Film Review: Snake with a Human Tail (short film) (2014)

SYNOPSIS:

A disturbed rape victim changes his identity and gender to get the ultimate revenge on the deranged priest who ruined his life.

REVIEW:

More short films, kiddies! Today we have SNAKE WITH A HUMAN TAIL, written and directed by Spencer Gray.

I’m throwing out a TRIGGER WARNING, as the subject matter of this film  might be difficult for some to watch depending on one’s experiences. This film deals with sexual abuse and pedophelia.

Father Fulci (Marv Blauvelt) has been caught doing un-priestly things to young children in his parish. Our story opens during his court-ordered therapy session with Doctor Bloom (Billy Blair), discussing his history as both predator and prey.

Fulci goes into great detail about everything, and its really uncomfortable to watch. He is unrepentant and unashamed. But it is every credit to Mr. Blauvelt that he can deliver this dialogue so convincingly.  Mr. Blauvelt won best Actor for this performance at the FANtastic Horror Film Festival in San Diego in 2014.

We learn in this therapy session that Father Fulci has been particularly obsessed with a young boy named Henry who was one of the priest’s early and long term victims. We don’t know the fate of Henry at this point in the film, but its obvious that he got away from Fulci a long time ago.

We also learn that Fulci is currently involved in a sexual relationship with a transsexual prostitute named Karma (Sheri Davis). Obviously, Father Fulci has not learned anything over the years and has continued to break his vows, and has also learned a love for violence. Karma is his punching bag, his “pincushion” as she puts it, and he pays her to play out his violent fantasies.

What the good Father doesn’t know (and this isn’t a spoiler as it is revealed very early in the film) is that Karma is actually Henry. The years of abuse at the priest’s hands have taken a deep psychological toll and Karma is merely biding her time until she can take her revenge.

This is a very dark story. It does not shy away from anything. The camera does not flinch, and the actors do not hold back. Mr. Gray has written a story about a deeply disturbed man of the cloth who justifies his “sin” and sees nothing wrong with anything he has done, or has been done to him. It may be difficult to watch, but I think that may have been the point.

Using my special short scale of one to five, five being awesome, I’m giving this film 4 stars.