If you think fleeing a violent ex is hard enough, try doing it while the entire continent of Australia is literally on fire around you. Award-winning director Al Kalyk is making his feature debut with Cruel Hands. It’s a pulse-pounding, highly acclaimed survival thriller landing in theaters and on digital platforms this Friday, July 24, 2026. To celebrate the release, a new trailer has just dropped. It gives us a taste of the smoke-filled nightmare to come.
A Double Dose of Terror
Set during Australia’s catastrophic 2019 “Black Summer” bushfires, the story follows Maria (Mavournee Hazel) and her 12-year-old son Dai (Diesel La Torraca). They are fighting to escape her abusive husband, Jason (Josh McConville).
Naturally, things get worse. Unstoppable wildfires rage across the region, making emergency services completely useless. If that wasn’t bad enough, Jason relentlessly tracks them through the blinding smoke and wilderness. Soon, mother and son find themselves squeezed between an apocalyptic natural disaster and a man who refuses to let them go.
An Award-Winning Indie Powerhouse
Cruel Hands isn’t just your standard slasher-in-the-woods flick. It has already made massive waves on the festival circuit. It took home Best Narrative Feature at the Austin Film Festival, alongside official selections at BeyondFest Chicago, Panic Fest, and the Cleveland International Film Festival.
The film boasts an incredible Australian cast, anchored by Mavournee Hazel (Shantaram), Diesel La Torraca (Ginny & Georgia), and a terrifying turn by Josh McConville (The Invisible Man), with supporting work from Harry Greenwood (The Nightingale) and Geneviève Lemon (The Power of the Dog).
Equal parts emotional family drama and edge-of-your-seat chase thriller, Cruel Hands proves that sometimes the environment is just as hostile as the human monster hunting you. Check out the brand-new trailer below, and watch it in theaters or stream Cruel Hands starting Friday, July 24.
