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Black Snake Moan

7/10

Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, S Epatha Merkerson, Kim Richards

Director: Craig Brewer

Down in Tennessee, local nymphomaniac Rae (Ricci), pining for her absent soldier boyfriend (Timberlake), gets herself beaten up and is rescued by Lazarus (Jackson), who determines to straighten out her life and chains her to his radiator so she can't run off.

Despite seducing his delivery boy, Rae gradually comes around, while Lazarus, deserted by his wife, finds a tentative new romance with the local pharmacist (Law and Order's Merkerson).

This is a strange, one-of-a-kind film, the like of which you may never see (or want to see) again, but it is curiously affecting at times, with committed performances from Ricci and Jackson and a throbbing blues background.

Film buffs might like to note that Kim Richards, who plays Sandy, is indeed the same ex-child actress who once starred in the 'Witch Mountain' films for the Disney studio.

David Quinlan

USA 2006. UK Distributor: Paramount. Colour by FotoKem.
116 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 2, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.

Review date: 12 May 2007