Memoir of a Snail is the latest from acclaimed filmmaker Adam Elliot, who’s last full-length feature was released 15 years ago in 2009. I only saw his 2009 film, Mary and Max, recently due to my high ambitions of completing the IMDb top 250 (which I recently achieved). At the time, I couldn’t believe the filmmaker hadn’t really came out with anything else. To my surprise, I had no idea Memoir of a Snail was due to come out right around the corner. Luckily, I found a screening invite for it in my inbox, so I had to watch & review it immediately.

Loosely inspired by Elliot’s own life, the film follows lonely misfit Grace Pudel from childhood to adulthood. Similar to his previous feature length film, this one truly surprised me. Elliot’s work is unlike anything else and feels like a privilege to watch in real time. His work is like he never skipped a beat. What he does so well between both of these films is the animation, the writing, and the emotion.

Stop-motion is a form of animation that is highly underrated. It doesn’t feel like its as highly regarded as most other modern animation movies. I suppose the two subgenres of animation I never thought I would watch at my age is stop-motion and anime, and I think that comes with a certain stigma that comes with it. Once you get past that, you come to realize how beautifully made these films can really be. While other filmmakers have mastered stop-motion, Elliot crafts it in a way that feels personal. You can see him unearth his trauma through this form. I am not sure if we will get another film from him anytime soon, so don’t take this for granted.

What helps enhance this form of animation is Elliot’s storytelling. He’s as gifted of a visionary as he is a storyteller. Between both films, I feel like there is still something missing with the set up. Maybe it has to do with a lack of a hook or me just trying to get used to what I am seeing. The point that I am making here is that once you get used to what you are witnessing, you can get so attached to it. It feels like Elliot made this for someone like me. I could personally relate to aspects of the plot, such as my own path to film school. Just like his form of animation, Elliot makes his storytelling personal for others to enjoy.

What also makes his vision unique is how the film embraces its raw R rating. Not only does it bring genuine, unfiltered emotion, but it also creates real shock value that only this form of animation could effectively show without being too morbid. It ends up creating a world that feels so close to our own no matter where we are on planet Earth. Elliot is simply an amazing filmmaker that I hope gets more recognition through this.

The voice performances help elevate the emotion this story requires. In particular, Sarah Snook gives a heartbreaking and earnest performance as the main character that makes it easy to care for her. Kodi Smit-McPhee voices a character that really stands out and helps bring the story home. Then, there is Jacki Weaver is hilariously unpredictable. While no one does a bad job at all, the three mentioned really gives the film the identitiy it deserves.

The film has the type of beginning that seems generic on the surface, but you end up appreciating by the end. The pacing can sometimes be sluggish and offbeat. No matter how you look at the film, the film really brings it together by the end with so many heavy-hitting emotion that makes it all worth it. It makes a few of the lesser qualities worth getting through. I haven’t personally gotten so much of a numb emotion from the ending of this film since experiencing Perfect Days for the first time. If you have the opportunity to see this, please do. It is so worth it.

Overall, Memoir of a Snail is everything I needed it to be. It capitalizes on Elliot’s prior work, showing that the guy has never once missed a beat. The story will grip you and reel you in until the emotionally satisfying ending. With what this film accomplishes, do not be surprised to see this be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. I’d act fact though if you haven’t seen it yet, so that way you can be in on the conversation of how great this film is.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)