437:, and many were real-life criminals. When the film's production manager visited them to solicit their participation, they accepted but still made it a point to flatten his car's tires. The wardrobe manager, who was gay, did not feel safe in their presence and refused to interact with them, forcing Dunning to hastily fill the position. Due to his tattoos and legitimate interest in motorcycles, Lamas was quickly accepted by the bikers. Although some were reluctant, the producers insisted they had to wear costumes designed for the film to make their appearance more eccentric.
420:, in partnership with local company Carota Films, across the months of September and October 1988. Due to the tight, 18-day schedule, the shoot was reportedly grueling, with some days lasting as much as 22 hours. It was further impacted by poor location scouting, as the river arm originally selected for the houseboat scenes was affected by low tide, forcing the crew to move to another location. George Erschbamer made his main unit directorial debut on the film. He was chosen based on his experience in practical effects, including on the Canadian-filmed
607:. Massari also co-wrote the film's theme song "Soldier" with its performer Brian Wild (George Flowers), a veteran of the Los Angeles rock club scene who contributed to a few other soundtracks of the era. The song's title was prominently featured in the end credits, and Cinépix announced that it would be released in Canada and the U.S. as a single, although there is no evidence that it happened.
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was
Lorenzo Lamas' first true action film role, other than hosting a martial arts-themed fitness video a few months earlier. The 30-year old had long had an interest for the genre, working as a stuntman early in his career, but his looks had pigeonholed him in romantic roles. His casting came by
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He finds out that it lives under the boot of a violent redneck clan led by the demented "Junior" Night, who dresses in a bear costume to commit some of his crimes. King, an old mechanic, takes a liking to Kelly and transforms his trusty chopper bike into a jetski. Now able to navigate the local
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veterans, while the unit's logo was created by
Stephen Van Gelden Studios, a Canadian graphic design agency. Although the films are not narratively connected, the main antagonist's name and redneck marina setting are shared with Cinépix's earlier slasher film,
450:
To promote the film, Lorenzo Lamas modeled a line of apparel featuring the logo of the fictional Snake eater unit, which was distributed through the
Canadian chain Work Wearhouse. Image Organization, the Los Angeles-based company of fellow Quebecer
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moniker was derived from a genuine nickname given to commando units operating in the jungles of
Vietnam, the 103rd Tactical Unit was fictitious. The character's backstory was cobbled together from interviews with
595:. In his syndicated column, he praised director Erschbamer for "creative use of explosives" and the Junior character as "one of the sleaziest pond-scum psycho-billies ever portrayed in the movies".
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excoriated the film as a "primitive, relentlessly predictable and generally abysmal actioner", adding that Lamas' "abundant lack of charm in no way compensates for his glaring thespic ineptitude."
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column, described the film as "enjoyable junk" and "the sort of trash you would never admit to liking, yet nonetheless do." A rare enthusiastic review came from self-professed "drive-in critic"
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chance, as he and the film's Los
Angeles-based casting director shared the same mechanic. When she mentioned the project to the latter, he suggested that Lamas would be a good fit. Rock singer
251:(nicknamed the "Snake Eaters"), he has retained a penchant for unorthodox methods and makeshift traps. Kelly learns that his parents have been killed and his sister abducted in rural
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were added because they were celebrities, but owed their fame to careers outside of film, and therefore did not commend the fee of an established actor.
232:" elements, which many reviewers found distasteful but did not prevent its commercial success. Three more installments followed between 1991 and 1997.
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roots, it infused the veteran vigilante storyline found in many contemporary films with "
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waterways, Kelly tracks down the gang to enact his vengeance and rescue his sister.
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conceded that the film possessed a "tongue-in-cheek quality". Mike
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received mostly negative reviews from critics. Marc Horton, of
Canadian newspaper
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945:. Wilmington. Gannett News Service. p. D4A – via newspapers.com.
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780:(screenplay) (7th draft ed.), Montreal: DAL Productions, January 1986
666:(in French). Government of Quebec – Ministry of Culture and Communications
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The picture had a CAD$ 1.3 million budget. It was filmed in the region of
751:. Montreal; Kingston: McGill–Queen's University Press. pp. 143–144.
625:(1991), which entered production before the first film was released, and
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on March 10, 1989, both in an
English version and a French version named
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markets on May 20, 1989, through distributor
Moviestore Entertainment.
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1122:"Sequels, Big Names Are Turning Up More On Direct-To-Video Listings"
220:. Released on March 10, 1989, it was Lamas' first action film, and
255:, and travels to the backwater town where the attack took place.
965:. Memphis. May 19, 1989. p. 58 – via newspapers.com.
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1082:. Melbourne. p. 14 – via newspapers.com
1105:. New York. p. 34 – via newspapers.com
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Jack "Soldier" Kelly is a New York City police officer and
1171:"Lorenzo Lamas goes from wine sipper to Snake Eater"
1034:"Parenthood, Lethal Weapon 2, Hooch good video trio"
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570:is abominably acted and never convincing. In his
748:You're Not Dead Until You're Forgotten: A Memoir
583:Among more moderate opinions, trade publication
938:"Lorenzo Lamas changes image in 'Snake Eater'"
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924:(film poster), Germany: Starlight Video, 1990
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212:film directed by George Erschbamer, starring
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1008:"Snake Eater (1989) [ID7845ME]"
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515:by distributor Media (a subsidiary of
879:"Lamas loves image and makes it work"
639:rather than Lamas, followed in 1997.
