directing, so sit back and enjoy the ride.

I enjoyed Rattlesnakes! It was an official selection in the Miami Film Festival of 2019 and the audience's reaction was practically palpable in the screening!

Rattlesnakes is a film that must be seen!

Karma plays a huge role, it is yet another character within the story. It is used in such an effective way that the viewer will play a role in the outcome of the tale. Where will the viewer's sympathy lie? One thing is absolutely certain: Rattlesnakes will glue you to the screen awaiting a finale that no one sees coming!

Great adaptation of Graham Farrow's play!

[dgarcia-15120 · 10/10 · 8 May 2019]

Jimmy Jean-Louis McQueen was superb! The final scene gave me the goosebumps! People, this is a psychological thriller! Brother in law, coworker, friend, battered wife, obsessed woman (kind of "Fatal-attraction"). You need to analyze each character and their motivations, relationships, and backgrounds to finally be hit with the brilliant final scene. Julius Amedume added a new dimension to the already fascinating Farrow's characters making them even more believable. The atmosphere, the acting, the locations, everything was well staged. If you are looking for a fast paced, light entertainment movie, this may be not your movie, and you may find it "slow". But, if you like to be psychologically trilled, immersed, amazed, and be astonished by an unexpected ending, then you shouldn't miss this one.

Top notch thriller

[passionfruitprod · 10/10 · 1 June 2019]

Rattlesnakes had me captivated right from the start. As soon as you think you know what's happening, think again. I love twists and turns in a movie, and Rattlesnakes did not disappoint. All the performances were stellar across the board, including the multi-layered Jimmy Jean-Louis and a delicious turn by Kathleen McClellan!

Suspenseful story twists

[tetienne-47567 · 10/10 · 26 August 2019]

I attended a screening for this at the Haiti International Film Festival in L.A. Jimmy Jean-Louis commands the screen as the film's lead and Julius Amedume's solid adaptation successfully translates into suspense, mystery and dimensional characters on screen. As a writer myself, I didn't see the ending coming!

The production value for such a modest budget is also equally impressive. Like its namesake, the film Rattlesnake packs a serious bite.

Really had me rattled...

[joanfyarm · 10/10 · 26 April 2019]

As a theatre lover; a producer, director and actor, I always loved this play by British playwright Graham Farrow... thought it was bold, visceral, challenging and a hell of a good moral story. I loved the way it twisted and turned, played with your mind, had you rooting for one person then the other, challenging your perceptions and delivering a shattering, unforgettable climax.

So, when I heard that a movie had been made I was sceptical; not a lover of adaptations per se but I wanted to give it a chance and it didn't let me down.

So the story, changed one or two ways from the play is about a family Man, Robert McQueen, played superbly well by 'Heroes' star Jimmy Jean Louis. He is also a faith healer/spiritual guru who 'helps' local women with crises in their lives. In the play he is a male escort but this doesn't detract from the story.

One day he is ambushed by a group of angry, vengeful husbands who have found out that he is sleeping with their wives. Armed to the teeth; they want answers and by God they're gonna get them.

Over the course of the film, various scenarios are played out and we are gripped; not knowing where the story is going to take us. McQueen, because of his knowledge of the men through conversations through their wives, is able to drive a wedge between the men. He knows their secrets and uses these secrets to his advantage and some secrets and more shattering and revealing than others.

Hanson, the leader of the gang is played by the superb Jack Coleman; his wife, Lizzy by the impressive Kathleen McClellan whom I remember from Seinfeld. It's Lizzy's arrival on the scene that really turns the screw and provides a climax which is both evilly clever and unforgettable.

A great 90 minutes of cerebral film; one which will test you and move you. Great performances all round. Tight direction from Julius Amedume, and, thankfully, Graham Farrow's hand is there to see in the screenplay.

Not to be missed!!

Rattlesnake

[stephenfoster-12263 · 8/10 · 29 October 2019]

This movie is a great night in and I fully recommend it

Venomous neo-noir thriller!

[afhamblen · 10/10 · 13 May 2019]

Excellent cinemtography, twists, turns and script, Rattlesnakes packs a punch as one of the most stylish Anglo-American Independent films of 2019. Well done Snakes!

Top notch

[grafarrow · 10/10 · 11 May 2019]

Twas a great movie. Acting, direction, cinematography all first class.

A film to engage your brain and keep you guessing.

Dark, twisty, suspense, non stop thrill!

[francie32 · 10/10 · 13 January 2020]

I thought this movie wouldn't be so edge of your seat scary. It was. I like that the beginning introduces you to the characters then straight to the action! I highly recommend you watch this well written and well acted movie.

A good slow burn with a nice twist

[kevincroach83 · 10/10 · 22 May 2019]

Having been familiar with Graham Farrow's works before, it was exciting to watch one of his plays get the film treatment it deserved. Ever the fan of slow burn thrillers, I was fearful that they would rush the story, but this film lingers, forcing you to hang on until the conclusion. The additions to the film from the play were well crafted, adding to the story and plot without deviating too far from the source material. It became a more fleshed out story that the stage simply can't encompass like a film does. Thrilling film, based on a thrilling play. I expect to see this one do well in the festivals.

Play; a masterpiece; film, good.

[simplysallysez · 9/10 · 13 May 2019]

Like a few reviewers and audience members I come to this film knowing the play. I've always wanted to play Shelly on stage. She is such a complex character; real, so many strengths, weaknesses, flaws, edges... a fully rounded female.

So that's where I'm going to start my review. Firstly, not sure why her name was changed to Lizzy, but that's not my decision. As the catalyst in the play; the glue that joins everything, I found her a little weak and a little wanting. She wasn't well rounded, had no edge, none of the flaws I wanted to see. I think Kathleen McClellan did well with what she had, but I didn't believe in her, which is sad for me.

For the rest, I wanted to see more of the psychodrama, the building tension, the dissection of the male psyche; the fallings out, the accusations, the switching of sides that we see so memorably in the play. This was replaced by a need to get to the climax too quickly I felt.

However, still a good film, full of suspense. Jimmy Jean Louis plays McQueen well. He plays a faith healer who is caring for the local housewives. It's only when a group of husbands find out about his little extra curricular activity that his game is up.

The men take him hostage and they want answers. However, the answers are not what they expected and this is where the tensions arrive, building towards a superb, shattering climax.

Jack Coleman was superb as Hanson; the leader, the brains. Jay Acovone was delicious as the slightly crazy Jarett and German actor Christian Oliver added top class support as the edgy, impotent Ellis.

So, I think you should watch the film. It's a good ride but more of the psychology of the play and it could have been a classic to be remembered and talked about for years to come.

One to watch

[NikaKhitrova · 10/10 · 11 May 2019]

Loved the characters and directing. Great story telling !!

I am quite sure Hitchcock will nod.

[aSumuru · 10/10 · 9 May 2021]

A gem of a film so rare and utterly brilliant and all aspects. Beautifully shot and told through great directing and performances. A DEFINITE screen gem that I am sure Hitchcock himself will nod in approval. Well done!