Movie Review: Snakes On A Plane (2006)

Genre: Horror Comedy  

Director: David R. Ellis  

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies  

Running Time: 106 minutes  

 

Synopsis: FBI Agent Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) is escorting star witness Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips) on a commercial flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles. But to eliminate the witness, brutal crime boss Eddie Kim has arranged a cargo of deadly snakes to be unleashed mid-air, forcing Flynn and flight attendant Claire (Julianna Margulies) to improvise a frantic survival plan.

What Works Well: This purpose-designed B-movie embraces campiness from title to credits, and offers exactly what the tin says: a none-too serious horror adventure where laughs and groans occupy adjacent economy class seats. The snakes come in all shapes, sizes, and colours, but thankfully Samuel L. Jackson is aware the predators are either rubber or computer-generated, and cuts through the carnage with nothing-can-touch-me vibes. 

What Does Not Work As Well: The premise just needs to be mindlessly accepted: securing, packing, then releasing hundreds of killer snakes onto a plane is a decidedly over-complicated murder method. There are no other plot points, as director David R. Ellis calibrates the mortality rate to achieve a respectable running time. The snake-eye-view green perspective is more muddled than threatening, and the assembled passengers ready to be poisoned or swallowed never rise above snake snack status.

Conclusion: A flight filled with hit and hiss moments.



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