Through Facebook shares and status updates, I became aware that Snake with a Human Tail was making the rounds a few weeks ago. It became apparent that it wasn’t a full blown horror film, but it still contained elements that were psychologically damaging and made people feel unwanted, negative emotions. So, obviously I wanted to see it for myself! Luckily, my buddy Marv Blauvelt is the lead actor and was nice enough to get me an e-screener!
Snake with a Human Tail is written and directed by Spencer Gray, who previously worked as a special effects artists on films such as The X-Files and Cherry Falls. Cast members featured within this title include Marv Blauvelt (Psycho Street, Sculpture) as Father Fulci, Sheri Davis as Karma, Billy Blair (Machete Kills, Sin City 2) as Dr. Bloom, Melina Lyon, and Sheril Rodgers.
“A disturbed rape victim changes his identity and gender to get the ultimate revenge on the deranged priest who ruined his life.”
Snake with a Human Tail is an uncomfortable journey into the sickly tormented mind of one deranged fuckin’ priest and one of his equally fucked up victims. During the first ten minutes of the movie and the last ten minutes of the movie I felt extremely uncomfortable. And this is not a bad thing, more-so a statement that the movie is capable of invoking other emotions aside from disgust. I think the fact that the movie is so realistic in its portrayals is what made me feel uncomfortable. At points, I felt like I was really watching a tell all interview of a child molester or a re-enactment of a rape. Despite being revolting in nature, I have to give Spencer Gray some applause for perfectly capturing the essence of sexual depravity and putting it on screen. This is not a short film for the faint of heart.
Speaking of the talents of Spencer Gray again, I give him a lot of credit for having the balls to tackle a film like this. I think a lot of people will agree with me that child molestation, rape, and prostitution are often times topics that society would rather not even think about, much less hear about in a movie. Involving the religious aspect to the plot is obviously a finger to the allegations of child abuse within the Catholic higher-ups. This only adds an extra layer of content that that would likely ignite a hail storm of hate upon Snake with a Human Tail. Producing this film was obviously a big risk to several careers, but it looks like the film’s dark but realistic tone is making the risk pay off. It’s a professionally done look into the recesses of minds corrupted by the seedy life of the hopeless American.
The last point I mentioned also brings to light the fact that Snake with a Human Tail has a Hell of a lot of themes featured within. Drug use, mental disease, sexual exploration, sexual depravity, the LGBT community, revenge, sadism/masochism, blood play, and even nostalgic remnants of other films. The short film I’m currently reviewing has little nods to Psycho, Monster, and Deliver Us From Evil. At points, it’s enough to make your skin crawl, but there’s a whole lot more going on than you’ll initially realize.
Being that Snake with a Human Tail has so few characters, it’s quite easy to rate their performances. Marv Blauvelt is a fixture in independent horror titles. Billy Blair is one of Hollywood’s biggest up-and-comers. And this serves as an intense introduction to Sheri Davis. All three of the lead actors are superb in their performances, and without them I don’t think it would be doing as well as it is in the indie circuit. It’s their creepy, hapless, murderous characterizations that really brings this title to life. I don’t think I can recall any other actors who could have fit these roles so perfectly. And as with fine wine, Marv Blauvelt’s performance as Father Fulci proves that some things do get better with age.
I’m going to rate this short an 8 out of 10. Although the subject matter is sick and hard to stomach, the acting is haunting, it stirs a lot of adverse emotions, and is a really solid production.
