Black Snake Moan is a weird little story held together by two gobsmacking performances.

Christina Ricci is Rae, the town tart in some backwater in Tennessee. Against all the odds, Rae has a steady boyfriend (Justin Timberlake), but he's gone off to join the armed forces, so she's about to be alone again.

Alone doesn't really work for Rae. She has a number of unpleasant memories crowding into her mind at all times, and she uses mindless sex and mind-numbing drugs to keep those thoughts at bay.

It's not nearly as much fun as it sounds.

Samuel L. Jackson plays Lazarus, a hard working, God-fearing man we meet as his wife walks out on him for another guy. The other guy is Lazarus' own younger brother, so our hero has a few issues to work out. Lazarus has wine, women and song in his wild background and he has worked hard to keep on the right path, but these are trying times.

One night, something bad happens to Rae. She winds up unconscious on the side of the rural road near Lazarus' house. He finds this stranger, takes her in and attempts to nurse her back to health. Lazarus puts Rae in a tub of ice water to bring her fever down, a baptism that lets you know he's going to live up to his Biblical name. Black Snake Moan may take its name from the blues, but it's all about resurrection.

While she's sick, Rae is delirious and keeps running off. Lazarous puts a chain around her waist to keep her from hurting herself, but also because he has decided to 'cure' Rae of her wickedness. He keeps her chained up. When he gets out his old guitar and rediscovers the blues, music becomes therapy for both Lazarus and Rae.

All pulp images, dime-store psychology and Southern Gothic atmosphere, Black Snake Moan is nonetheless entirely watchable thanks to the performances from Jackson and Ricci. The main story doesn't always make sense, but writer/director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) has framed that story with clear-eyed observations about people and place. (And a strong supporting cast that includes S. Epatha Merkerson and John Cothran Jr.)

The biggest problem in the film is that the roots of abuse and abandonment are somewhat buried under images of Christina Ricci half-naked and chained up. That probably means the story will play out differently for male and female viewers, but never mind.

Meanwhile, who knew Sam Jackson had such a great singing voice?

(This film is rated 14-A)
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