Watchable.
Maria and her son Dai flee an abusive husband, hiding on an abandoned farm during bushfires. As emergency services search for the missing family, Dai uncovers sinister secrets about the farm.
Where to watch
1Cruel Hands is showing in 1 cinema in Los Angeles — next screening Thursday 30 July at 13:10 at Laemmle Glendale.
Thursday, 30 July
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Cast & crew
6What people say
A woman escapes her abuser in the midst of a horrifying bushfire. Very tense! Escaping an angry husband is scary enough, and the editing for this combines moments of tension from the past with the current risky survival situation in a gripping way. A great score (from the director’s ex-wife) really heightens everything as well. I love the way that smoke filters through the countryside long before the fire, so much so that you can almost smell it in the cinema. Great performances, particularly from 12 year old Diesel La Torraca, who has to be old enough to be upset by the change of location, but young enough that he can’t just be told what’s happening, and be both scared & rebellious.
It's a hell of a thing to survive one another
Common questions
What is Cruel Hands about?+
A woman and her son attempt to escape an abusive family situation by hiding in an isolated, abandoned farmhouse while dangerous bushfires rage across the landscape.
Who directed Cruel Hands?+
The film is directed by Australian filmmaker Al Kalyk and was released in 2025.
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