Running Time: 82 Minutes
Starring: Alexandra McVicker, Avalon Fast, Charlotte Chimes, Jordan Dulieu, Scott Major
Ever since the release of her first film, 2021's So Vam, co-writer/director Alice Maio Mackay has established herself as an exciting young filmmaker. The passing four years have seen her filmography build up at an impressive rate, with her sixth feature, The Serpent's Skin, arriving as she is just twenty years old. The quantity is even more impressive considering the quality work within, as highlighted with her latest feature.
The film opens with Anna (Alexandra McVicker) listening to a loud argument from her bedroom. Despite the door being shut, she can clearly hear the dismissive ways that she is talked about by her stepfather, with the experience giving her the courage to escape from her transphobic small town. Moving in with her sister, Dakota (Charlotte Chimes), she builds a new life with a record store job, befriending charming punk rocker Danny (Jordan Dulieu), and sharing a psychic connection with goth tattoo artist Gen (Avalon Fast). After a mugging sees supernatural powers manifest from Anna, Gen contacts her with the wish to train her. However, their insecurities leads to the accidental release of a demon who starts feasting on those close to the pair.
Looking to follow in her late-father's footsteps, Anna is shown to be an introvert that struggles to escape her comfort zone. Discovering her supernatural abilities has a psychological effect, allowing the young woman to grow more comfortable in her skin while getting to grips with her powers, something McVicker's lead performance terrifically brings alive. It is all part of a story that focuses firstly on the characters, allowing these well-developed figures to try moving forward as they wrestle with their fears while the mythology simmers in the background.
Returning to elements that are familiar across her filmography, Mackay depicts characters who unashamedly embrace sexual desire amidst the transformation that comes from loving yourself. Lurking outside of these attempts at happiness are oppressive forces, whose identity appears to revolve around dismantling such joy. All of it is shown through a genre lens, with the discovery of supernatural abilities bringing to mind '90s teen works such as The Craft and Buffy The Vampire Slayer - including the latter getting a visual reference in the practical effects.
There is an endearing sense to the old-school vibes, particularly as the budgetary limitations are apparent in the visual effects, yet there is also a sense of pushing the medium further than the '90s teen works allowed. Where else will you see someone reaching orgasm thanks to telekinesis? It is just one of many happy moments the characters experience, with a joyous montage showcasing the leads testing Anna's abilities, while also depicting terror as the dangerous extent of these forces are discovered. It makes for a strong hangout film of self-discovery through superpowers, yet this also leaves the serpentine antagonist to feel like an unneeded element which pales in comparison to what surrounds it.
Part of the reason for the characters' journey of discovery is the lack of guidance, as their ancestor's oppressors rid the world of any recorded knowledge that could guide future generations. Witches may be considered a thing of the past, yet the modern day still has books being burnt and women living in fear of retribution for being their true selves. Mackay is never afraid to touch upon real-world issues, and it remains as vital in its depiction to highlight how witch-hunters still exist, they have just rebranded themselves. It highlights how the filmmaker is an assured and thoughtful voice, with The Serpent's Skin being another tremendous entry from Mackay.
The Serpent's Skin made its Canadian Premiere at Fantasia Festival 2025
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