Snakeskin (film)

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Snakeskin
Snakeskin (2001).jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGillian Ashurst
Written byGillian Ashurst
Produced byVanessa Sheldrick
Starring
CinematographyDonald Duncan
Edited by
  • Marcus D'Arcy
  • Cushla Dillon
Music byJoost Langeveld and Leyton
Production
companies
Release dates
Running time
94 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageEnglish

Snakeskin is a 2001 New Zealand road thriller film directed by Gillian Ashurst and starring Melanie Lynskey. It was released theatrically in New Zealand on 11 October 2001. Despite not receiving an official release in the United States or the UK, it has played on television in both territories and amassed a cult following. [1]

Contents

Premise

Craving that "American adventure" she's seen so often in the movies, starry-eyed Alice (Melanie Lynskey) sets out on a road trip across New Zealand with her lovesick best friend, Johnny (Dean O'Gorman). Things take a devilish turn when they pick up the enchanting but dangerous Seth (Boyd Kestner), a Texan hitchhiker fleeing a posse of irate skinheads (led by Oliver Driver) and a pair of vengeful drug dealers.

Cast

Production

Writing

The script was inspired by Ashurst's own experience of growing up in Canterbury: "There was always that sense that you wanted to go somewhere else ... On the surface it felt quite safe, but once I became a teenager and started going to parties, I learnt that Christchurch has quite an underbelly. Skinheads were quite a thing around town back then. They were always breaking up our parties and beating people up ... I wanted to confront that [in the film]". [1] She cited Badlands , Bonnie and Clyde , and Goodbye Pork Pie as some of Snakeskin's artistic influences. [2]

Filming

Snakeskin was filmed in and around Methven, New Zealand. [1] Ashurst felt the shoot had "a certain magic about it ... it was pretty intense", while acknowledging, "It didn't really fit what they say to do with your first feature, which is to keep it small. [Instead] we were doing a road movie with visual effects, explosions and stunts". [1]

While the bulk of the film's action takes place on the road, with Lynskey's character doing the majority of the driving, the actress herself was unable to drive at the time of shooting. [3]

Release and reception

After debuting at the Cannes Film Market in May 2001, [4] Snakeskin was released theatrically in New Zealand on 11 October 2001. The film performed averagely at the box office, [1] but was well received by critics. Bill Gosden, director of the New Zealand International Film Festival, called it "bold, funny, sexy and macabre", further commending the acting and cinematography. [5] In a more mixed appraisal, Variety 's David Stratton felt that Melanie Lynskey was "excellent" in the lead role, while noting, "The first half of [this] Kiwi road movie promises much, but a spiral into death and violence toward the end, and a supernatural twist that doesn't really work, spoil what is mostly a pacy and, for a while, exciting yarn". [6]

Snakeskin went on to receive six prizes at the 2001 New Zealand Film Awards. [7]

Accolades

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Snakeskin director on her career, breakfast with Redford, foraging with Gandalf". Stuff . 12 March 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Year of the Snakeskin". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Melanie Lynskey comes out from the shadows". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "1st Review of the Melanie Lynskey starring New Zealand film Snakeskin!!!". Ain't It Cool News . 30 July 2001. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Snakeskin". New Zealand International Film Festival . Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  6. ↑ Stratton, David (18 May 2001). "Review: 'Snakeskin'". Variety . Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "'Snakeskin' cruises into top film spot". The New Zealand Herald . 10 November 2001. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Snakeskin (2001) – Awards
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