Simon Wincer

Snapshot

Angela, a young, naive hairdresser in Melbourne dreams of saving enough money to leave the country and live abroad, but is under the thumb of her overbearing, puritanical mother who oversees Angela's finances. One day, Angela is pushed by one of her clients, Madeline, a glamorous model, to pursue print modeling. Angela reluctantly agrees, and completes an outdoor photoshoot with a photographer named Linsey in which she is coaxed into posing nude on the beach. After attending a party with Madeline, Angela returns home to find her mother has locked her out, later discovering she did so upon finding that Angela was modeling. Her ex-boyfriend Daryl, an ice cream truck driver, arrives, and the two get into an argument; he wants to rekindle their relationship, but Angela has no interest. With nowhere to go, Angela returns to Linsey's home and he allows her to spend the night. Angela soon finds herself absorbed into the modeling world, and is subsequently approached by her mother, who requests Angela pay for medical bills accrued by her younger sister. Angela visits Elmer, the wealthy owner of the modeling agency, at his mansion for a supposed barbecue. Once there, she finds she is the sole guest. Elmer regales Angela, telling he will be able to get her widespread exposure, even assuring her he can help her attain an acting career in Los Angeles. Elmer convinces Angela to undress and begins to photograph her, but she abruptly leaves, sensing that she has been exploited. Angela returns to the home she is sharing with Linsey and several other models, and is notified by her roommate Wendy that a man dropped off a bag of her belongings. Worried it is Daryl, there to harass her, she grows anxious. In her bed, Angela finds a severed pig's head in her bed. Later, Angela is offered a modeling job in Fiji. While packing to leave, Angela hears the tune of an ice cream truck, and spots one outside her window. Fearing that Daryl is stalking her, she attempts to leave unnoticed, but is confronted by him outside. Angela flees on foot and travels to the agency, but finds the offices apparently empty. Before she can leave, she is confronted by Elmer, who emerges and tries to force her to pose for him. Realizing Elmer is obsessed with her, Angela attempts to fight him off, but a struggle ensues in which she lights him on fire, burning him to death. Daryl arrives at the agency, as does Madeline, as Angela escapes though a window. Daryl confronts Angela, and she expresses disgust for him. When she refers to the pig's head left in her bed, he responds with confusion, insisting he did not place it there. Moments later, Madeline, driving Daryl's truck, collides with him, killing him instantly. A shocked Angela is coaxed by Madeline into the truck, as Madeline tells her she will be late for her plane to Fiji.