Review by Nick Wheatley
Stars Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris, Craig Coyne, Richard Green, Brendan Rock, Bob Adriaens, Frank Cwiertniak, Matthew Howard, Anthony Groves
Written by Shaun Grant & Justin Kurzel
Certification UK 18 | Australia MA
Runtime 119 minutes
Directed by Justin Kurzel
Snowtown is one of those films in which you must brace yourself before the experience. It's a drama that does not pull it's punches and will certainly not be for everyone. For those who meet the criteria and are interested in seeing a vivid yet savage piece of work, you're in luck. This is the flick for you.
Set in South Australia during the mid-1990s, the story focuses on a teenager called Jamie (Pittaway) who lives with his mother and three brothers in an outer suburb of Adelaide. When he and his brothers are sexually abused by a neighbour, a local man steps in to aid the family's suffering. He is John Bunting (Henshall), who later becomes one of Australia's most notorious serial killers. He takes Jamie under his wing and what Jamie thought was his salvation takes a dark turn which he may never escape.
The drama is compelling and the pace of the story is consistent. On occasion the intrigue drops just for a moment but the slack is soon picked up as something grips your attention instantly. Plus, there were some plot points that were a little challenging to follow at times but all was made clear eventually. The bleak and colourless surroundings were often contrasted with childish distractions such as ice cream vans and video games. This seemed to emphasise the loss of innocence that the vulnerable Jamie's was going through. Some of the scenes in this film are grotesque from Buntings detailed murders to simply the killing of an animal, all the gory details are there for you to see. It's quite an uncomfortable experience but becomes a powerful film because of it.
Pittaway performs admirably in his debut but the real star of the show is Henshall who is one of the most threatening and insidious screen villains I've seen all year as John Bunting. He's a man with strong ideals against paedophiles and homosexuals and sees himself as a protector of his community. This warped mindset unleashes an absolutely unpredictable monster who domineers over others for satisfaction. As his sinister acts are divulged the true nature of Bunting is revealed and Henshall captures that vicious nature perfectly. Harris also delivers an enduring depiction of Elizabeth Harvey, the mother of the teenage boys who had a relationship with Bunting. She is sidelined in the latter half of the film unfortunately but excels as a struggling mother.
This is a solid but chilling drama which showcases the director's considerable talent. With a thumping, rasping score, brutal violence and one incredible performance, it's a sturdy piece of work with great impact and one you won't forget in a hurry.