Snakes on a Plane
Release Date: 24th August 2006 - Australia
Production Companies
Mutual Film Company
Meradin Zweite Productions (in association with)
Eyetronics
H2L Media Group
Distribution
Roadshow Films
Genre: Action/Thriller
Rating: M (Not Suitable for Young Children)
Budget: $33,000,000
Box Office Gross:
$62,022,014 (Worldwide)
Plot Summary
FBI agent Neville Flynn
takes a plane from Hawaii
to Los Angeles to transport
government to a trial, in
the hope that the mob boss
will end up behind bars.
However, as soon as the
aircraft reaches an altitude
of 30,000 feet, several
hundred venomous snakes
burst out of the cargo and
attack everyone in sight,
causing violent mayhem.
With the help of a leading
snake expert from L.A.,
terrified passengers and
crew must work together
to deal with the slithering
threat.
Cast
Samuel L. Jackson - Neville Flynn
Julianna Margulies - Claire Miller
Nathan Phillips - Sean Jones
Rachel Blanchard - Mercedes
Flex Alexander - Three G's
Kenan Thompson - Troy
Lin Shaye - Grace
Bruce James - Ken
Sunny Mabrey - Tiffany
Casey Dubois - Curtis
Daniel Hogarth - Tommy
Gerald Plunkett - Paul
Terry Chen - Chen Leong
Elsa Pataky - Maria
Emily Holmes - Ashley
Tygh Runyan - Tyler
Mark Houghton - John Sanders
David Koechner - Rick
Bobby Cannavale - Hank Harris
Tom Butler - Captain Sam McKeon
Kendall Cross - Driver
Kevin McNulty - Emmett Bradley
Samantha McLeod - Kelly
Taylor Kitsch - Kyle
Ann Warn Pegg - Mrs. Bova
Byron Lawson - Eddie Kim
Darren Moore - Kraitler
Scott Nicholson - Daniel Hayes
Candice Macalino - Flower Girl
Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe - Autograph Girl
Agam Darshi - Dell Girl
Jack di Blasio - Kid Fan
Darryl Quon - Man In Suit
David Neale - Navy Dad
Mi-Jung Lee - News Anchor
Kyle Alisharan - Airport Worker
Christopher Bachman - Lei Guy
Drew Wicks - Passenger
Crew
Director - David R. Ellis
Story - David Dalessandro
Story/Screenplay - John Heffernan
Screenplay - Sebastian Gutierrez
Jeff Katz and Tawny Ellis
Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager - Heather Meehan
Executive Producers - Stokely Chaffin, Toby Emmerich, Penney Finkelman Cox, Sandra Rabins and George Waud
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager - Justis Greene
Producers - Craig Berenson, Don Granger and Gary Levinsohn
Casting Director - Mindy Maren
Canadian Casting Directors - Coreen Mayrs
and Heike Brandstatter
Production Designer - Jaymes Hinkle
Art Director - John Alvarez
Set Decorators - Erin Boyd and Mary-Lou Storey
Costume Designer - Karen L. Matthews
Prosthetic Makeup Effects Designers &
Creators - Anthony Allen Barlow,
Ken Culver, Greg Johnson, Sarah Pickersgill,
Sam Polin, Brad Proctor, Dan Rebert,
Todd Masters and Jamie Salmon
Director of Photography - Adam Greenberg
Aerial Director of Photography - Hans Bjerno
"A" Camera Operator - Michael Ferris
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator - Freddie Hice
Stunt Coordinators - Annie Ellis and Scott Nicholson
Snake Handler & Coordinator - Jules Sylvester
Snake Handlers - Brad McDonald,
Marco Solis Chavez and Marissa Schwierjohn
Special Effects Supervisors - Alex Burdett
and Matt Kutcher
Visual Effects Supervisor - Erik Henry
Visual Effects Supervisor: CafeFX - Scott Gordon
Art Director: CafeFX - Peter Lloyd
Digital Effects Supervisor: CafeFX - Jeff Goldman
Lighting TDs: CafeFX - Mike Fischer,
Manuel H. Guizar, Nic Spier, William H. Ball,
Scott Harper, Kirk Cardette and Luis "Chico" Martinez
Modelling Lead: CafeFX - Steve Arguello
Compositing Supervisor: CafeFX - Edwardo Mendez
3D Matchmovers: CafeFX - Paul Hopkins,
Kevin Hoppe and Ondrej Kubrick
Software Development Supervisor: CafeFX - Robert Tesdahl
Editor - Howard E. Smith
Supervising Sound Editors - Tom Bellfort
and Dave McMoyler
Sound Designers - Harry Cohen and
Tim Walston
Re-Recording Mixers - Rick Ash,
Kevin E. Carpenter and Justin Jose
Production Sound Mixer - Michael McGee
Foley Artists - James Moriana and Jeffrey Wilhoit
Music - Trevor Rabin
Review
SNAKES ON A PLANE is about, well, you know how the title suggests, as it lives up to its name. Admittedly, it wasn't a typical mockbuster movie, as the plot was original. It happened before The Asylum started producing its mockbuster films. However, the film does have the hallmarks of a mockbuster, with its over-the-top story and action sequences.
Before its release, word of SNAKES ON A PLANE spread online, gaining a cult following due to its title and the decision to cast Samuel L. Jackson in the lead role. During production, several changes, including reshooting scenes, resulted in the film being bumped up from a PG-13 to an R rating, in an attempt to appease the online fanbase. The film's title was also briefly changed to Pacific Air Flight 121, but Samuel L. Jackson insisted on changing it back, stating the title was the only reason he accepted the role. Although the film underperformed at the box office at the time, it did turn a profit, and many people still remember it to this day.
Director David R. Ellis had his experience with outlandish stuff, considering he directed Final Destination 2 and, later, The Final Destination, where several people get killed in horrific, gruesome ways. He did a fantastic job of delivering an action movie that plays like a suspense thriller crossed with a comedy, a thrill ride that's a bit silly and even more fun. I'm sure you're well aware that this film had several issues.
While the premise is affectionately cheesy, it is part of its distinctive "B-movie" charm, along with its self-aware ridiculousness. However, by design, the film was clearly intended to be silly. Unfortunately, the plot is thin, the characters are stereotypical, and the CGI is laughably bad. What's worse is that it's clearly trying to copy old disaster movies from the 1970s, such as Airport and Earthquake.
All is not lost, as the acting was terrific. Despite the film's absurdity, nearly all actors and actresses were fully committed to their roles. However, the best actor in this film is certainly Samuel L. Jackson, who plays FBI agent Neville Flynn. L. Jackson did a terrific job with this role, as he knows how to be funny and serious. All in all, I enjoyed his performance, especially when he delivers that iconic line to the surviving passengers. Julianna Margulies is fine as Claire, the calm and collected stewardess who tries to keep the passengers safe.
For a "B-movie," SNAKES ON A PLANE is not as bad as it could have been. Clearly, the filmmakers had no intention of making a film that audiences
would take seriously; they just wanted to entertain them, and all
things considered, they succeeded. Yes, they could have done a few things better, but it is a ridiculous yet enjoyable film to watch, as long as you don't take it seriously. Trust me, it's not for those who were terrified of snakes. And certainly not for those to watch it on a flight.
Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie
