Jamie is 16 years-old, living with his mother and two brothers in Adelaide's northern suburbs, a disenfranchised community festering with violence, bigotry, rumour and suspicion. Disgusted by the aggression and hopelessness he witnesses, he yearns for escape, though when the charismatic John Bunting starts spending an increasing amount of time with the family, Jamie recognises the man as a father figure. He's not the only one to fall under the spell of Bunting, who spouts hate-fuelled, righteous rhetoric that is empowering for people who have little else. Yet Jamie starts to become suspicious of Bunting's erratic behaviour, and more so when people start to disappear. How far is Jamie prepared to immerse himself in Bunting's dark world? The dramatisation of Australia's most notorious spate of serial killings, the 'bodies in the barrels' murders of 1999, Snowtown is the remarkable directorial debut of Justin Kurzel, a sincere examination of violence that is no cheap slasher movie. Kurzel takes a journalistic fascination in addressing real horror and recent history, and the resulting film is authoritative, disturbing and shockingly convincing.
Michael Hayden
 
Time Out critics' choice - read full review
One of Sight & Sound's 30 Festival recommendations - read more