I liked the idea, and it could've been good. I thought the main character took too long to act. For the situation she was in, I'd expect more urgency. Not enough suspense was created. I am disappointed. Very anticlimactic.
188 Reviews
Enjoyable but Underwhelming - A Somewhat Lousy Attempt
TwistedContent25 October 2019
Can't say I had exactly high hopes for this, but it's even more disappointing coming from the director whose previous movie (also a Netflix original) was the decent and effortful "1922". "Rattlesnake" knows exactly what it is, but it doesn't try to excel at it at all.
For the most part "Rattlesnake" feels like an uninspiring slow-burn, a familiar tale of a familiar dilemma explored only vaguely as if the filmmakers behind this were uninvested and half asleep. You know when you start cleaning up your room but give up halfway through? That's how "Rattlesnake" felt like. Some of the qualities include a good main performance by Carmen Ejogo (who tries her best while portraying a character in search of any real personality), a story that holds potential (but instead chooses the uninventive, watered down approach) arguably good cinematography (which kinda wears down with time by just not changing, impressing, surprising) & an original score that goes from seemingly effective to either repetitive or feeling like it's been wasted on this movie. Both the script and the direction is bland and comes off as simply not very smart. The pacing's very even throughout and also very slow, it doesn't quite pick up at the end either.
I believe "Rattlesnake" is a fine friday flick, but I can't put this anywhere above average, because in the end it feels more like just another filler for the mass market of movies on digital media than it feels like a sophisticated, well crafted and entertaining thriller/horror movie. My rating: 5/10.
For the most part "Rattlesnake" feels like an uninspiring slow-burn, a familiar tale of a familiar dilemma explored only vaguely as if the filmmakers behind this were uninvested and half asleep. You know when you start cleaning up your room but give up halfway through? That's how "Rattlesnake" felt like. Some of the qualities include a good main performance by Carmen Ejogo (who tries her best while portraying a character in search of any real personality), a story that holds potential (but instead chooses the uninventive, watered down approach) arguably good cinematography (which kinda wears down with time by just not changing, impressing, surprising) & an original score that goes from seemingly effective to either repetitive or feeling like it's been wasted on this movie. Both the script and the direction is bland and comes off as simply not very smart. The pacing's very even throughout and also very slow, it doesn't quite pick up at the end either.
I believe "Rattlesnake" is a fine friday flick, but I can't put this anywhere above average, because in the end it feels more like just another filler for the mass market of movies on digital media than it feels like a sophisticated, well crafted and entertaining thriller/horror movie. My rating: 5/10.
Good if you can't find anything else to watch!
sounds130 October 2019
Rattlesnake was not the worst movie Netflix has attached their name to yet. This movie is definitely one to add to your list and watch when you simply can't find anything else interesting to watch. The acting is weak, the script is boring and the movie is lonnngggg! Oh wait, it's not! It is only an hour and a half long - but feels like 2 and a half.
It had a lot of potential but failed. It did you get thinking about many different scenarios, outcomes, questions in general. It doesn't however give you a final answer - nor does it really try to make you wonder if she's not right in the head, is the town cursed, was she seeing things, could this be legit, did the daughter actually get bit? Nothing! It just sort of ends...
Worth a watch if you're bored - but there's plenty of movies to waste your time on that are much better than this one.
It had a lot of potential but failed. It did you get thinking about many different scenarios, outcomes, questions in general. It doesn't however give you a final answer - nor does it really try to make you wonder if she's not right in the head, is the town cursed, was she seeing things, could this be legit, did the daughter actually get bit? Nothing! It just sort of ends...
Worth a watch if you're bored - but there's plenty of movies to waste your time on that are much better than this one.
Kind of a Twilight Zone episode, not movie-worthy
rlaine31 October 2019
Unfortunately not very good as a movie. These Netflix originals are really hit or miss stuff and I think I can see a pattern already. In many cases they are something that would work better as an episode of an anthology series and don't really benefit from movie length. There simply isn't enough substance to carry a full movie.
We have a mother and a child who for whatever reason are moving by car and decide to take a short cut through a small desert road. Tyre goes flat and a rattlesnake bites the kid while the mother is changing the tyre. Mysteriously a trailer appears nearby where they go to seek help (cell phone naturally does not work). Kid is cured, but the cure comes with a price that puts the mother in a difficult situation. While kind of interesting setup, there is zero beef to the story, nothing is explained or based on anything. And this is often the case with these "direct-to-Netflix" movies, things just happen. When there is no story to base the plot on, it's not very interesting. Just so many why's .. And the ending is fittingly unsatisfying.