615:Lamas also starred in two sequels to
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311:Ben DiGregorio as Detective Santucci
822:"Snake Eater: Annonce/Advertising"
802:(Press release). Montreal: Cinépix
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797:"Snake Eater MIFED 1988 brochure"
467:debuted in Cinépix's hometown of
1158:– via Rocky Mountain News.
1146:Pearson, Mike (March 15, 1990).
935:Quigley, Linda (June 23, 1989).
1237:Canadian action adventure films
1227:English-language Canadian films
1169:Briggs, Joe Bob (May 4, 1990).
1074:Murphy, Jim (August 17, 1989).
1057:"Film lacks story, decent cast"
622:Snake Eater II: The Drug Buster
523:of the film via LD specialists
329:Michael Ballew as "The Dentist"
272:as Officer Jack "Soldier" Kelly
216:, Josie Bell, Robert Scott and
21:Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
1242:Films produced by John Dunning
1055:Horton, Marc (April 4, 1989).
900:Majka, Chris (November 1988).
660:"L'Indomptable: Distributeurs"
338:Jackie Lesage as Dorothy Kelly
332:Cherly Jeans as Jennifer Kelly
302:Barry Minshull as "Slim" Night
244:veteran. Having served in the
16:1989 film by George Erschbamer
1:
1120:Hartl, John (April 1, 1990).
1099:"Phantom Phocus: Snake Eater"
690:"L'Indomptable advertisement"
1257:Films scored by John Massari
1247:1980s English-language films
1222:1980s action adventure films
1097:Kane, Joe (March 18, 1990).
877:Zekas, Rita (May 17, 1989).
664:Répertoire des films classés
335:Bob Piedalve as Harold Kelly
278:Robert Scott as Junior Night
1232:Films shot in New Brunswick
958:"Snake Eater advertisement"
308:Sandra Brown as Sissy Night
140:Cinema International Canada
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18:
921:Snake Eater German poster
356:had the working title of
299:Matthew Mabe as Eli Night
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629:(1992). A fourth movie,
627:Snake Eater III: His Law
305:Carl Cook as Clyde Night
153:March 10, 1989
19:For the video game, see
1179:(subscription required)
1156:(subscription required)
1107:(subscription required)
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774:Massacre on Blood River
544:, lamented: "Alas, but
362:Jack Kelly: Snake Eater
360:, and was announced as
358:Massacre on Blood River
131:Cinepix Film Properties
963:The Commercial Appeal
576:column, genre critic
326:Mowava Pryor as Chloe
275:Josie Bell as The Kid
1252:1980s Canadian films
1076:"Green Guide: Video"
1038:The North Bay Nugget
541:The Edmonton Journal
517:Heron Communications
317:as Detective Bronsky
1152:El Paso Herald-Post
573:New York Daily News
525:Image Entertainment
1012:LaserDisc Database
985:Billboard Magazine
423:Rambo: First Blood
108:Jacqueline Carmody
54:Michael Paseornek
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323:as Uncle Joe
321:Rick Collins
315:Larry Csonka
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169:Running time
146:Release date
117:John Massari
72:Jeff Barmash
66:John Dunning
57:John Dunning
1197:Snake Eater
1014:(in French)
617:Snake Eater
561:Deliverance
546:Snake Eater
536:Snake Eater
509:Snake Eater
465:Snake Eater
463:In Canada,
396:and former
389:Snake Eater
371:Vietnam War
366:Snake Eater
354:Snake Eater
349:Development
294:Randy White
290:as "Torchy"
288:Ron Palillo
205:Snake Eater
84:Josie Bell
68:André Link
63:Produced by
43:Directed by
29:Snake Eater
1217:1989 films
1211:Categories
1103:Daily News
854:cinepix.ca
826:cinepix.ca
716:cinepix.ca
643:References
599:Soundtrack
567:Straw Dogs
503:Home media
459:Theatrical
428:State Park
344:Production
173:94 minutes
157:1989-03-10
124:Production
51:Written by
994:0006-2510
695:La Presse
556:Melbourne
531:Reception
521:LaserDisc
497:Tennessee
446:Marketing
253:Tennessee
105:Edited by
1018:April 2,
850:"Junior"
806:April 2,
670:April 2,
578:Joe Kane
469:Montreal
435:St. John
186:Language
113:Music by
77:Starring
1131:May 29,
1080:The Age
859:May 29,
831:May 29,
721:May 29,
611:Sequels
585:Variety
551:The Age
480:
441:Release
414:Shediac
408:Filming
400:player
384:Casting
284:as King
242:Vietnam
222:Cinépix
189:English
178:Country
155: (
126:company
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377:Junior
246:Marine
208:is an
194:Budget
181:Canada
980:(PDF)
800:(PDF)
778:(PDF)
1202:IMDb
1133:2023
1020:2023
990:ISSN
861:2023
833:2023
808:2023
753:ISBN
723:2023
672:2023
564:and
477:lit.
263:Cast
236:Plot
1200:at
554:of
513:VHS
398:NFL
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