Snowtown

Disciplined exercises in pauses, ellipses and hidden brutality, which Kurzel pours on the confused viewer, with everything that it encompasses, after about an hour and a quarter. An extremely uncomfortable and demanding spectator experience, and a psychological thriller without the possibility of empathy. This is the only way to authentically capture the world of a Bunting-caliber psychopath. (22.04.2015)

I expected an atmospheric movie with a story I probably won’t forget anytime soon. I got an idiotic demagogue, whom I would have sent to hell right away without even as much as looking at him. But the boy couldn’t do that and he made an ass of himself. (03.09.2014)

A sad ballad from an Australian redneck town and a maximum physical experience. Kurzel refuses any empathy and gets under your skin with the vigor of an unsharpened axe. In a long, hard, and painful way. The impossibility to find a piece of humanity in this panopticon is literally palpable, and so it burns in your throat with the same force as a mash of kangaroo guts on the couch. 4 ½. (15.01.2017)

Snowtown tackles a heavy subject, and I definitely have a soft spot for true stories. But the inexperience of the director is pretty noticeable here. At times it's hard to follow, and other moments feel rushed (Jamie’s involvement in the "process" being a prime example). It's a shame because the film didn’t hit me as hard as it could have. Still, it's worth a watch. 60%. (03.12.2011)