Young,charismatic,andhardworking,SparraFarrell(AlexRussell)seemstobesailingintoahappy,respectablelife.HehasasolidjobandanadorablefiancéenamedPaula(JessicaDeGouw),andalreadyownsamodesthouseinthecountryoutsideMelbourne.TheonlyoddthingisthatSparrasayspreciouslittleabouthispast—butthatpastisabouttocatchupwithhim,andwrestcontrolofhispresent.
Setin1973,AustraliandirectorTonyAyres'sboldreturntofeaturefilmmakingisequalpartscrimestoryandlovestory,aninspiredvariationonAHistoryofViolencethatconsidersaspectsofcriminalrelationsrarelyexploredonscreen.Sparra'sdomesticidyllisrupturedwhenheandPaulareceiveanunexpectedvisitfromPommie(AnimalKingdom'sSullivanStapleton,whoalsoappearsattheFestivalinKillMeThreeTimes).
PommieknowsSparra'smostcloselyguardedsecrets—includingthestinthedidinaSydneyprison—andexpectshimtomakegoodonanoldpromiseifhewantstokeepthosesecretssafe."Youalwaysknewtherewassomethingdifferentabouthim,"PommietellsPaula."Thatsomethingisme."
WorkingwithastellarcastandBlakeAyshford'sbrilliantlystructuredscript,Ayresplumbstheshadowydepthsofhischaractersforthebrutaltruthsthatmostthrillersonlyhintat.Theresultisanincendiarynoirdramaburningwithfear,rage,desire,andirresistibleimpulses.Moneywillbestolen,bloodshed,dreamsshattered,butwhat'sleftattheendofCutSnakeisabondmadeonlystrongerbytwinforcesthatshouldnotbeunderestimated:self-knowledgeandacceptance.