Artsploitation Films has been releasing movies from around the world for just about seven years now. I actually own just about the entire catalog of their films in my personal collection. My favorite thing about the movies they release is that they are all vastly different from one another. Since 2012, there have been gory horrors, satirical horror comedies, and hard-to-watch drama thrillers, all under the same Artsploitation banner. Where does their newest release, Adolfo J. Kolmerer’s Snowflake, fall in their ever-growing spectrum of cinema? Read on to find out…
In an alternate timeline version of a not-so-distant future, the world is in ruins; Berlin is the epicenter of it all. Right in the middle of it are best friends, Tan and Javid, who are on a mission of revenge. Eliana and her longtime family friend, Carson, are also on a mission fueled by the desire for vengeance, one that leads them to the doorsteps of hired hitmen, a dentist who seems to be dictating the events of the real world in his film’s script, and Tan and Javid, themselves.
Snowflake can most certainly be placed in the revenge sub-genre, but by lumping it in with all other revenge films I’ve reviewed over the years, I’d be doing it a huge disservice. There is much more going on here and the term “revenge flick” just barely scratches the surface.
The first feature-length film by Adolfo Kolmerer, Snowflake features a considerably small cast. That doesn’t stop him from introducing some rather memorable characters along the way, however. As the film rolls on, we are introduced to The Pig and The Chicken, two Polish brothers who happen to be cannibals, a seemingly super-powered vigilante named Hyper Electro Man, and a man who, along with a countless number of followers, believes himself to be God… only to name a few.
All of the characters I’ve just mentioned all cross paths in a myriad of ways along their individual journeys. While the pacing of Snowflake feels sluggish at times, it isn’t without purpose. There is tons of character development happening with each passing scene, making us, the audience, feel some sort of emotional tie to each and every character we meet along the way. This not only helps drive the story along, during its nearly two hour runtime, but also makes the final moments of the film that much more effective.
Although there are no deaths explicitly shown on camera, Snowflake still manages to present a ton of graphic violence and bloodshed to satiate any and all fans who require a certain level of the vital fluid. Practical effects make everything look extra impressive, too!
I always strive to keep my reviews spoiler free, so there isn’t much more to be said of the plot. I will say, however, that Kolmerer and his team have managed to serve us healthy doses of black comedy, drama, and action. There are even small glimpses of influence by the great Quentin Tarantino with things like title cards splayed across the screen, breaking the film into what can be described as chapters, sprinkled throughout.
If you want to see a unique and original twist on the revenge genre, look no further than Snowflake. You can pick up your own copy of the film, available now on Blu-ray from Artsploitation Films.
I give this one a final repulsive rating of 3.5 döner kebabs out of 5.
