press release
DARK SKY FILMS PROUDLY ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE
OF A FESTIVAL FAVORITE FROM A BOLD NEW VOICE IN FILMMAKING
OF A FESTIVAL FAVORITE FROM A BOLD NEW VOICE IN FILMMAKING
CRUEL HANDS
DIRECTED BY AL KALYK Starring Mavournee Hazel (Neighbours, Shantaram) , Josh McConville (The Invisible Man, Elvis) , Diesel La Torraca (Ginny & Georgia, Lambs of God)
IN THEATERS AND ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS JULY 24TH
Winner, Dark Matters Best Narriative Feature - Austin Film Festival
Official Selection - Austin Film Festival
Official Selection - BeyondFest Chicago
Official Selection - Panic Fest
Official Selection - Cleveland International Film Festival
Set during Australia’s catastrophic 2019 “Black Summer” bushfires, Cruel Hands follows Maria and her 12-year-old son Dai as they flee her violent husband and seek refuge in an abandoned farmhouse. As fires rage across the region and emergency services struggle to locate the missing family, Maria attempts to build a safe new life for her son while Jason relentlessly hunts them through the smoke-filled wilderness. Trapped between a deadly natural disaster and the man they are trying to escape, mother and son are pushed to their limits in a tense and emotional fight for survival with devastating consequences.
Featuring powerful performances from Mavournee Hazel (Neighbours, Shantaram), Josh McConville (The Invisible Man, Elvis) and Diesel La Torraca (Ginny & Georgia, Lambs of God). Cruel Hands delivers a powerful story of survival under impossible circumstances. Additional cast incudes Harry Greenwood (The Nightingale, Hacksaw Ridge) and Geneviève Lemon (The Power of the Dog, Sweetie). Cruel Hands combines emotional authenticity with edge-of-your-seat suspense, establishing director Al Kalyk as an exciting new voice in genre cinema. Both a tense thriller and a poignant examination of trauma and endurance, Cruel Hands is an unforgettable story of refuge, pursuit, and the fight to reclaim one’s life.
About the Director:
With Cruel Hands, Croatian-Australian filmmaker Al Kalyk emerges as a bold new voice in genre cinema. Drawing on his experience as a writer, director, editor, and cinematographer, Kalyk brings a distinctive visual style and an instinct for building relentless tension, crafting a film that is as emotionally raw as it is suspenseful. Blending psychological thriller elements with a deeply human story of survival, Cruel Hands transforms the devastation of Australia’s Black Summer bushfires into a haunting backdrop for an intimate tale of trauma, resilience, and transformation. The result is a striking debut that signals the arrival of an exciting filmmaker.
Featuring powerful performances from Mavournee Hazel (Neighbours, Shantaram), Josh McConville (The Invisible Man, Elvis) and Diesel La Torraca (Ginny & Georgia, Lambs of God). Cruel Hands delivers a powerful story of survival under impossible circumstances. Additional cast incudes Harry Greenwood (The Nightingale, Hacksaw Ridge) and Geneviève Lemon (The Power of the Dog, Sweetie). Cruel Hands combines emotional authenticity with edge-of-your-seat suspense, establishing director Al Kalyk as an exciting new voice in genre cinema. Both a tense thriller and a poignant examination of trauma and endurance, Cruel Hands is an unforgettable story of refuge, pursuit, and the fight to reclaim one’s life.
About the Director:
With Cruel Hands, Croatian-Australian filmmaker Al Kalyk emerges as a bold new voice in genre cinema. Drawing on his experience as a writer, director, editor, and cinematographer, Kalyk brings a distinctive visual style and an instinct for building relentless tension, crafting a film that is as emotionally raw as it is suspenseful. Blending psychological thriller elements with a deeply human story of survival, Cruel Hands transforms the devastation of Australia’s Black Summer bushfires into a haunting backdrop for an intimate tale of trauma, resilience, and transformation. The result is a striking debut that signals the arrival of an exciting filmmaker.
CRUEL HANDS
Directed by: Al Kalyk
Written by: Al Kalyk & Matthew Kalyk
Produced by: Ashley McLeod & Al Kalyk
Starring: Mavournee Hazel, Diesel La Torraca, Josh McConville, Harry Greenwood,
& Genevieve Lemon
Genre: Thriller
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Run Time: 96 minutes
Directed by: Al Kalyk
Written by: Al Kalyk & Matthew Kalyk
Produced by: Ashley McLeod & Al Kalyk
Starring: Mavournee Hazel, Diesel La Torraca, Josh McConville, Harry Greenwood,
& Genevieve Lemon
Genre: Thriller
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Run Time: 96 minutes
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