Cruel Hands (2026)

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

My mom told me when

she was a little girl

the world was different.

She said it was greener.

The air was fresher, the

sunrise more beautiful.

She said that's why she

wanted to take me away,

to find somewhere

like that again.

[thundering]

But when the fires came,

it changed everything,

and the fires came, the

air became thick and heavy.

[thundering]

And all the grain

was washed away.

[music playing]

[traffic humming]

[clicking]

Oh, don't worry about that.

[clicking]

[crickets]

[footsteps]

Dai, don't.

Don't do that, darling.

You can't go past this fence.

OK.

We can't let anyone see us,

or we'll get into trouble, OK?

Well, why can't we

go over the other side?

Because there are

wild dogs and wolves

that love eating up little boys

for their breakfast, lunch,

-and dinner.

-No, they're not.

Are too.

No, they're not.

You good to your mother?

You do what she tells you to do?

-Ahhh.

-Yeah.

Thank you.

Take care, hey.

Yeah.

[door closing]

[engine turning]

[music playing]

[creaking]

[radio chatter] changes

[radio chatter]

And there are others.

It's not just about these three.

Apparently, the Navy's on

standby down Mallacoota Way.

[g*n c*ck]

in [radio chatter]

[buzzing]

Oh, wow.

Thank you, Dai.

Hey, this fridge door

doesn't shut properly, OK, so

just be careful with it, yeah

[buzzing]

[banging]

Dai!

What are you doing,

you little weirdo?

Hi, Darling.

[music playing]

OK, so we like the body.

Looks like...

Oh, yeah.

That's how you do it.

Yeah.

You get all the

excess and then...

and then that.

And then it'll dry

hard in the shape.

[slashing grass]

There's more glue in the

fridge if you need it, OK.

[music playing]

[banging]

[traffic humming]

Sorry, do you have a

phone that I could use.

-Sorry?

-Can I please use your phone?

We don't have a public phone

Please, can I just...

here, you can have just...

you can have that.

Just can I please

use your phone.

[tires screeching]

[phone chatter]

-Sorry.

-Where are we?

What... what's your address?

34 Pacific Road I think.

[music playing]

Come on, Lucille.

Come on.

Come on.

Pick up.

Pick up.

Pick up.

[dial tone]

Lucille, it's me.

It's Marie.

-Where are you?

-Mom.

Mom, are you OK?

I had a nightmare.

Come here.

What scared the bravest

boy in the world then?

It was someone suffocating me.

Did you fight back?

Fight back?

Yeah.

Show them how brave you are.

Show me.

Yeah, it's that.

It's the only way to get

rid of nightmares, baby.

You have to stand up to them.

Do you have nightmares?

Sometimes.

Do you stand up to them?

Sometimes.

Maybe go downstairs,

make some breakfast.

-I'll be down soon.

-OK.

OK.

[chirping]

[buzzing]

Mom!

What?

Did power go out again?

I don't know.

Move.

I'm sure Lucille will bring

really good stuff with her.

We had good food at home.

If Lucille doesn't come,

what are we gonna eat?

She'll come, Dai.

She was late when she

picked us up last time.

She'll come.

[thundering]

Hey!

Hello.

My name's Jason.

I was here the other night

with my wife and son.

Yeah, no, I remember.

You guys were

having car troubles.

Well, would you believe it.

She's broken down again.

I'm sorry to hear.

Cars just never do what

they're supposed to, hey.

Would you mind giving me a ride?

Oh, I'm actually going the

other way, and I'm running late.

Otherwise I would.

I didn't say where

I needed to go.

Can I use your phone?

Sir, I'm sorry, but

I really have to run.

My family's missing.

All I know is that my wife

called a number on your phone,

and then she vanished.

I just... just wanna

see who she called.

Maybe she doesn't want that.

-I don't want to get involved.

-I'm sorry.

You can't help that now.

Dai, honey, where are you?

Mom.

Hmm?

Why isn't it cold?

Hmm?

What do you mean?

Well, if it's snowing,

shouldn't it be cold?

[music playing]

It's ash.

It's... it's not snow.

Why would there

be ash in the sky.

-Well, the winds, they...

-they pick it up from the fires

and bring it over this way.

Well, they must be close.

No, no, they're miles away.

You don't have to

worry about that.

Besides, I've got more

important things to worry about.

