Snake Bite

Four young boys in the woods when one of them gets bitten by a snake – and a very good chance the poison could kill within 10 minutes. As the time passes the boys try to work out what to do.

At times the use of child actors in this film means that some elements are not wholly convincing or perfectly delivered, but mostly the film works well thanks to them and how it builds the tension and escalates the situation. The interplay between the various characters works well, and it is their dialogue that makes the film tense as things start to get more drastic as time fades. The film maybe lays on the ticking clock thing a bit much but it still works and it is nice that it matches the film's time in real life. What delivers most is the rather dark heart that it has to it – shown by the treatment of some of the characters but of course most tellingly by the conclusion of the film itself, which does ensure that it sticks in the mind and rather wipes clean the memory of any clunky moments on the way

the final scenes. this remains after its end. and this is the axis of controversies. and the basic virtue of this admirable short film. because "Snake Bite" has two great good points : the performances of the boys and the dialogue. each useful for define the tension and the manner to react to a critical moment. sure, it is not all plausible. but this remains only a detail. because it is a story about few friends and about a challenge who provokes them. and the reactions are far to be rational. this does it a good film. the precise style to give a coherent story. and a terrible end. so, see it. like one of boys part of the terrible situation.