When 16 year-old Jamie begins a friendship with a charismatic man, his world becomes threatened by his loyalty and fear of his newfound father figure, John Bunting: Australia's most notorious serial killer.
Grimly credible, and with more than a few flashes of brilliance, this is a highly impressive, upsetting debut. Just be warned – its chief currency is cold, numbing horror.
Grim, authentically acted, unremittingly downbeat and genuinely disturbing... it’ll stay with you for some time after you’ve experienced it.
Terrific performances, especially from the menacing, lazily charismatic Henshall, and debut director Kurzel's expressionist storytelling make for an Aussie film well worth hunting down. A tough but seriously rewarding watch.
This is a well made but gruesome and often unwatchably violent film.
It’s slow but atmospheric and memorable.
Thought provoking, but leeringly nasty and deeply unsettling. This is one that will linger with you for days.
The honest thing they really could put on the poster is “Unmissable, if you dare”.
Raw, gritty, with a chilling lead performance.
The effect is uncomfortable, but unforgettable.
Snowtown is a film most people would wish to avoid...The bad news, I'm afraid, is that it's also horribly compelling, and very well-directed.
However disquieting the film (based on the story of Australia's worst serial killer) it's also boring, with shocks bogged down in the banal.
Snowtown is quite something – a descent into hell evoked with chilling sobriety.
Riveting.
A remarkable and defining examination of the darker self.
It’s a hard film to watch, harder still to forget.
Beauty in the horror of Snowtown
Interview: Justin Kurzel and Lucas Pittaway
Snowtown: Not for the faint hearted
General release. Check local listings for show times.
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Tuesday December 27, 2011, until Thursday December 29, 2011. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Wednesday December 28, 2011, until Saturday December 31, 2011. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
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