Snowtown (2011)

[Santa]

I have heard and read about it here, sounds very promising...

"When sixteen-year-old Jamie is introduced to a charismatic man, a friendship begins. As the relationship grows so do Jamie's suspicions, until he finds his world threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of, his newfound father-figure John Bunting, Australia's most notorious serial killer."

[Rusted]

I was going to make a thread for this but you've beat me to it.

I'm very interested in seeing this. The true story is pretty sick and twisted stuff and it's notorious over here in AUS. The small town of Snowtown, which is a fly speck on the map is now forever associated with such terrible crimes.

I've read a book about it and seen a couple of locally produced docos.

Going by the trailer, I don't think the movie will be too explicit. It looks like the crimes might be more suggested than actually shown.

Read all about the actual crimes here.

[I am Tetsuo]

Based on the Wikipedia of the real-life crimes, and the trailer, I'm pretty excited about seeing this film.

[CountOrlok]

Should be really gritty and disturbing.

[Rusted]

Went and saw this today.

It's not a horror movie but a bleak character study of a bunch of urban fringe dwellers, living on the poverty line and how they're all seduced by a cold and calculating psychopath.

This world of urban decay is portrayed pretty authentically as it's filmed in the exact same locations where the real life killers and victims lived.

Gorehounds will be disappointed as only one of the murders is shown, but the film works better because of it otherwise it would have come off as a Saw type movie. The majority of it is left to the viewers imagination but what we do see paints a pretty ugly picture of torture and violence.

For a debut movie filled with unknown actors everyone does a good job. Flawless performances, direction and cinematography. Music is used sparingly but when it is it creates an atmosphere of dread.

The closest comparison I can think of is Winters Bone, except it doesn't revolve around meth heads but killers.

4/5

[CaraBloodyCara]

Horror or not, this sounds really interesting and I would like to see it. Sometimes the character studies about serial murderers are actually more terrifying than any treatment a horror film can give to them.

[Santa]

Here's my review of this aussie masterpiece:

Snowtown
Jamie, a sixteen-year-old shy teen, who lives with his family in a slum-like district, gets acquainted with a friendly and charismatic guy, who exerts a compelling attraction. Soon he finds out that he is a vigilante psychopath, who mercilessly kills and frees the streets of people, who in his eyes are scum and a menace to society. He manages to get Jamie into his realm.
This one was a total knockout in terms of atmosphere, acting and display of attraction to a person, who is a nihilistic, cold-blooded but yet convincing and father-like. Very naturalistic and realistic production with unknown actors, who all delivered flawless performances. These made the film so believable and throat-grabbing. Music wasn't present that much but the few scenes with it underlined the already present gritty and daunting atmosphere. This aussie film is a total winner, I was totally blown off in the end.

9/10

[Heathen]

Originally Posted by rusted31

Gorehounds will be disappointed as only one of the murders is shown, but the film works better because of it otherwise it would have come off as a Saw type movie. The majority of it is left to the viewers imagination but what we do see paints a pretty ugly picture of torture and violence.

If you imagined the off-screen violence to be similar to Saw, why would the movie have been worse had it displayed Saw-like torture?

[Blood_n_Gutz_DownUnder]

Originally Posted by Heathen

If you imagined the off-screen violence to be similar to Saw, why would the movie have been worse had it displayed Saw-like torture?

I think he's saying it might have had a 'been-there-done-that' feel to it. Another Australian bloodbath. Another Wolf Creek. Another Saw. Not showing the violence might set it apart a bit.

Having said all that though, I haven't seen it myself yet.

[Rusted]

Originally Posted by Santa Sangre

Here's my review of this aussie masterpiece:

Snowtown
Jamie, a sixteen-year-old shy teen, who lives with his family in a slum-like district, gets acquainted with a friendly and charismatic guy, who exerts a compelling attraction. Soon he finds out that he is a vigilante psychopath, who mercilessly kills and frees the streets of people, who in his eyes are scum and a menace to society. He manages to get Jamie into his realm.
This one was a total knockout in terms of atmosphere, acting and display of attraction to a person, who is a nihilistic, cold-blooded but yet convincing and father-like. Very naturalistic and realistic production with unknown actors, who all delivered flawless performances. These made the film so believable and throat-grabbing. Music wasn't present that much but the few scenes with it underlined the already present gritty and daunting atmosphere. This aussie film is a total winner, I was totally blown off in the end.

9/10

Glad you liked it. It's even scarier knowing it's a true story.

Originally Posted by Heathen

If you imagined the off-screen violence to be similar to Saw, why would the movie have been worse had it displayed Saw-like torture?

The murders were so horrific, if everything was shown it would be just another torture porn offering. The film works better when the audience is only shown tidbits. This approach worked well for local audiences as the story is still fresh in the countries mind.

I'm guessing the director chose not to show the deaths in graphic detail due to the victims families.


The film works better when the audience is just shown tidbits of the crimes.