Blue Snakes

The film gets its ambiance and setting right from the very start. Consisting primarily of three conversations, it presents a crime story that conjures deceit, dubious loyalties, and underhand dealings, bringing to life equations and dynamics that could eventually become matters of life and death.

Two cops have wrapped up a long day, and have arrived at a bar for a drink as a means to unwind. When our protagonist, Vince opens up about the deeply traumatizing day, as he calls it himself, that he has had, an unlikely patron is already present to watch all of this unfold.

The film chooses to confine its plot progression to the same physical space, further employing the earnestness of performances to paint the narrative. It sets up a premise as a way to portend what is to come, introducing us to characters and potential situations. This, in turn, opens the door for the story to develop into a longer project or subsequent installments that allow the viewer to engage with the characters more, and get a firmer understanding of their reality. With its visual language defined by control over lighting and the shadows that lurk within, the film has already established its world. The next step now is to expand upon it.