The Snowtown Murders-2011

Director Justin Kurzel

Starring Daniel Henshall, Lucas Pittaway

Scott’s Review #57

Reviewed June 23, 2014

Grade: C+

The Snowtown Murders (2011) is an Australian film based on a true story about a charismatic, manipulative man who influences a family of misfits to follow his murderous streak.

The film is helped by a group of very talented actors (unknown to me) who successfully convey a sense of bleakness and despair in their lives, and some fine, emotional acting makes this film slightly above average.

The entire look of the movie is dreary, raw, and hopeless, from the lighting to the camera shots.

The details of the film are impressive- from the confined, dismal house the family lives in to the unhealthy meals consumed, all are filled with a sense of chaos.

The Snowtown Murders pushes the envelope with the explicitness of the murders and torture scenes, so the viewer is left feeling uncomfortable.

The downside is that the movie drags at times and meanders at a plodding pace, which adds to the discomfort.

I’m not sure whether this is intentional.