Year: 2011
Director: Justin Kurzel
Synopsis: Based on true events, 16 year-old Jamie falls in with his mother’s new boyfriend and his crowd of self-appointed neighborhood watchmen, a relationship that leads to a spree of torture and murder.
My Short Review: For his first movie, director Justin Kurzel has decided to tell the story of Australia’s most infamous serial killer, John Bunting.
When you want to portray a monster you better find the best actor you can to fit the role. And if there is something that nobody can criticize, it is Daniel Henshall’s performance. He is so good at playing the charming guy that can go away with almost anything, even if it means bringing other people down in his spiral of violence.
Everytime Henshall is on the screen, you don’t know what will happen but despite his smiles and the attention he gives to people, he is always looking for others to agree with him, therefore the happiness and kindness are just an illusion to hide the grim truth.
Other actors performances are on par with Henshall’s and the gritty cinematography is appropriate and gives a documentary vibe to the movie.
Nevertheless, despite all of this, I never really could connect with the movie. I have to admit I even got lost at some points, not remembering which character was being kidnapped/tortured. I don’t know if it’s the script’s problem or the direction of Justin Kurzel but The Snowtown Muders, at times, feels like a draft of a better movie, an unfinished, unpolished product.
Maybe with a better screenplay and a better director this could have been a masterpiece. As it is, The Snowtown Muders is an average movie lifted by great acting.
My Rating: 5.5/10
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