The direction - while not exactly bad - definitely does not add any artistic value to the movie. A movie either needs to be artistically interesting or tell a proper story, this one did neither. Why a rattlesnake? Who was the lady? What was the movie all about? Is there some folklore about a rattlesnake bite and cure that I as a European don't know? I mean the movie is even titled "Rattlesnake" and not "The Curse of The Desert Lady", which it probably would have been called had it been made in the 50s. It kind of has the same b-movie quality to it.
The acting is ranging from ok (Ejogo) to bad (Rossi).
We have a mother and a child who for whatever reason are moving by car and decide to take a short cut through a small desert road. Tyre goes flat and a rattlesnake bites the kid while the mother is changing the tyre. Mysteriously a trailer appears nearby where they go to seek help (cell phone naturally does not work). Kid is cured, but the cure comes with a price that puts the mother in a difficult situation. While kind of interesting setup, there is zero beef to the story, nothing is explained or based on anything. And this is often the case with these "direct-to-Netflix" movies, things just happen. When there is no story to base the plot on, it's not very interesting. Just so many why's .. And the ending is fittingly unsatisfying.
The direction - while not exactly bad - definitely does not add any artistic value to the movie. A movie either needs to be artistically interesting or tell a proper story, this one did neither. Why a rattlesnake? Who was the lady? What was the movie all about? Is there some folklore about a rattlesnake bite and cure that I as a European don't know? I mean the movie is even titled "Rattlesnake" and not "The Curse of The Desert Lady", which it probably would have been called had it been made in the 50s. It kind of has the same b-movie quality to it.
The acting is ranging from ok (Ejogo) to bad (Rossi).
Not terrible, but unsatisfying at the end
Wizard-825 October 2019
I'm not sure why Netflix decided to pick up (and make a Netflix exclusive) this low budget thriller. It's not a terrible effort, but I could see much more wasted potential than what the movie actually grabbed on and used. It gets to an okay start, having a little atmosphere and not taking too long to set up the situation the female heroine finds herself in. However, after that point, the movie quickly gets bogged down. Though the heroine is racing against time, I couldn't get that feeling at all - there is no feeling of tension or speed, and the heroine seems to be taking the situation more calmly than I think anyone else in her shoes would be feeling. The situation also feels too stretched out for its own good, even though the movie only has a running time of 85 minutes. As for the ending, I won't spoil what happens in the climax or conclusion, but I will say that I had a strong feeling of dissatisfaction from these final few minutes; there are a number of unanswered questions as well as future potential problems for the heroine that simply are not resolved. I guessed the movie is fairly well produced for its very low budget, but I would have accepted a less slick look for a stronger atmosphere and more suspense.
Long on patience, short on bite
refeahcs26 October 2019
A lot of low budget horror movies end up just like RATTLESNAKE. They stretch the story and the viewer's patience as best they can to reach that full feature length when they really should have remained a leaner 30-minute short in a horror anthology of sorts. There's a pretty good set-up that winds up spinning its wheels for 50 minutes or so until it reaches its underwhelming finale. You barely get to know the main characters or the evil behind the driving force of the story.
Hildiitch's adaptation of SK's 1922 for Netflix got a boost from an almost unrecognizable Thomas Jane in the lead. Ejogo's performance feels, for lack of a better work, lacking. While I didn't hate what I was viewing, I sure didn't like checking my watch every 5 minutes either.
Fair's Fair.
sarah-508-64942125 October 2019
Its not bad.
Decently paced thriller keeps you watching as there's so many variations of what could happen next it keeps you guessing. Atmosphere is pretty good and the lead actress does a good job. Don't get me wrong there is no Oscar winners here but for an hour and a half at home with your feet up it will keep you entertained.
Opportunity lost
xjamesourownx15 November 2019
Rattlesnake has a great concept. A women gets a puncture and while fixing it her daughter gets bitten by a rattlesnake. Suddenly a trailer appeared and a women cures the bite and says she will talk about payment later. Payment it turns out is she must replace her life with the life of another or her daughter will die as payment has not been met.
So the concept is great, any artform which makes you think what would I do and helps you empathise with the characters is usually on to s winner but that's where it starts to be let down. It's right here where some amazing philosophical debates could start to begin. Could you find someone evil and feel ok about killing them when there is an opportunity that this person could change in the future and positively impact others? Is it right you should take the life of another when fatalists and people of religion may say you are going against god's plan. Or is it ok to take the life of someone seriously ill when there may be opportunity of miraculous recovery you are taking away. All these a brilliant film would make but it doesn't explore or question the situation at all, there is only acceptense. It's a shame really, opportunity lost.
