You are here:
Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes

2019

Director

Julius Amedume

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Robert McQueen's day takes a turn for the worst when he is held hostage and accused by three vengeful husbands of sleeping with their wives.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.4/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film operates within a traditional heteronormative framework. The plot focuses on marital infidelity and vengeance, showing no evidence of non-cisnormative identities.

Gender Representation

Limited

The story relies on masculine power dynamics and the trope of the vengeful husband. Female characters act as catalysts for male aggression rather than autonomous agents.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

Centering a Black protagonist in a high-stakes thriller disrupts typical genre expectations. This casting choice provides a meaningful shift in the narrative perspective.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The narrative explores the breakdown of social order through personal vengeance. It focuses on individual ethics and the volatility of interpersonal relationships.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no information regarding the inclusion of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this production.

Strengths

  • The casting of Jimmy Jean-Louis provides a meaningful disruption of the traditionally white-centric thriller genre.
  • The film offers a unique narrative perspective by centering a Black protagonist in a high-stakes hostage scenario.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative relies heavily on traditional masculine power dynamics and the 'vengeful husband' trope.
  • Female characters appear to function as catalysts for male action rather than autonomous individuals.
  • The plot remains tethered to heteronormative social structures and conventional gendered conflicts.

AI Analysis

Rattlesnakes is a claustrophobic thriller that uses a specific casting choice to challenge genre norms. By placing a Black protagonist at the center of a high-tension hostage situation, the film offers a departure from the historically white-centric thriller landscape. However, the film's thematic core remains rooted in conventional social structures. The conflict is driven by traditional gendered tropes, where male aggression and the policing of female fidelity dictate the narrative arc. Ultimately, the film functions as a study of personal morality and domestic volatility. While it succeeds in diversifying the lead role, it does not extend that progressive lens to its broader social or gendered frameworks.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.