A quiet Aussie with no regards to his own life (Guy Pearce) seeks to enact vengeance on the three men who stole his car. During his journey, he picks up and holds one of the robbers' left-for-dead brother (Robert Pattinson) hostage until the eventual showdown. THE ROVER doesn't just possess a paint-by-numbers script, it possess a paint-like-Rothko type of a basic script. Every story beat is expected, every twist unfolds calmly, and every bullet counts. What causes the story to be more interesting than it truly is is its background material: the tale is set 10 years after an unspecified collapse in the society, causing the Aussie dollar to be virtually worthless. We get a few hints here and there of what previously happened, plus some clues to the current world landscape and Australia's position as a nation. For example, you'll easily spot and question why there's an influx of Chinese people and their culture in the desert towns. The other big saving graces of the picture are the acting talents of Pearce and Pattinson. Yes, I did put the word "talent" and Robert Pattinson together in one sentence, as he does a good job as a lowly good-ole boy and a lost pup to Pearce's intensely bitter lost soul. Though he falters in his writing duties, director David Michôd does give the film an unconventional, natural horror style, which will very likely cause some viewers to walk out on it. The other huge exit-now factor for the easily offended of course would be the mumbly, accent-heavy dialogue. THE ROVER will not win over everybody but it does have some peculiar merits. Plus, it does feature one of the most strangest film moments this year involving a semi-recent pop song.
FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5
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