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The Snowtown Murders

Play trailer Poster for The Snowtown Murders 2012 2h 0m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A charismatic but violent predator (Daniel Henshall) takes his girlfriend's teenage son (Lucas Pittaway) under his wing and makes him an accomplice in a murder spree.
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The Snowtown Murders

The Snowtown Murders

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Critics Consensus

It's a bleak and brutal endurance test, but for viewers with the strength and patience to make it to the end, Snowtown will prove an uncommonly powerful viewing experience.

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Critics Reviews

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Jyoti Roy Bitch Media Jan 12, 2021
The film is a fascinating psychological study, both on the effects on the audience and the arc of the characters as we are see them (and ourselves) slowly consumed by this bleak, murderous, poverty stricken town in rural Australia. Go to Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times Mar 19, 2012
4/5
The grimy social realism and gurgling torture scenes place director Justin Kurzel's startling debut midway between Animal Kingdom and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Go to Full Review Ben Sachs Chicago Reader Mar 15, 2012
Your appreciation of this Australian horror movie will depend on whether you think its artistry justifies its unrelenting ugliness. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting Mar 18, 2025
4.5/5
Director Kurzel and screenwriter Grant adapt the horrifying true story of the Snowtown (aka the "bodies in the barrels") murders. It's an incredibly difficult - but important - watch and features a terrifying performance by Daniel Henshall Go to Full Review Kat Hughes THN Feb 3, 2022
4/5
Stark, gloomy, and fuelled with anguish and despair, Snowtown is an unrelenting film that once watched, will never be forgotten. Go to Full Review Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Jan 27, 2022
The great strength of Snowtown, aside from superb acting performances, is the way it shows how domination, fear and control operate on vulnerable people. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leonardo M @leosblinds Jul 7, 2026 this movie was psychological horror at its finest. See more Jason P @RT48706058 Jun 20, 2026 Why isn’t zero stars an option? Literally the worst and most boring thing I’ve ever watched. Finally gave up after 45 minutes. See more M F @RT08899987 Jun 8, 2026 Harsh and brutal and equally brilliant. Watch it once and it stays with you forever. See more Benjamin L @RT30716757 May 21, 2026 It’s grim. A little bit slow from an entertainment perspective, but emotionally it feels quite real. The acting is excellent. If you enjoy true crime and are familiar with the case, excellent. I imagine for outsiders it would just be…. Dark See more Tyler P. @TylerPhoenixMD Mar 18, 2026 Truly brutal film. Not for the faint of heart. See more Steven F. @SteveGotScored Feb 19, 2026 An extremely powerful movie about the crazy true crime story! See more Read all reviews
The Snowtown Murders

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Cast & Crew

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Justin Kurzel

Director

Daniel Henshall

John Bunting

Lucas Pittaway

Jamie

Craig Coyne

Ray

Richard Green

Barry

David Walker

Mark Haydon

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The Snowtown Murders

(L-R) Matthew Howard as Nicholas, Marcus Howard as Alex and Anthony Groves as Troy in "Snowtown." (L-R) Matthew Howard as Nicholas, Lucas Pittaway as Jamie Vlassakis, Daniel Henshall as John Bunting and Marcus Howard as Alex in "Snowtown." Daniel Henshall as John Bunting in "Snowtown." (L-R) Lucas Pittaway as Jamie Vlassakis and Daniel Henshall as John Bunting in "Snowtown." The Snowtown Murders (2011) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A charismatic but violent predator (Daniel Henshall) takes his girlfriend's teenage son (Lucas Pittaway) under his wing and makes him an accomplice in a murder spree.
Director
Justin Kurzel
Producer
Sarah Shaw, Anna McLeish
Screenwriter
Justin Kurzel, Shaun Grant
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
South Australian Film Corporation, Screen Australia, Warp Films Australia
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.0K
Runtime
2h 0m
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