Like what?

Like this friend of mine,

it's his birthday soon.

Actually, I think

might know him.

He's a little man, but he's

almost as tall as me now.

And he likes drawing.

He insists on petting

every dog that he meets.

He loves waking his

mom up really early.

[giggling]

[keys rattling]

[dial tone]

[music playing]

[phone chatter]

Don't do that, Dai.

Where are you going?

Going to see if I

can catch a rabbit.

Get a little bit

more for us to eat.

You're going to the supermarket?

No, Dai.

There isn't a

supermarket, OK, at least

not one that we can walk to.

Can I come with you?

What did I say

that the rule was?

-Don't go past the fence.

-Exactly.

What if I'm with you?

No, Dai, OK.

You have to stay in here.

It's safer.

I can just go when you're gone.

What was that Dai, if I find out

that you've been

going past the fence,

I'm going to start

locking you in your room.

You wouldn't.

Yes, I would because if

I don't then the police

will catch you and we'll have

even more problems, all right.

Go back inside, Dai.

[footsteps]

[music playing]

[slamming]

Who was on the phone?

[muffled speech]

How do you think

it makes me feel?

Just gonna leave me alone?

I'd k*ll myself if

I lost you, Maria.

Is that what you want?

You want me to k*ll myself?

What if it is?

[slapping]

I don't think being

around here is safe for him.

Maybe I'll take him to

live somewhere else.

How you like that?

[banging]

You all right?

That was a lot, wasn't it?

Your mother, we love her,

but she can be so dramatic,

can't she?

Hey.

Hey.

Hey, she didn't tell you where

she was taking you, did she?

Yeah, you I'd never hurt

anyone, especially not you two.

Your mother, she's just...

she's very sick,

and she needs help.

And she doesn't tell the truth.

You know that, right?

Yeah?

You're a smart kid.

You see it?

All right.

I love you.

Bye bye.

[animals calling]

[rumbling]

[screaming]

[g*nsh*t]

sh*t.

[screaming]

[clap]

Mom, I'm hungry.

Yeah.

All right, let's have

something to eat then.

But we've nothing to eat.

Oh, that's not true, is it?

I'll make us some beans.

Well, I'm bored.

There's nothing to do.

And I don't want to

eat beans and stew.

I hate it here.

Dai, just stop please, OK.

I'm trying my best.

Why are we even here?

-I'm trying to protect you.

-You're not protecting me.

You just wanted to

get back at dad.

You know that's not true.

Don't...

What do you want?

You want something special,

I'll get it for you.

Anything?

Yes, anything.

Something good.

Fine.

I'll get you something good.

[knocking]

What do you want?

Hello, Hannah.

What do you want?

Can you open this door?

You've aged badly.

Marie is missing.

You already know.

I don't know where she is.

She has my son.

Marie has a son?

Dai.

He's about to turn 12.

I just need to know they're OK.

If they want to be left

alone, I'll leave them alone.

Just want them to

know I love them

and I'm here for

them if they need.

-f*ck off.

-Jason.

If you come back, I'm

calling the police.

[door slamming]

[rustling]

[chatter]

[barking]

[knocking]

I gotta get out of here tonight.

Look out the window, Dai.

OK, but I need you to get the

key to the door from your dad.

So can you please

do that for me?

[radio chatter]

Just don't wake him up.

The country has seen in a

century have ravaged houses,

and families have been

reporting from the front line.

State of emergency

has been declared

with police and military

helping to fight

the panic around the country.

We go now to Hamish

Ferguson, who's

been reporting on

the front lines.

Hamish, what are you seeing?

That's right.

Chris.

The wind does appear to be

keeping the blazes high.

But that could change

at any moment, too.

And if that happens...

Go to bed, Dai.

I'm getting water.

Why is it taking so long to

evacuate these communities.

There are hardy people.

They've been through these fires

before, and they've come out OK.

We haven't seen

anything like it before,

and experts are saying this

could be the new normal.

[water running]

[radio chatter]

[rattling]

[barking]

[radio chatter]

[barking]

[music playing]

You OK?

Where is he?

On the couch.

Run.

Wait!

No, stop that!

[screaming]

[labored breathing]

[screaming]

Are you OK?

[labored breathing]

[screaming]

-Drive!

-Drive!

Drive!

Drive!

Drive!

Drive!

[banging]

[music playing]

[labored breathing]

[sobbing]

Are you OK, Dai?

[screaming]

Is it good?

Yeah, it's pretty good.

Where'd you get it?

It's a secret.

So you can go to

the supermarket?

-No, Dai.

-We can't, OK.

It was a one time thing.

Why?

Because I said so, Dai.

[scruffing]

[rumbling]

The victim identified

as Hannah Connor suffered

a severe beating

after a home invasion

this week in an

outer Sydney suburb.

According to police,

the attack scene

is random although there is...

[vibrating]

Hello.

Oh, hello.

Am I speaking with

Jason Trieste?

Yes, it is.

Who's speaking?

This is Robbie Kearns.

I'm calling from Glenmore

Road Public School.

I'm one of Dai's teachers.

We haven't seen him

in the last week.

I just wanted to make sure

that you were aware of this.

Oh, I thought Maria emailed you.

No, we're up in

Queensland for work,

so Dai won't be

coming in anymore.

Oh, OK.

I haven't received anything.

That's OK.

Thanks for calling.

[shuffling]

[distant banging]

[footsteps]

[talking in distance]

I was just like I had to

get out of there, you know.

[buzzing]

Temperatures.

These conditions

create a perfect storm.

Here we go.

The usual fear-mongering from

the scientific community.

Australia always has bushfires.

This is nothing new.

[radio chatter]

Sorry to disturb you.

I'm just looking for my mother.

She's got dementia,

and she's wandered off.

Her name's Lucille.

Do you know her?

-No.

-Sorry.

Do you know anyone

named Lucille?

That's the old one.

Good luck finding your mother.

[baby crying]

I love them at this age.

They're so cute.

You really never saw her?

Yeah.

Well, have a great day.

-Hey!

-I don't know.

No.

No, I don't know how

you do it to yourself.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, it smells like sh*t.

Tastes like sh*t.

sh*t, my dad smokes.

I reckon I'm a lot like my dad.

I mean, he smokes.

Does he?

[laughing]

Yeah.

Like a pack a day.

[music playing]

What are you doing?

Wait Keep me up.

Keep me up, guys.

That's nice.

Hey!

Hey, where you going?

Yip, yip!

Here, piggy, piggy, piggy.

[yelping]

[yelping]

There you are.

He's going down there.

Oh, he's trying

to steal our billy.

Damn, dude, that

was a good spot.

[music playing]

[labored breathing]

Dai, honey.

Dai, where are you?

Dai!

What have you...

what have you done?

What is wrong with you!

Get in the bathroom now.

Dai, the rule about the

fence, it's to protect us.

OK.

I wanted to see the supermarket.

There is no supermarket, Dai.

I stole the pizzas

from the neighbors.

I shouldn't have, and I'm

not going to do it again.

But the neighbors cannot see us.

Do you understand?

Because if they do, then

they'll call the police,

and they'll report us.

And then your

father will find us.

And he'll take you

away from me, OK.

And I'm terrified that I'll

never get to see you again

if that happens, Dai.

Do you understand?

[sobbing]

[rumbling]

[tapping]

[music playing]

[crackling]

[fire rustling]

Dai, honey, can you

come out here a sec?

Happy birthday, honey.

I don't want a cake.

Come on, darling.

Come on, blow out your candles.

You can wish for

anything you want.

I don't want to make a wish.

Dai, what do you want more

than anything in the world?

I want to go home.

OK, you want to go back

to living with your father,

fine, wish for that then.

[soft banging]

Why do you want to go home?

You didn't get

angry at me as much,

and we were a whole family.

OK, then wish for that.

Go on.

Wish for it.

Sorry.

We're not gonna

stay here forever.

Mom.

Yeah, little man.

I promise I won't go

past the fence again.

Good night, darling.

I love you.

[rumbling]

[music playing]

You OK?

Whatever you hear,

just stay in here, OK.

What is it?

Is it dad?

Just stay in here, Dai.

[shuffling]

[creaking]

I don't know.

I don't know.

Something in the house.

[g*nsh*t]

[thunk]

[footsteps]

[shaking]

[whimpering]

Hey.

It was an accident, Dai I

thought it was your dad.

[rustling]

Piss off.

You know, you can't protect

yourself with a garden hose.

Whoa.

OK.

Seems to work well.

Thank you.

[radio chatter]

Hey, Will.

What?

We got a 000 call about

g*nshots in the Osgood area.

The caller couldn't

give an address.

Didn't have one.

He was apparently

hard to understand.

-Now?

-Yeah.

Probably nothing.

Hunters maybe.

Well, no, we can't ignore it.

Who was the caller.

Harold in the caravan park.

Yeah.

Right, well, he is

hard to understand.

All right, we'll be back.

Yeah.

Please get ready to evacuate.

OK.

Thank you.

[rustling]

[footsteps]

You called in about a g*nsh*t.

Who's yelling?

Will and Francis are here.

So you heard it as well?

Oh, there was a loud

crack an hour ago.

Yeah.

Over in the forest over there.

Probably just hunters.

So who's living over there?

Nobody lives there.

Evacuated?

Abandoned.

[thumping]

[music playing]

[labored breathing]

Mom!

[footsteps]

Mom.

Nothing.

No, nothing.

Mom.

Please, Dai.

Mom.

Mom.

[creaking]

Please, Dai.

Yes.

Yes, yes, yes.

Listen to me.

Need you take this.

I need you to stay...

look at me.

Stay quiet.

Don't move.

OK.

Go.

Go, go, go.

Hey, Francis.

Hmm.

Look.

Local kids breaking in?

Yeah.

Why don't they take

out the garbage?

We know there's someone here.

It's the police.

[thumping]

This is your final warning.

[straining]

-Sorry.

-Sorry, officer.

Sorry, I was asleep.

It's 3:00 AM.

Sorry, is this something

that I can help you with?

Yeah, we had a

report of a g*nsh*t.

Have you heard anything?

No.

No, we're surrounded

by the forest,

so we don't really hear much.

Have you had any drugs

or alcohol this evening?

No.

No, never.

Never in my life.

You know, the fires

are closing in.

Yeah.

Yeah, they're... they're

all I can smell anymore.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

So this is your house?

No, it's my aunt Lucille's.

We... we moved in just before

everything started up.

Who's we?

My husband and I.

Yeah, do you reckon we might

be able to see some ID, miss?

Yeah, sure.

Absolutely.

Well...

-Can you give me a second.

-Sorry.

-No, no.

-It's OK.

Here we are.

Thank you.

Yeah, you know this

has expired, miss.

I know sorry.

I need to get another one.

So no proof of

residence obviously.

No, sorry.

But you can contact my

aunt Lucille Lafitte.

Right, it's just, you

know, we start forcefully

evacuating this whole

area this morning.

We'll be gone in

the early morning.

We'll make sure.

OK thank you, Mrs. Trieste.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Look, I don't like you being

here alone without a car.

OK, this is serious business.

So you need to

keep your radio on.

-OK.

-OK.

-Sound good.

-Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Have a good night.

Thank you.

[engine turning]

Did you see her eye?

What about it?

It was... it was bruised.

Oh, yes.

I think drugs No?

No.

I think she was hit.

The husband.

Well, look, I really

don't think there's

much we can do about it.

Yeah?

There is.

Like, I want to go and talk

to the homeowner to check.

I'm going to stick to

my instructions, yeah.

My first priority is evacuating

those people most in danger

from the fires unless responding

to a life or death situation.

What?

OK.

No, that's OK.

I just think that we

should split up then.

Sure.

[music playing]

[grunting]

[whimpering]

You think you're smart

earlier, sending me

to the middle of nowhere.

Tell me where they really are,

I won't leave you here to burn.

[engine humming]

[chirping]

[knocking]

Hello.

Is anyone home?

My name's Francis.

I'm a police officer.

We're not evacuating.

Yeah... sir.

That's not why I'm here.

Is there a Lucille that

lives here, Lucille Lafitte?

Yeah, she's me wife.

What do you want with her?

Sir, can I come in?

Now's not really a

good time actually.

I know I should

have called ahead.

-I just really believe that...

-Know that's right.

You should have called ahead.

OK, however, I believe

someone is in danger,

and we can still help her.

OK.

We just need to act quickly.

Help her, eh.

Look, maybe you should come

back when my wife's in.

She'll be back later today.

All right.

-No, sir.

-We don't have enough time.

OK.

Look.

What time will she be back?

Later.

Later?

I just spoke to

Lucille's husband,

and he said to come back

later when she's in today.

