Netflix recently announced four new films as part of their fall, Halloween-inspired line-up. Among these, “Rattlesnake” sounds promising, thanks to its gripping premise.
As seen in the first trailer, “Rattlesnake” revolves around Katrina and her daughter Clara, as they set out on a cross-country road trip. Though this may sound like a horror movie cliché, the story quickly takes a unique turn. When her daughter is bitten by a rattlesnake, Katrina finds herself taking “an unthinkable deal” to try and save her daughter’s life. Without revealing too many details here, Katrina must grapple with a challenging ethical dilemma based on who deserves to live and die. This look into human morality and capacity for evil fits closely with classic psychological horror films.
“Rattlesnake” is written and directed by Zak Hilditch. Hilditch is best known for directing “1922,” a horror drama based on the Stephen King novella of the same name. “1922” also deals with human morality and violence, blurring the lines between horror and psychological thriller. Though “1922” received generally positive reviews, “Rattlesnake” will likely become Hilditch’s biggest test to date.
Carmen Ejogo, who recently appeared in the ‘Fantastic Beasts‘ film series and HBO’s “True Detective,” plays the role of Katrina. Ejogo’s previous horror experience includes “The Purge: Anarchy” and “It Comes At Night.” Given the potential for intense and powerful scenes in “Rattlesnake,” this could be a great opportunity for her, as a strong performance here could continue her recent rise in popularity and acclaim.
All in all, “Rattlesnake” appears to be a gripping thriller with some strong performances and solid directing. This continues Netflix’s recent streak of delivering high quality original content. Be sure to include “Rattlesnake” in your Halloween viewing this year.
“Rattlesnake” releases globally on Netflix on October 25.