The Rover

2014 Directed by David Michôd

Fear the man with nothing left to lose.

10 years after a global economic collapse, a hardened loner pursues the men who stole his car through the lawless wasteland of the Australian outback, aided by the brother of one of the thieves.

Guy Pearce Robert Pattinson Scoot McNairy David Field Susan Prior Anthony Hayes Tawanda Manyimo Nash Edgerton Gillian Jones Richard Green Chan Kien Tek Kong Lim

Alternative Titles

The Rover: A Caçada, 漂泊者, 绝命正义, Rover, Tulák, El Cazador, Országúti bosszú, 더 로버

drama crime

103 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★½ 20

I'm not sure if I've ever loved Guy Pearce more in a film, and that's coming from someone who owes the onset of his love for cinema to Christopher Nolan's Memento. Robert Pattinson has made a complete career transformation, moving away from the likes of the Harry Potter & Twilight films, and working instead with directors like Michod and Cronenberg (both very talented Davids indeed ;D). I never thought that I'd be saying this, but Edward Cullen is beginning to impress me greatly. This is a film which is certainly carried by its actors, but that's not to say the other aspects of the film aren't stellar as well. The cinematography is outstanding, severals shots and scenes being absolutely breathtaking; