Based on the Australian case of 'the Snowtown murders' (1992-1999), this film stays mostly true to the facts (the relationship between Barry and Robert was cut out), be it that the viewer witnesses the story through the eyes of James Vlassakis. He becomes more and more involved in the torture, murders and disposing of the bodies.
'Snowtown' is a slow-paced, eerie drama that mostly implies the (physical) horrors, except for the torture and murder of Jamie's half-brother Troy Youde, after an hour and ten minutes and a few shorter parts (the abuse of the boys, the cutting up of a Kangaroo, the rape of Jamie). The rest of it slowly and (in a way) subtly unfolds from the moment when James and his little brothers are abused by a trusted neighbor, and shortly after, a new 'gang' moves in, wanting to take 'justice' into their own hands. Their leader, John Bunting, is a charismatic psychopath who himself was assaulted at the age of eight, though the latter is never literally mentioned in the film.
This tale never escapes the stranglehold of fear and misery (even without the murders and torture Snowtown looks like a miserable place) and there is a constant sadness surrounding Jamie, a sadness that is mainly apathetic, except for when he - somewhat 'heroical' - kills Troy in order to end the torture; I don't know how correct this is, since it is known he helped with the torture and murders of three more. I find it a weak point of the film not to adequately shed light on this.
Other than that, if you can stomach it, this is a well-made drama of the bleakest sort. The acting was completely satisfactory and finally, I must mention an effective, mostly melancholically droning, soundtrack.
A big 7 out of 10.
'Snowtown' is a slow-paced, eerie drama that mostly implies the (physical) horrors, except for the torture and murder of Jamie's half-brother Troy Youde, after an hour and ten minutes and a few shorter parts (the abuse of the boys, the cutting up of a Kangaroo, the rape of Jamie). The rest of it slowly and (in a way) subtly unfolds from the moment when James and his little brothers are abused by a trusted neighbor, and shortly after, a new 'gang' moves in, wanting to take 'justice' into their own hands. Their leader, John Bunting, is a charismatic psychopath who himself was assaulted at the age of eight, though the latter is never literally mentioned in the film.
This tale never escapes the stranglehold of fear and misery (even without the murders and torture Snowtown looks like a miserable place) and there is a constant sadness surrounding Jamie, a sadness that is mainly apathetic, except for when he - somewhat 'heroical' - kills Troy in order to end the torture; I don't know how correct this is, since it is known he helped with the torture and murders of three more. I find it a weak point of the film not to adequately shed light on this.
Other than that, if you can stomach it, this is a well-made drama of the bleakest sort. The acting was completely satisfactory and finally, I must mention an effective, mostly melancholically droning, soundtrack.
A big 7 out of 10.