- Release year: 2025
- Director: Craig Alexander and Shelly Higgs.
- Producers: Craig Alexander, Sebastian Chan and Denai Gracie.
- Screenplay by: Craig Alexander.
- Cinematography by: Luke Patterson.
- Music by: Jay Cameron.
Synopsis: two hospital orderlies snatch a corpse to sell its organs, but when they are about to open it, it reanimates.
Shotgun Commentary: ridiculous in the best way and just mysterious enough to keep you completely invested.
Review
Snatchers is a dark comedy that features a fascinating supernatural mystery. Much like The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016), it features two men and the corpse of a woman who’s not exactly dead… or is she? This is the main unknown in both cases, only, rather than scar you for life with endless sleepless nights, Snatchers takes the comedic approach, saving you a ton of distress while delivering a thrilling story.
The influence
Contrary to the aforementioned horror film, this feature is protagonised by two criminals. Instead of a coroner and his assistant, this is the story of two orderlies, Mac (Craig Alexander) and Jason (Justin Hosking), who are looking to make some money at the expense of selling a young woman’s corpse.
Jason is indebted to dangerous people and Mac has just been fired, so they are in just enough trouble to justify their actions…sort of. While they argue over the morality of it all, the corpse of Jane Doe (Hannah McKenzie) reanimates, leading both orderlies into a journey of self-discovery and, potentially, murder.
The satire
Curiously enough, one of the main highlights of the film takes place before Jane Doe even graces the screen. That is, the hilarious commentary on health systems. While the film is Australian, the take on this system could be applied to any country in the world, especially the US and UK, who are well-known for their chaotic and inefficient services regarding health. The feature takes a comedically dark approach to show the consequences of privatising something as basic as healthcare. Making you both laugh and rage through comments and visual gags.
This first section of the film is distinctly differentiated from the second thanks to a completely out-of-the-blue choreography that, while completely unnecessary, also sets a light atmosphere to serve as buffer for the tension to come. After the musical number, what was a satire of the healthcare system told through a regular day for two orderlies in a dystopic future, transforms into a “partners in crime being way in over their heads” situation.
The mystery
The second half of the film relies heavily on McKenzie’s performance, which is great news because she does not disappoint. Jane Doe changes personality quite often in order to manipulate the orderlies and enact her revenge. McKenzie displays all those changes with the perfect blend of fun and unsettling. Even her hairstyle and wardrobe change gradually, almost imperceptibly, signifying the power that she’s gaining over her captors. Her character is a ride on its own, one that needs careful crafting, and McKenzie proves to have more than enough talent for it.
As for her costars, Alexander and Hosking, they are the ideal comedic pair for the story. Their characters are polar opposites, making their interactions wonderful both in the realm of comedy and of drama, the genres that their mindsets occupy throughout their fateful adventure. As for the mystery of Jane Doe, they are not the best detectives in the world, but no worries, it will be painfully clear for you from the very beginning. Not that it matters. As they say, it is about the journey, not the destination.
All in all, Snatchers is a dark comedy that takes place during a dystopic future, not too unlike our present, that will make you laugh, reflect, and wonder what the hell is going on at least during three different instances. If this is not enough to convince you, talking about the great performances and fantastic writing is completely pointless.
Snatchers is part of the Raindance Film Festival 2025 programme, taking place in London now. Find all the info here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- Never trust a walking corpse.
- Always make sure you have funds for medical emergencies.
- If you don’t want to do something, don’t do it. Don’t make up excuses to pretend you had no choice.
What’s your take? Have you watched Snatchers? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