Watch Snapshot

Snapshot (also known as The Day After Halloween) is a 1979 Australian thriller directed by Simon Wincer. The film stars Chantal Contouri, Robert Bruning, and Sigrid Thornton. The story follows Angela (Contouri), a young woman living in Melbourne, Australia. She works as a model at a photography studio and leads an uneventful life until she begins to have strange dreams and receives threatening messages. Her vague discomfort becomes a full-fledged nightmare when she discovers the people around her are not who they seem.

As she descends into madness, Angela discovers that her past is not as straightforward as she thought. Her parents were part of an obscure cult that believed they were the descendants of a race of beings from another planet. They had groomed her since childhood to become their queen so that she could continue their legacy. Now, as an adult, Angela's parents have passed away, and it seems that the cult is after her to fulfill her destiny.

Angela becomes increasingly paranoid as she tries to make sense of the world around her. She suspects her colleagues at the photography studio, including her boss Linsey (Bruning), her co-worker Madeline (Thornton), and her boyfriend Steve (Robert Hewett), might be part of the cult. Her attempts to uncover the truth only lead to dead ends, and she begins to question her own sanity.

Snapshot is a film that plays with perceptions and reality. The narrative is fragmented and disjointed, mirroring Angela's state of mind. The film uses dream sequences and flashback sequences to slowly reveal the pieces of Angela's past and how they connect to the present.

Snapshot is also a film that is evocative of the time in which it was made. The extravagance of early '80s fashion and the high glamor and luxury of the fashion industry provide a rich and dynamic backdrop for the story. The film also feels almost prophetic in its portrayal of how technology can create detached and alienated people. It all adds up to a claustrophobic thriller tinged with moments of horror.

The performances in Snapshot are uniformly strong. Chantal Contouri's portrayal of Angela is nuanced, and her gradual descent into paranoia and delusion is chilling. She manages to convey a sense of vulnerability and strength that keeps the audience invested in her story. Robert Bruning and Sigrid Thornton give strong supporting performances, creating an air of ambiguity around their characters that leaves the audience guessing until the end.

Overall, Snapshot is a complex and intriguing thriller that is well worth a watch. The film's mix of mystery, horror, and social commentary make it a unique and engaging cinematic experience. It is a snapshot of a specific time and place but manages to feel timeless in its exploration of human frailty and the blurred lines between perception and reality.

Snapshot is a 1979 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.