Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 60 Ratings

  • Starring: Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, Samuel L. Jackson
  • Summary: Fate can be a twisted sister when it comes to rescue, and when it comes to love's torment, rescue can come in the pairing of the most disparate souls. Fate found that coupling in Lazarus (Jackson) and Rae (Ricci). (Paramount Vantage)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 34
  2. Negative: 6 out of 34
  1. A gorgeous, life-affirming movie. On paper, it sounds lurid bordering on ridiculous.
  2. The story is as humorous and raunchy as a good blues refrain, and the way Lazarus and Rae react to each other almost resembles the classic call-and-response structure of the blues.
  3. Reviewed by: Damon Wise
    60
    Sam Jackson delivers the electric blues in a not-so-blue movie that promises more Deep South sin than it actually delivers.
  4. 38
    Offensive on multiple levels -- if only the plot had any levels at all -- Black Snake Moan leaves no "Tobacco Road" cliche unsmoked. Ricci gives it her all, and then some, but even her body and Jackson's blues can't heal a movie that rockets plum off its nut.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. TP.
    10
    Loved it. Like others have commented - judging from the title and poster, wouldn't have guessed I would've liked this so much. But with an incredible soundtrack from some of my favorite Fat Possum recording artists* and really strong acting from several characters, this is on my top list for this year. *A great double feature would be the RL Burnside documentary "You See Me Laughin". Dig it. Expand
  2. Excellent and a must-see. It's gritty, it's full of vices, and it varies its tempo. The ending was a bit soft, and I was underwhelmed by Timberlake's performance, but Ricci, Jackson and supporting cast got tucked right in. The best thing about the film is it doesn't pretend; it doesn't try to be too serious. Expand
  3. Kamille
    7
    It's alrighty! You are stuck thinking something, until oh I dont' know the last 20 or so minutes of the movie...it all turns around. Surprise endings are great, but it wasn't a surprise it was hatred...It's so unbelievably bluesy! But c'mon we all go to see it for Justin anyway. And goodness, Samuel's hit his ups and downs, but he did an alright act with co-star Ricci. It's a bit, hmm...sexual! Kinda wasteful, but I wouldn't say to miss it. Expand
  4. Samuel L. Jackson is legendary and he has the unique ability to turn even a strange movie like this, into something that is worth watching. Black Snake Moan is a really ridiculous story, full of odd symbolism that just really doesn't make any sense. Jackson plays Lazarus, a loner who lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere. He's a deeply religious man, whose wife just left him for his brother. Lazarus responded to this by locking himself away and putting all he has into his farm. One morning he finds a badly beaten girl, with a reputation, laying in the road and decides to help her, but he soon comes to believe that this girl is possessed and that God sent her too him for help. Not knowing what to do, Lazarus takes this sex crazed, drug addict and chains her to the wall of his house. Throughout this film, there are all kinds of symbols that don't make any sense. There are scenes featuring an old blues singer talking nonsense, scenes of the town that we almost never see, and perhaps strangest of all, there are moles added to Jackson's face, something you don't see except it cases of a biography. As for the performances, they were terrific, This is the best performance I've ever seen Christina Ricci give and she really gave Jackson a run for his money. Jackson, was also great, giving what you expect to see from him, albeit with less swearing than usual. The performances were really the only thing this film did have going for it as the events that take place just don't make any sense. The film jumps around, leaving things unfinished, and personalities seem to change as often as the wind blows. It's a pet peeve of mine, but I really hate when great performances are wasted on a film that is so poorly written, that it's almost unwatchable. Black Snake Moan is sloppy, jumps around without finishing things, and at times just doesn't make sense. It was an interesting idea with a terrific cast, but the people behind it were clearly in way over their head and just didn't really seem to know where they were going or even what they were doing. Expand

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