Snakes On A Plane

Director: David R. Ellis

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Nathan Phillips, Julianna Margulies, Rachel Blanchard

It has the best movie title ever and a supremely preposterous plot to boot. Snakes on a Plane stars Sean Jones (Phillips) as a witness asked to fly from Hawaii to Los Angeles to testify against a notorious gangster, under the charge of Neville Flynn (Jackson). Aboard the flight is a crate of venomous snakes timed to release its deadly cargo when the plane is halfway over the Pacific Ocean. Flynn must fight the slithering menace and ensure that the witness survives.

Snakes on a Plane was a cult film before its release thanks to a ludicrous concept and the added lure of an iconic star such as Samuel L. Jackson. He gives a terrific performance and the main supporting cast members are gloriously over the top.

Ellis delivers so completely that it seems the hype was justified. The script is packed full of quotable one-liners, the most infamous gem having been subsequently added at the behest of its internet fan base. It’s not a gorefest by any means, but there were some points in the film where audience members were watching through splayed fingers. A snake’s perspective as it homes in on its next victim springs to mind.

Snakes on a Plane is an off-the-wall thriller which has the perfect mix of comedy, suspense and horror. It’s hugely enjoyable tongue-in-cheek entertainment; a thrill ride gone totally wacko. Put simply, it’s quite possibly the most fun film you’ll see this year.

Sarah Hall