So the concept is great, any artform which makes you think what would I do and helps you empathise with the characters is usually on to s winner but that's where it starts to be let down. It's right here where some amazing philosophical debates could start to begin. Could you find someone evil and feel ok about killing them when there is an opportunity that this person could change in the future and positively impact others? Is it right you should take the life of another when fatalists and people of religion may say you are going against god's plan. Or is it ok to take the life of someone seriously ill when there may be opportunity of miraculous recovery you are taking away. All these a brilliant film would make but it doesn't explore or question the situation at all, there is only acceptense. It's a shame really, opportunity lost.
Disappointed for the missed opportunity
SnigBhaumik25 October 2019
A mother with her little daughter stuck on a Texus wasteland, the kid gets bitten by a rattlesnake, the mother gets her cured by a stranger - but the payment of the cure is what the movie is all about.
The story is innovative, but somewhere in execution it gets lost in translation. You can feel the director is slowly drifting away from the primary focus (which should have been about the core mystery) and concentrating more other trivial stuff. Showing the leading lady's dilemma is fine, but too much of that diluted the actual interest.
And in the end, you will feel somewhat disappointed on how much better this could have been.
The story is innovative, but somewhere in execution it gets lost in translation. You can feel the director is slowly drifting away from the primary focus (which should have been about the core mystery) and concentrating more other trivial stuff. Showing the leading lady's dilemma is fine, but too much of that diluted the actual interest.
And in the end, you will feel somewhat disappointed on how much better this could have been.
Nothing Special
smledezma27 October 2019
Am I a pushover?
mg_a511 February 2021
Why so grouchy, fellow reviewers? It might help to think of Rattlesnake not as a horror film, but as a folktale, told in rich detail in a slow drawl. I've watched it three times, it's become a kind of ritual for me: the heat-saturated cinematography, the series of quick-sketched minor characters (check out the gun salesman, and the creepy husband who Keeps Her In Her Place), and the beautiful logic of the climax- the desperate mother must kill to save her daughter, but in killing must lose her soul, or at least our sympathy: the solution to that conundrum is brilliant, and elegantly brings the tale full circle. Of all the movies lately that are shot in the desert to save money, this one is my favorite.
(Not?) enough bite
kosmasp7 March 2020
The beginning is so strong the rest might come off as a bit of weak. But that would be a disservice to the movie - if you actually thought that way. It looks good and the acting is good too. The story seems complicated at first, but is quite easy to follow.
Depending on what you expect, you'll either be satisfied or might be dissapointed a bit. There is enough horror, there is enough drama though and a central question that might haunt you. The suspension works and even if you don't like where it's heading it keeps up until the end ...
Depending on what you expect, you'll either be satisfied or might be dissapointed a bit. There is enough horror, there is enough drama though and a central question that might haunt you. The suspension works and even if you don't like where it's heading it keeps up until the end ...
Really, really boring.
petsitterlyn-4901230 October 2019
It could have been better if we weren't subjected to watch every single little movement. Near the end, when she was climbing down in the canyon, it took forever. Perhaps suspenseful music would have helped. I kept skipping ahead starting at 20 minutes in. Nearly every frame was a closeup of the main character's face.
What a waste of time.. and what a shame!
Alan_H431 October 2019
Short SPOIL FREE review:
This movie was excruciatingly boring. Watching paint dry on a wall was more entertaining. Also I've watched the movie is less than 25 minutes. I skipped and skipped like a racehorse.
Seriously folks just read the following and try to think critically for a moment:
There are amazing movie scripts out there, amazingly talented individuals who would do anything to make a movie with passion and dedication.. How on earth does Netflix fund and green light these kind of movies?
This is making me seriously consider changing from streaming service.. I've seen a couple more of these kind of projects and it's offensive, do they think we're stupid?
Seriously, I beg not see these kind of boring, low budget, meaningless movies... If that is their objective, then please make a map with a name 'budget friendly movies', that's the stuff I'll be avoiding at all times. Those who love that kind of stuff, can have it...
I guess it's now a battle of having more instead having better movies... Quantity above quality.
This movie was excruciatingly boring. Watching paint dry on a wall was more entertaining. Also I've watched the movie is less than 25 minutes. I skipped and skipped like a racehorse.
Seriously folks just read the following and try to think critically for a moment:
There are amazing movie scripts out there, amazingly talented individuals who would do anything to make a movie with passion and dedication.. How on earth does Netflix fund and green light these kind of movies?
This is making me seriously consider changing from streaming service.. I've seen a couple more of these kind of projects and it's offensive, do they think we're stupid?
Seriously, I beg not see these kind of boring, low budget, meaningless movies... If that is their objective, then please make a map with a name 'budget friendly movies', that's the stuff I'll be avoiding at all times. Those who love that kind of stuff, can have it...
