by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
When was the last time you felt unsatisfied with the resolution of a film? We get invested (hopefully), and by the end should be receiving some type of payoff. That is the hope for a cinematic experience that we can sink our teeth into. Not every film will have a clear-cut ending, but it should at least present some type of thematic deliverable that can be processed and frame the experience you just had. But sometimes you just get to the end of a film and get nothing. A cheap plug for another film that feels presumptive since it doesn’t even know if you are invested in the one you just watched. This is a cardinal sin of filmmaking. Enter: Snag.
What else should you have expected from a film with an original title of Snag: Chapter One? Well… at least resolution to this installment’s big narrative. Even The Lord of the Rings, which is basically three acts of the same story, has isolated elements that pay off within each film. Snag takes a big risk by going the shocking twist ending route. Does the ending shock? Sure… but when you are not that invested in what you just watched, it is hard to get excited for more. You receive virtually no resolution at all by the end of this film. This is only 87 minutes… you could afford to offer up just a tad more.
But is this the extent of Snag’s problems? Unfortunately, no. Writer-director-star of the film, Ben Milliken, attempts so much and it never really comes together. First off, none of these characters really connect with the audience. There are so many of them, but if you put them all together, you barely get a puddle. So when the end calls upon you to connect with the twist, it just feels like a hollow shock. The framework of how this story is told is quite sloppy too. There are parallel timelines, and they never feel smooth when they transition. There are also plenty of moments that feel jarring and uneven when they bounce into a ridiculous number of flashbacks. If those flashback moments are so significant, then tell that story instead. Most of the cast cannot even do much with what is given.
Does anything land? There are plenty of styles coming from Milliken. From the opening credits, there is a mixed-genre score that brings some energy to the proceedings. There is even a visceral and flashy approach to how the action is handled. At least the visual flair of that team is worth something. This atmosphere goes a decent distance in terms of creating an engaging environment over time. There are also a few performances that do leave some form of impression. Surprise… they are the veteran actors. The gangster antagonist of the film is played with much delight by Ana Ortiz. She carries every scene she has. There is even David Zayas, who has a small but memorable role to enjoy.
Does Snag offer the action crime thriller that we all could be hoping for? That is certainly complicated. If you just look from a style perspective and a few powerful people, this film has some potential. But when you have random thoughts and shaky pacing, it is hard to make a film like that work. Snag and Milliken might be excited for a sequel, but it will be hard to find many who care about this first film. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Score: 3/10
Snag will be in theaters on April 28
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