Snake Creek

Director/Writer Charlie Steeds continues his prolific streak in the world of independent creature-feature horror with Snake Creek, a brisk and unapologetically old-school grindhouse romp that perfectly commits to its low-budget aesthetic. The film follows four friends on a canoeing trip down the Chattahoochee River, whose hopes for a bonding experience are shattered when they become the prey of a massive killer snake. Steeds, who also acts as his own cinematographer, drenches the Georgia wilderness in a murky, sepia-tinted hue that immediately transports the viewer to the swampy exploitation cinema of the late-70s and early-80s. While the core plot of a monster on the loose is straightforward, the true charm comes from the triumphant use of practical effects for the serpentine antagonist—a 29-foot beast named 'Gwendoline' that, while admittedly resembling an old-school hand puppet, adds a knowing layer of scrappy, B-movie authenticity that modern CGI often sterilizes.

At a lean 76 minutes, Snake Creek is a tight backwoods survival story that prioritizes pace over padding. The monster mayhem is intercut with the film’s central theme: the strained relationship between the four friends (Adam Bash, Jared Hasmuk, and Lukas John among the cast), whose "old rivalries" are forced to the surface as they fight for their lives. The result is a film that is surprisingly heavy on characterisation and rural detail, making up for what it lacks in jump-scares with an engaging group dynamic. With a pulsating score by Simone Cilio and a commitment to its retro vibe, Snake Creek may be "lighter on scares" than some modern blockbusters, but it delivers on its promise of a rugged, unpretentious horror-adventure. Fans of committed indie monster movies and the VHS bargain bin era will find this a delightfully silly and worthwhile trip down a very dangerous river.

Director/Writer - Charlie Steeds
Stars - Adam Bash, Jared Hasmuk, Lukas John