Nitram

Set in the mid 1990s in a quiet Australian suburb, Nitram follows a young man who feels cut off from the world around him. He lives under the strict roof of his uneasy family life while carrying a growing sense of frustration and detachment that never seems to fit into the ordinary rhythms of daily life. He films stray moments, obsesses over routine routines, and searches for a way to belong that keeps slipping away. With restrained, clinically observed detail, the film tracks a slow build of anger and isolation that is intimate rather than explosive, revealing how private torment can fester into something darker. The result is a harrowing meditation on loneliness and the seeds of violence.

Directed by Justin Kurzel from a screenplay by Shaun Grant, Nitram presents a fictionalized portrait grounded in real events. Caleb Landry Jones embodies Nitram with an unsettling stillness, while Judy Davis and Anthony LaPaglia portray the controlling yet fragile parents.

Box office figures for Nitram remained modest, reflecting a limited release strategy and a niche audience. The worldwide gross was not heavily publicized, underscoring its status as a critically focused drama rather than a blockbuster.

The film prompted debates about how society understands isolation and culpability, steering conversations away from easy caricatures toward a clinical look at how a person slips through cracks of empathy. Critics praised its restrained approach for shaping memory of a dark chapter without sensationalism and inviting reflection on responsibility and prevention. Its quiet, documentary style leaves a lasting impression today.

Critics generally responded with measured praise for the film's austere mood and Caleb Landry Jones's performance. The film centers on themes of alienation, the fragility of social norms, and the consequences of neglect, offering a humane but unflinching look at the origins of violence without easy answers. Its rainy streets and interiors amplify the tension when nothing dramatic is happening.