REVIEW: Snatchers | 33rd Raindance Film Festival

"Fun in flashes."

Bungled Body Snatching and a Very Bad Day at the "Office"

Snatchers, directed by Craig Alexander and Shelly Higgs, is a rough-and-ready Aussie dark comedy about two down-on-their-luck mates who attempt to make some quick cash by stealing a body to harvest its organs. The only problem? The "dead" body wakes up on the table - and from there, it’s all chaos, confusion, and criminal incompetence. It’s a madcap setup with plenty of potential, and while the film definitely commits to the bit, it doesn’t always land as cleanly as it could.

Dark Comedy with Rough Edges

There’s something endearing about Snatchers’ tone - it’s unapologetically grim, full of Aussie sarcasm, and leans into its low-budget vibe. You can tell the team behind it had a blast making it, and there are a few genuinely funny moments and clever lines scattered throughout. That said, the humour is hit and miss. Some scenes drag, and the script often feels like it’s reaching for edginess without fully earning the payoff. It’s the kind of film where the idea is funnier than the execution.

Likeable Losers, Slapdash Energy

The two leads have good chemistry and bounce off each other well, playing their roles as hapless criminals with charm. But character development is thin, and beyond a few quips and panicked decisions, we don’t get much depth. The “victim” adds some urgency, but even those scenes start to feel repetitive. It’s more sketch-comedy energy than a fully fleshed-out story, and you do start to feel the runtime despite it being fairly short.

DIY Spirit That Shows - For Better or Worse

Made with a local Canberra crew and crowdfunded support, Snatchers is clearly a labour of love. The DIY spirit gives it personality, but it also means technical limitations are noticeable - the editing’s a bit choppy, the lighting inconsistent, and some scenes could’ve used a tighter cut. Still, for a grassroots project, it’s got some clever ideas and a few memorable moments. It's rough, but not without charm.

Final Verdict: Scrappy, Silly, and a Bit All Over the Place

Snatchers is a mixed bag - a cheeky concept with a few laughs and a lot of chaos. It’s the kind of film you’d stick on at midnight with mates, half-laughing, half-asking “what is going on?” It doesn’t always hit the mark, but there’s something oddly watchable about its messy, madcap energy.

⭐⭐⭐

World Premiere at the 33rd Raindance Film Festival 23rd - 24th June 2025.

FILM DETAILS

• World Premiere: 21st June 2025

• TL;DR: A pair of lifelong friends try to make a quick buck by selling the organs of a fresh corpse but get thrown a curve ball when she wakes up on the operating table.

• Directors: Craig Alexander, Shelly Higgs

• Cast: Hannah McKenzie, Craig Alexander, Justin Hosking

• Genres: Comedy, Thriller

• Run time: 82 Minutes

• Cert: -