I guess it's now a battle of having more instead having better movies... Quantity above quality.
it could have been so good (5/10)
Un7865725 October 2019
If you like horror movies, watch this one with low expectations but watch it
agostino-dallas26 October 2019
I have lived in Texas for 5 years. Texas has a nice atmosphere for horror movies. It has all the ingredients: long lonely roads, weird landscape, weird folks, I say it in a nice way. This movie is not bad per se but It is hard to believe that they - the producers - missed it so badly. The plot could have been better worked on. The reason the lady got in trouble made no sense, what triggered the whole thing was not really making sense. But it is not a waste of time, it is just not as good.
Started SO well.
mvike9 December 2019
I saw someone mention that this would've been great as a 15 ish minute short. I agree. It could've also worked as a series being of the "Devils" POV.
It started off REALLY interesting and I give it 10/10 for POTENTIAL!
However...after you know what's going on, it really falls apart totally...it felt so flat and generic once it got the story going. It basically goes exactly as you'd expect ...no twist, no real good characters...and the plot becomes just...boring. I wanted to like this so bad...because I want to support horror films made with quality...it's shot fine, no issues...but it's just...nothing?? A series would've given them time to flesh things out...but yeah. Not the worst but you'll miss nothing if you skip it...sadly...the 4/10 is only due to the set up, which I enjoyed. Also, the little kid was VERY cute.
It started off REALLY interesting and I give it 10/10 for POTENTIAL!
However...after you know what's going on, it really falls apart totally...it felt so flat and generic once it got the story going. It basically goes exactly as you'd expect ...no twist, no real good characters...and the plot becomes just...boring. I wanted to like this so bad...because I want to support horror films made with quality...it's shot fine, no issues...but it's just...nothing?? A series would've given them time to flesh things out...but yeah. Not the worst but you'll miss nothing if you skip it...sadly...the 4/10 is only due to the set up, which I enjoyed. Also, the little kid was VERY cute.
Ugh! So much potential...
stephenherman26 October 2019
This film had an awesome set up and premise. I was so sure it was going to be great but it fell just short of what it could have been. It's not bad at all. Still a decent watch. But I hate when you have such a great concept and don't execute it as good as it could be done. Everything was already in place. All the writer needed to do was raise the stakes some more. Give this a secondary storyline or subplot. It was just a straight forward story which made it lag sometimes. It needed just something a little extra to make it feel more whole. And it was kind of predictable. It's a shame, they were sooooo close. Still, it's decent watch.
Just boring.
Patient44427 October 2019
Predictable. Slow. Boring.
The only good thing I have to say about Rattlesnake is that it managed to occupy its entire run time, one of 1h 25minutes, including the intro and the credits, but other than that, seriously, you could anticipate everything that was going to happen here from min 25 mostly.
I wish I could recommend this, but it is slow, boring and genuinely doesn't show anything, close to literally no action, everything is put there from the very beginning and it is quite clear where it's heading. I guess you could give it a go but try and expect nothing from it. Cause it will certainly fail to deliver.
Cheers!
The only good thing I have to say about Rattlesnake is that it managed to occupy its entire run time, one of 1h 25minutes, including the intro and the credits, but other than that, seriously, you could anticipate everything that was going to happen here from min 25 mostly.
I wish I could recommend this, but it is slow, boring and genuinely doesn't show anything, close to literally no action, everything is put there from the very beginning and it is quite clear where it's heading. I guess you could give it a go but try and expect nothing from it. Cause it will certainly fail to deliver.
Cheers!
Haters gonna hate
onmyway926 October 2019
Ok its not 10/10 movie, but the acting is solid, makes you wonder whats going on the whole time, defiantly not 4.6 movie - just makes me wonder who's agenda is in play here. its sure a well done movie although its not something new you never watched. just watch it, don't listen to haters.
Solid 7 - Writers Needed More Creativity
ravenclaw_girlrules27 October 2019
This movie definitely doesn't deserve such a poor rating. However, I agree with some of the other comments that the stakes weren't high enough. The person she chose was truly awful, so there's not really a moral dilemma there. What about if she had to kill three people? Then a greater dilemma is introduced: is the life of a child worth 3 lives? How about if she had to kill another child in order for the sacrifice to be equivalent? Good movie, but could've been great.
Not totally unwatchable
Draysan-Jennings28 October 2019
Netflix archetype movie
rudygerst4 November 2019
I'm starting to notice a pattern in those Netflix movies :
Netflix movies are always the same. They're like a push-up bra. You want to see what's behind it, but in the end, you're always disappointed.
- A pitch, simple and intriguing
- Some mysterious, surnatural force that will never be explained
- A main protagonist who drives the story by its sheer stupidity
- Dragging scenes that makes a 90mn movie feel like 3 hours
Netflix movies are always the same. They're like a push-up bra. You want to see what's behind it, but in the end, you're always disappointed.
Terrible netflix B movie
daysleeper-666-87824028 October 2019
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