Dir. C.A. Cooper | Now Streaming On: Tubi | Rating: 2/5

On revisiting this film, I’m surprised I didn’t think to include The Snare in my “8 Films that Fucked Me Up” list. It’s probably because I’d much rather wipe this film from my brain entirely. The Snare truly bothered me so deeply, part of me didn’t even want to review this. But because it affected me so much, I knew you all would be interested in hearing about it. ⁠
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The Snare follows two storylines, each with their own horror elements. The first and most surface level story is the fact the group is trapped in an apartment with no one else in the building. There’s no food, no water, no way out. The second story is the slow unravel of Alice’s past and how her trauma may be intertwined with the trio’s entrapment. ⁠
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A core theme in this film is sexual violence and trauma, with focused commentary on trauma’s ability to construct and/or alter reality for a trauma holder. The Snare tackles these themes in a brutal and unabashed way that felt off putting to me. What unsettled me the most when the credits rolled was how visceral and violent the scenes were, with little delivery on their significance. ⁠
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Don’t get me wrong, I do understand that for some, the logic of sexual violence as a cinematic element is for it to be used as shock value, instilling intentional discomfort in the viewer. But, as a viewer, I find that there is a something morally upsetting in portraying this kind of violence against women, especially from the point of view of a man, so nonchalantly, as if it’s nothing more than a plot tool. ⁠
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The Snare delivers a dismal ending to a story already riddled with despair, claustrophobia, and violence. This film has been called lots of things – arthouse, character study, experimental. This all points to the idea that The Snare’s intent isn’t clear. It leaves viewers unsure of how we’re supposed to perceive this. A deeply uncomfortable and unrewarding watch, The Snare’s ending is not worth the discomfort it puts you through. ⁠
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Know Before You Watch: Features imagery of suicide, gore, blood, death, rape, CSA. ⁠