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The Snowtown Murders

Original title: Snowtown
  • 20112011
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Snowtown (2011)
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.
Play trailer2:15
2 Videos
74 Photos
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama

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 mu... Read allBased 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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Justin Kurzel
  • Writers
    • Shaun Grant(story)
    • Justin Kurzel(story)
    • Debi Marshall(book Killing for Pleasure)
  • Stars
    • Lucas Pittaway
    • Daniel Henshall
    • Louise Harris
Top credits
  • Director
    • Justin Kurzel
  • Writers
    • Shaun Grant(story)
    • Justin Kurzel(story)
    • Debi Marshall(book Killing for Pleasure)
  • Stars
    • Lucas Pittaway
    • Daniel Henshall
    • Louise Harris
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 141User reviews
    • 131Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 23 wins & 23 nominations

    Videos2

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 2:15
    U.S. Version
    Snowtown
    Trailer 2:08
    Snowtown

    Photos74

    Daniel Henshall in Snowtown (2011)
    Lucas Pittaway and Louise Harris in Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)
    Lucas Pittaway in Snowtown (2011)
    Lucas Pittaway in Snowtown (2011)
    Lucas Pittaway in Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)
    Snowtown (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lucas Pittaway
    Lucas Pittaway
    • Jamie Vlassakisas Jamie Vlassakis
    Daniel Henshall
    Daniel Henshall
    • John Buntingas John Bunting
    Louise Harris
    • Elizabeth Harveyas Elizabeth Harvey
    Bob Adriaens
    • Gavinas Gavin
    Frank Cwiertniak
    • Jeffreyas Jeffrey
    Matthew Howard
    • Nicholasas Nicholas
    Marcus Howard
    • Alexas Alex
    Anthony Groves
    • Troyas Troy
    Richard Green
    Richard Green
    • Barryas Barry
    Aaron Viergever
    • Robertas Robert
    Denis Davey
    • Guitar Playeras Guitar Player
    Allan Chapple
    • Prayer Readeras Prayer Reader
    Beau Gosling
    • Davidas David
    Brendan Rock
    • Marcusas Marcus
    Bryan Sellars
    • Ministeras Minister
    David Walker
    • Mark Haydonas Mark Haydon
    Aasta Brown
    • Vernaas Verna
    Nigel Howard
    • Man at Dinneras Man at Dinner
    • Director
      • Justin Kurzel
    • Writers
      • Shaun Grant(story)
      • Justin Kurzel(story)
      • Debi Marshall(book Killing for Pleasure)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Sixteen-year-old Jamie lives with his mother, Elizabeth, and two younger brothers, Alex and Nicholas, in a housing trust home in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Their home is but one of many sun-starved houses crammed together to cater for a disenfranchised society. Jamie longs for an escape from the violence and hopelessness that surrounds him and his salvation arrives in the form of John, a charismatic man who unexpectedly comes to his aid. As John spends more and more time with Jamie's family, Elizabeth and her boys begin to experience a stability and sense of family that they have never known. John moves from the role of Jamie's protector to that of a mentor, indoctrinating Jamie into his world, a world brimming with bigotry, righteousness and malice. Like a son mimicking his father, Jamie soon begins to take on some of John's traits and beliefs as he spends more and more time with him and his select group of friends. The protection and guidance that John presents to Jamie is initially welcomed however as events occur around him, including the disappearance of several people, Jamie begins to harbour deep suspicions about John and his motivations. When the truth is finally revealed to Jamie his hopes of happiness are threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of, John, his father-figure. The story is taken from real facts that occured in Australia. —Anonymous
    • camera shot of feet
    • gang
    • emotionally unstable protagonist
    • mentally unstable protagonist
    • tortured to death
    • 444 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Based on the shocking true story
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Justin Kurzel told Lucas Pittaway not to talk much to any of the actors on set, to help the emotional state of his character.
    • Quotes

      John Bunting: Do you like bein' fucked? Do you like bein' fucked? So why not do somethin' about it? 'Cause all I ever see you do is sook, mate. No? What didjah do about Jeffrey? Fuckin' nothin'. You see me and Robert mopin' about? Hmm? No you don't because you do that they fuck you forever. You don't want that, do you? When are you gonna grow some balls, mate?

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2011 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Birthday To You
      Traditional

      Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill (as Paty Hill)

    User reviews141

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    The Boddies in the Barrels Murders.
    The press junket and first wave of critical notices built Snowtown up as a throat ripper that will cause you nightmares. That didn't do it any favours as per expectation levels for the horror enthusiast. However, this is a superb piece of film making, a real gritty and grainy deconstruction of the human condition gone sour. As with all films of this type that are based on real life incidents, it pays to read up on the facts if you be so inclined.

    Debut director Justin Kurzel doesn't shirk from the horrors of the case, but skillfully he doesn't bang everyone over the head with shock tactics to grab the attention. It's a relentlessly bleak picture, there's a continuous build of impending dread, of human devastation wrung out by a master manipulator (Daniel Henshall as John Bunting superb), the depressing story told through the eyes of the simple and confused Jamie Vlassakis (Lucas Pittaway).

    Not to be watched if one is looking to be cheered up! But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be sought out as essential cinema. It's a strong and potent film, worthy of inspection by adults who understand that not all film is about entertainment. 8.5/10
    helpful•15
    5
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Sep 28, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 19, 2011 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund (Australia)
      • Carver Films
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Snowtown
    • Filming locations
      • Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Carver Films
      • Screen Australia
      • The South Australian Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,452
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,273
      • Mar 4, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,349,387
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Background to a tragedy by Paul Risker
    Apr 8eyeforfilm.co.uk

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