The horrific murders of eleven people between 1992 and 1999 in South Australia was a morbidly fascinating story for myself and many others. Now we have the film, directed by Justin Kurzel, of Australia's worst serial killer, John Bunting. He callously and methodically tortured and slaughtered those he found repugnant; pedophiles, addicts, gays, the disabled. A charismatic monster, he charmed and bullied the vulnerable around him to accompany his carnage.
Daniel Henshall is astonishing as Bunting, I'm certain we'll be seeing more of this guy. His recreation of Bunting's ability to seduce and control explains much. The family Bunting attaches himself to is ripe for exploitation, the kids already victims to a seemingly unending assortment of assaults. Lucas Pittaway plays Jamie, who Bunting takes under his wing and drags into his maniacal world. He is portrayed as a susceptible, shell of a human; unable to stand his ground when things have gone beyond any semblance of sanity.
The desaturated grade of the film successfully draws the color and hope out of these people's lives and the soundtrack, somewhat appropriately, brought Deliverance (1972) to mind at times. The sights of the struggling Adelaide suburb the film's events are located in are depressing alone. There are many appalling, graphic scenes to experience; explosive acts of violence carried out on man and animal. I could take those on the chin but it was the acts of sexual abuse that rattled me and the habitual violation of care that has uncomfortably lingered. I guess many people will not be interested in sitting through this sort of confronting ride but it's certainly worthwhile. Great to see some exciting Aussie cinema again.
4/5
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