Nitram is the latest from acclaimed director Justin Kurzel and tells of the events leading up to the tragic 1996 Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania, Australia.
The film follows Nitram (Caleb Landry Jones), a young man living with his parents in suburban Australia during the mid-90s.
An outcast, Nitram befriends an heiress, Helen, however after their relationship ends tragically, Nitram’s anger, hatred, and loneliness begin to take hold of him.
The trailer shows Judy Davis’ character recalling a time spent with her son and ending with an indication of the boy being a sociopath.
Her story is overlaid with visuals from the film that show Nitram in various, seemingly ordinary situations and a look at his family.
It’s all very ominous, with a sense of dread running through the trailer.
While not explicitly named, the lead character is based on an Australian mass murderer, the criminal behind the terrifying Port Arthur Massacre.
Justin Kurzel aims to showcase a disturbing portrayal of the man who committed one of the most heinous crimes in history.
The Snowtown (2011) director brings that film’s vibe to Nitram, and it looks just as disturbing.
Kurzel is looking to progress his directing stock on the world stage with a locally produced film after his effort in Hollywood with Assassin’s Creed (2016) didn’t kick-off as he’d hoped.
Nevertheless, Kurzel is one of the best directing talents out of Australia today, and this film looks like it will undoubtedly send him back into the spotlight, for better or worse.
Nitram will premiere globally at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival before making a local debut at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival.
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