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REVIEW
SNAPSHOT
Genre: BIPOC, Femme, Queer, Suspense, Thriller, Voyerusim
Year Released: 2017
Runtime: 1h 7m
Director(s): Shine Louise Houston
Writer(s): Shine Louise Houston
Cast: Beretta James, Chocolate Chip, Honey Foxx, Lyric Seal, Nerine Mechanique, Ozrael, Verta
Where To Watch: available now, stream here: www.pinklabel.tv
RAVING REVIEW: San Francisco, a city buzzing with mystery, sets the stage for a story where chance encounters can shift the course of life. Charlie (Beretta James), a freelance photographer with an eye for capturing the unexpected, is at the film's core. But when her camera accidentally snaps something far more than she intended, she’s thrown into a deadly game of cat and mouse. As she attempts to unravel the mystery behind the image, she crosses paths with Danny (Chocolate Chip,) a woman with an adventurous spirit and a guarded heart. What starts as an unlikely connection between the two quickly evolves into something deeper—one part romance, one part survival, and all wrapped in the shadow of looming danger.
SNAPSHOT refuses to fit neatly into any single genre, simultaneously embracing suspense, eroticism, and character-driven drama. Its handling of the story is playful, trading the familiar moments of self-discovery for something more mature and layered. Here, Danny, not Charlie, finds herself at a crossroads, drawn toward a new side of herself that she had never fully explored. This shift adds an unexpected weight, making the film as much about identity as it is about attraction.
Charlie, played with a balance of charm and reckless curiosity, is the type of protagonist who doesn’t always make the safest decisions, yet you can't help but root for her. On the other hand, Danny carries a different energy—reserved, strong-willed, but undeniably magnetic. The contrast between them fuels some of the film’s strongest moments, whether in the tension of an unspoken conversation or the intensity of their growing bond.
Of course, the thriller elements never allow a moment of complete ease. Drawing inspiration from classic voyeuristic cinema, SNAPSHOT plays with what is seen and unseen, using a single image as a trigger for unraveling something much larger. The cinematography leans into the noir-like atmosphere, embracing shadow and composition to elevate the suspense. The way the film builds unease is impressive—small details, glances, and the way the world seems to close around Charlie all contribute to a sense of impending danger.
The film never loses sight of its emotional stakes. The murder mystery is not isolated—it’s deeply entwined with the characters' transformations. For Danny, stepping into this relationship with Charlie means confronting vulnerabilities she’s kept at bay. For Charlie, the threat pressing in on her forces her to rethink her priorities and desires.
Another major strength is how the film approaches intimacy. SNAPSHOT sidesteps the overly choreographed nature of many adult-oriented stories, instead letting the actors drive the experience more organically. These moments serve a narrative purpose, revealing as much about the characters as any dialogue exchange.
The shifts between romance, thriller, and erotic drama feel seamless, never clashing or undercutting one another. That delicate balance keeps the film engaging from start to finish, making it clear that every element is working in service of a larger, cohesive vision. Much of that success comes down to the performances, with the lead actors bringing chemistry that elevates the material beyond simple genre conventions.
SNAPSHOT isn’t interested in playing by traditional rules. It takes elements from different genres and rearranges them. There’s something undeniably compelling about a film that refuses to be categorized. This kind of movie reminds you why blending genres can be so effective when done with intent and passion for the craft. It doesn’t simply borrow from thrillers, romances, or erotic dramas—it fuses them into something. SNAPSHOT is a thrilling, intimate, mysterious, and deeply human experience. It proves that sometimes, the best stories don’t fit into just one box—they create their own.
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[photo courtesy of PINK AND WHITE PRODUCTIONS, PINKLABEL.TV]
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