Review: Memoir of a Snail (Fantastic Fest 2024)

2 January, 2025 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 4 categories

Title: Memoir of a Snail
MPA Rating: R
Director: Adam Elliot
Starring: Sarah Snook, Eric Bana, Jacki Weaver
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

What It Is: Grace Pudel (Snook)—pronounced “puddle”—has lived a difficult life. After her mother’s death during childbirth and her father’s accident that left him disabled, life has been far from easy. When their father suddenly passes, Grace and her pyromaniac brother, Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee), are separated.

Now, the two siblings, who have only ever truly had each other, must work tirelessly to save enough money to reunite—despite being separated by the vast expanse of the Australian continent.

What We Think: I want to begin this review by saying that this film should be considered a weapon—not because of low quality, but because of its sheer emotional weight. I couldn’t keep the waterworks from flowing.

The narrative is sharp, funny, and immensely powerful, showcasing the profound love that siblings share. From Grace’s bittersweet existence to Gilbert’s challenging journey, this is an emotional odyssey masterfully crafted by Australia’s finest stop-motion studio.

From Mary and Max to this, it’s clear that Adam Elliot knows exactly what he’s doing. The voice acting is stellar across the board. Sarah Snook delivers an amazing performance, but it’s Academy Award-nominated actress Jacki Weaver who steals the show as the eccentric Pinky.

This is a film that nails every intricate detail it sets out to achieve—something we’ve come to expect from the meticulous art of stop-motion animation.

Our Grade: A+, What a phenomenal year for animation! The Wild Robot, Inside Out 2, and even a smaller gem like Flow—there’s so much happening in the animated space in 2024. The Oscar race is shaping up to be a dogfight. I didn’t even mention Moana 2 because, quite honestly, it doesn’t hold a candle to any of the aforementioned films.

As for this film, it’s simple: this is one of the year’s best. A movie that tugs at the heartstrings and, if my audience of hardened horror fans at Fantastic Fest is anything to go by, it will also get the tears flowing.

See it. See it immediately. And don’t forget to bring tissues.