Snowtown 2011

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: This distressing infiltration of a family of young boys by a charismatic psychopath rewards with a stylistic talent that feels entirely new. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: A movie that heaps so much dank atmosphere on its suburbanites, you can't help but sigh with relief when events turn to serial killing (finally?). Read more

Noel Murray, AV Club: What is it with first-time Australian filmmakers and ultraviolent true-crime movies about thuggish underclass families? Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: Your appreciation of this Australian horror movie will depend on whether you think its artistry justifies its unrelenting ugliness. Read more

Megan Lehmann, Hollywood Reporter: A well-made but hard-to-watch portrait of Australia's worst serial killer. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Overlong and grim to the point where some scenes are virtually unwatchable... Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The film is a chilling study of an evil, dominant personality and his victims. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: An impressive but exceptionally disturbing feature debut from Australian director Justin Kurzel that pushes the new wave of Aussie crime films up a notch. Read more

Nigel Floyd, Time Out: 'Snowtown' is an uncomfortable film to watch, but its sickening suburban horror is made bearable by Kurzel's rigorous restraint... Read more

Richard Kuipers, Variety: The result is a movie that can be admired in many respects from a distance but is progressively less emotionally engaging. Read more

Karina Longworth, Village Voice: A dull thriller of ultra-bleak withholding. Read more