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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
As the title of this article suggests, this short film deals with a phallus that looks like a snake. In this review, we take a look at Snake Dick.
London-born filmmaker David Mahmoudieh is the writer, director, and editor of this film. It stars Poppy Drayton (The Shannara Chronicles, Charmed) and Sierra Pond as two young women whose car breaks down in front of a motel. Two men — Hillbilly Joe (Micah Fitzgerald) and Hillbilly Earl (Ross Francis) — catcall them while repairing their vehicle.
Summary
Snake Dick‘s story lasts for about seven minutes, but we get enough detail and development in that time. While the poster might give the plot away, it is the dialogue and choices within the writing that make this worth the watch. One hillbilly drunkenly talks about making one girl climax with one finger and wonders what she could do with his whole hand. Jill (Drayton) responds to these comments by aiming at his head her own weapon: a handgun. She demands that he get on all fours and squeal like the pig he is. The other hillbilly whips out a knife and claims the men were just making jokes.
At this point, this is where the tension arises. The other girl, Julia (Pond), takes out a flute and blows into it. A snake emerges from under Jill’s dress and attacks one hillbilly while the other flees the scene. In the ending scene, the girls are seen driving towards a city in flames, implying they are in the midst of an apocalypse.
Analysis
As Nico Baumbach strongly argues in Cinema/Politics/Philosophy, all films are political, even if the intention is not present. In Mahmoudieh’s short film, women are as cunning and ambitious as are snakes. (These are also the character traits of House Slytherin.) When Jill has the urge to take on the bad guys, Julia tells her to “keep it in your pants.” At first, this line of dialogue isn’t literal until we realize what awaits beneath the clothing of Drayton’s character. Figuratively, Julia is telling her companion to remain calm and not lash out. This is what the snake represents. Women, like the reptilic snakes, strike when necessary, and this is only more difficult for men to do.
Where did the snake come from, or has it always (or for some time) been a part of Jill? This isn’t explained, but perhaps the story could be extrapolated in follow-ups. If not, it is always interesting to keep our minds wondering. The drive towards the apocalyptic scene implies there are harsher things out in the world than one man. Nonetheless, they are all easy to conquer when you unleash your own inner power. In Jill’s case, it’s a snake dick.
Overall, Snake Dick is a strange yet creative short film that I particularly noted has excellent cinematography by Chris Saul. The writing can be peculiar, but it takes a couple of viewings (or several at most) for understanding to settle. You can find Mahmoudieh’s project on the Internet starting March 8th, 2021 — International Women’s Day.
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
