The Serpent (2020 film)

The Serpent
Directed byGia Skova
Written byGia Skova
Produced byGia Skova
Starring
  • Gia Skova
  • Travis Aaron Wide
  • Jason Burril
  • Akihiro Kitamura
CinematographyLars Lindstrom
Music byMikel Shae Prather
Production
company
Vallholl Production
Distributed byVertical Limitis
Release date
  • 2020 (2020)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Serpent is a 2020 American action film written, directed and produced by Gia Skova,[1] who also stars in the film. It revolves around a CIA special agent who is set up by her own agency. The cast also includes Travis Aaron Wade, Craig Conway, Jason Scott Jenkins, Nigel Vonas and Jason Burril.[2][3]

Critical response to the film was overwhelmingly negative.

Plot

Lucinda Kavsky is a secret agent who is sent by the CIA to China as part of a biological experiment that could extend human life. However, on arrival she is trapped by the agency, who attempts to kill her. She escapes and uncovers an international plot. Seeking revenge and retribution she takes out each of her enemies.

Cast

  • Gia Skova as Lucinda Kavsky
  • Travis Aaron Wade as Detective Franklin
  • Nigel Vonas as Pierce
  • Kristhoper Graves as Gerry
  • Richard E. Wilson as CIA director Gozby
  • Akihiro Kitamura as Dr. Lee
  • Alexandra Tebano as Gozby's wife
  • Violet Heath as Avy

Production

The Serpent was partially filmed on location in Los Angeles.[4] The film is Gia Skova's directorial debut.[5]

Release

The Serpent premiered in Dubai on January 4, 2020 at Novo Cinemas IMG but was only distributed in 2021 by Vertical Entertainment in Canada and the United States,[6] where it premiered in June that year.[7]

Reception

A review at RogerEbert.com criticized the film's extreme lack of continuity and called it "a start-to-finish train wreck, a laughable piece of 'cinema' made by people who really have no business making movies." The review cited as an example a scene purportedly set in New York, but filmed in front of the Los Angeles Theater with the marquee bearing the building's name fully visible to the viewer and concluded, "If The Serpent proves anything, it's that Russian ladies can make lousy action movies too."[4]

Sequel and videogame announcement

Skova announced that there were plans for a sequel and that she had closed an agreement for the development of a videogame based on her film.[8]

References

  1. ^ Prestridge, James (2018-08-24). "Close-up: An Interview with Gia Skova". Close-Up Culture. Archived from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  2. ^ "Model Gia Skova writes, directs and stars in new film 'The Serpent'". Blasting News. 2021-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  3. ^ "Gia Skova Commits Espionage in New Action-Packed Trailer for THE SERPENT". We Are Movie Geeks. 2021-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  4. ^ a b Craig D. Lindsey (June 18, 2021). "Reviews: The Serpent". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  5. ^ "Actress-filmmaker Gia Skova's Protagonist Defends Herself Against Government Agents in The Serpent Exclusive Clip". Shockya.com. 2021-06-23. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  6. ^ "Gia Skova Writes & Directs & Stars in Action Film 'The Serpent' Trailer | FirstShowing.net". firstshowing.net. 2021-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  7. ^ Al_Taransky (2021-06-20). ""The Serpent" could be the next "The Room"". popgeeks.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  8. ^ Davis, Ruth (2022-07-09). ""The Serpent" Video Game and Film Sequel "The Serpent 2" COMING SOON, by Gia Skova". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2024-04-06.