We have to follow protocol

here, or we might get hurt.

Will, please just come over

here and try to talk to him.

[grunting]

What are we gonna do?

Packing your things, OK.

We're getting out of here.

Mrs. Lafitte?

[banging]

Hello!

[whimpering]

Oh, f*cking hell.

Mrs. Lafitte.

[whimpering]

Hey.

Francis, come in.

This is Will.

[engine roaring]

[siren]

Yeah, hey, I'm gonna

need to get through.

Miss, I can't let

you through here.

There's only one house down

this road, and it's abandoned.

No, it's not abandoned.

I was there this morning.

Look, Miss, you can't

come through here.

But you can go around the pass.

It'll take an extra 15 minutes,

but you better be quick.

This place is going to

be a furnace in an hour.

Stop.

Stop, stop, stop, Stop.

[clicking]

[door slamming]

[rattling]

Maria!

[knocking]

Dai, it's dad.

[glass breaking]

[rattling]

[crackling]

[footsteps]

Maria!

Dai.

You're not hiding, are you?

Come on, talk to me.

Be rational.

[creaking]

I'm sorry.

[labored breathing]

Just want to make

sure you two are OK.

Come on, mate.

Know I'd never hurt

you or your mother.

Look, maybe I wasn't always

what you two needed or wanted.

But what's she

telling you about me?

Did you ever see me

hurt your mother?

[creaking]

[labored breathing]

All I ever wanted was

for us to be a family,

and it's still what I want.

[creaking]

Come on, mate.

Is life so bad at home with me?

Since I've grown up, what's

expected of men's changed.

You know, supposed to

be tough, protective.

It's hard to make

sense anymore of what

I'm supposed to be when

what I've always thought

I was supposed to be...

No, I'm not going to lose you.

Suddenly gone.

What I'm trying to say

is you and your mother

deserve all the love

in the world, mate.

Men aren't so good at loving

or nurturing I don't think.

We show our love by being

tough, protective, and sometimes

looks like we're the bad guy.

But if... if you saw how far

I'd come to find you, mate...

[creaking]

I would do anything for you.

I'd go anywhere, become anything

for you, for both of you.

I can show you that

I'm changing already.

[clicking]

[creaking]

Dai, cover your eyes.

Don't move!

Officer, you startled me.

Can I help you with anything?

Who are you talking to?

I was just talking to myself.

Put your hands up.

What for?

Put your hands up.

OK.

Up.

OK, here's what

we're going to do.

You're going to walk

towards the door.

Through this door?

Yes, that door.

OK.

[creaking]

[wincing]

[footsteps]

Then put both hands

on the blue car.

[wincing]

Stay out of this!

Stay there!

Hey!

Damn it.

Maria!

Dai!

Where are we going, mum?

We have to come inside!

This is the police!

We have the forest surrounded!

[cracking]

I'm always going to

be here for you, Dai.

OK.

We simply break

free one last time,

and then we'll never

have to run again.

OK.

[g*nshots]

Maria!

Maria, I was wrong.

Look, we don't need to go home.

We can go anywhere you want.

Sydney, Melbourne.

I don't care.

France, for f*ck's sake.

Just wanna be a family again.

I'll forgive you

you can forgive me.

[g*nsh*t]

Please don't make me.

Not gonna hurt you.

[g*nsh*t]

Run!

Run!

[knocking]

Run!

Put that g*n down.

Put it down now!

[yells] No!

[g*nsh*t]

[crying]

b*tch.

[g*nsh*t]

[crying]

[music playing]

[chatter]

[rumbling]

[distant yelling]

[clapping]

I don't just remember the smoke.

I remember something

my mother told me

about a plant that grew only

in the Australian bush, a plant

that releases seeds only when

it's burnt in a bushfire,

about how bright,

colorful shoots can

be seen growing out of the

charred trees left behind.

I imagine if we

went back, we'd see

a whole forest has

grown back, brighter

and more colorful than before.

[chatter]

[SINGING] Say you're not afraid

Jump to the edge of it

Say you're not so vain

[singing]

Tell me now is why

[singing]

Will live for 50 years longer

I hope now it's my time

Take it all down

The wallpaper and all

the women inside of it

[singing]

Now I'm so tired

Of all this importance

of self-inventing

I want to go down

To the grave

Tell me it's not too late

I spent too many years

In the cave