Australian True-Crime Thriller Now Streaming for Free

When it comes to true crime movies and TV shows, most of them focus on the realism of the events they portray. A true crime approach can be extremely graphic or toned down to reduce distress, but it must remain realistic. Snowtown, or as it’s also known, The Snowtown Murders, is a rare film that pushes the limits of realism despite the upsetting events it portrays. By staying true to the gritty, almost dream-like nature of the crimes and the setting, it becomes one of those necessary true crime films that everyone should see at least once.

Snowtown, written by Shaun Grant and directed by Justin Kurzel (in his feature debut; known for Macbeth and The Order), is streaming for free on the ad-based platform Tubi. It tells the true story of the Snowtown murders, a series of killings that took place in Australia between 1992 and 1999. While several individuals were connected to the crimes, there were three notorious subjects: John Bunting, Robert Joe Wagner, and Jamie Vlassakis. The movie is told from the perspective of Jamie, who developed a strong bond with Bunting after the latter became a father figure to him.

Snowtown is the most disturbing coming-of-age film you can think of — a harrowing journey of a teenager who has been abused, and his only chance at payback is standing alongside a monstrous man who gives him the tools to indulge in revenge. It is a very unsettling piece, but it also feels like a deeply personal film, mainly because it is told from the perspective of one of the real killers on his journey to cleanse society of “monsters.”

What Is ‘Snowtown’ About?

A Horrific Rendering of the Real Murders That Took Place in Australia in the ’90s

jamie and john in snowtown talking outside

The Australian horror thriller Snowtown tells the story of 16-year-old Jamie, living in a broken home in a poor suburb. His half-brother is abusive towards him, and his mother can’t stop her newest boyfriend from being abusive towards Jamie and his little brothers. When the police fail to solve the situation, John Bunting enters the family’s lives. He becomes a father figure to Jamie and his siblings, and bonds with their mother. At the same time, John begins showing a violent side that escalates into something far more terrifying. Per the synopsis by the streamer Mubi:

After being introduced to a charismatic man, 16-year-old Jamie becomes friends with him. As the relationship grows, so do Jamie’s suspicions, until he finds his world threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of, his newfound father figure, John Bunting: Australia’s most notorious serial killer.

‘Snowtown’ Is One of the Best Thrillers of the Last 15 Years

And One of the Most Disturbing as Well

jamie and his brothers in snowtown standing outside looking off-screen

Kurzel’s early masterpiece is defined by its performances. Most of the actors are not well-known, and only Daniel Henshall went on to become a prominent actor in Australian cinema (he can be seen in The Babadook). However, this works to Kurzel’s advantage, as he achieves the necessary realism by casting unknown faces but cleverly directing them to accomplish grounded and unforgettable performances.

What’s more haunting about John Bunting’s portrayal is that actor Daniel Henshall accomplishes what Bunting did with the real family. He makes everyone fall under his spell. A warm smile, intense love, and being the father figure that none of the boys had. Especially Jamie, who appears to be able to observe Bunting’s true character, but still feels drawn to the vigilante agenda Bunting never hides. He knows he may be going down with Bunting, but it’s not until his own blood is threatened that Jamie reacts. It occurs in the film’s most intense and controversial scene — one that will make you cover your eyes, especially since just minutes earlier, this monster was romantically dancing with Elizabeth, the siblings’ mother.

The sequence depicts John and his partner’s revenge plan against Troy, Jamie’s half-brother. It’s a scene that doesn’t cut back any of its graphic violence, and shows Jamie’s inevitable descent into the role of collaborator that John always sought from him. While the two men are torturing Troy, Jamie wails in desperation. Ultimately, he realizes he can only stop this by finishing the job himself, and the leading serial killer proudly watches his creation.

Snowtown is a deeply disturbing cinematic experience, but it’s put together by a director whose craft is anything but conventional. The drama leans into the thriller genre by examining morally corrupt characters who initially seem good but are drawn into Bunting’s twisted plan. However, in this wasteland where humankind faces its most primal conditions, the distinction between good and evil becomes far more complex. Everyone’s corrupted in this place. Snowtown is streaming for free on Tubi.

If you or someone you know needs help related to sexual assault, you can call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or chat with someone on the RAINN website.