The Snare has a very small story, but it will consume the viewer. Much in the same way the characters find themselves being consumed by their circumstances.
I knew nothing about the story in The Snare before watching it, and I would recommend going into it that way. Since most of the story takes place inside one apartment, the experience is almost as claustrophobic for the viewer as for the characters.
Also, Murphy’s Law comes into play for the poor people in The Snare and you can’t help but feel for them. Sure, they all have traits that you might find annoying, but what happens to them really isn’t their fault.
Whenever a very simple story takes place in one setting, the run-time can be a movie’s downfall. It can drag on for too long and you’ll lose interest.
That wasn’t the case with The Snare, but it did come dangerously close.
The Snare features a small story, but big emotions
Since everything is so minimalistic in this movie, something needs to stand out. In the case of The Snare it’s the emotions the characters go through.
We’re talking life and death. But before that becomes an issue, we’re dealing with depression versus the very lightness of enjoying the simple things. In other words, it’s still the small and simple things that are so very relatable. It’s just magnified by the circumstances.
And of course, I have to give credit to the cast for pulling this off. All three actors give truly amazing performances that keep you engaged and involved. Not much is happening, though. But actually, the frustrations this causes are relatable.
Even though everyone is amazing in this, I do have to give special mention to Eaoifa Forward. Her character, Alice, is at the center of the story and Eaoifa Forward is scary good. You cannot look away from her… even when you want to!
C.A. Cooper gives us a fascinating debut
The Snare is both the feature film debut for C.A. Cooper, who wrote and directed the movie. Having previously written and directed two short films, this is a strong and fascinating debut.
I can’t really fault the movie for much, but I will say that the official plot isn’t very telling of the actual story. In fact, I think a lot of people will be disappointed with the movie if they expect a typical story of a haunting.
This is both more and better… but unfortunately it’s being described as something different than what it delivers, which is a shame.
As far as being trapped by circumstances, The Snare is more easily compared to Here Alone than 10 Cloverfield Lane. There’s no humor or hope, so don’t watch this if you’re already feeling a bit down. It will not make you smile at any point.
This isn’t a bad thing. It’s just that the movie is truly very dark and sad in many ways.
And yes, the story does have some very uncomfortable elements. We’re talking real life horror and not the paranormal kind.
The Snare will be out in the US on both VOD and select theaters from January 6, 2017.
Details
Director: C.A. Cooper
Writer: C.A. Cooper
Cast: Eaoifa Forward, Dan Paton, Rachel Warren
Plot
Three friends head to the seafront for a drunken weekend, only to be imprisoned on the top floor of their holiday apartment by a malevolent force.
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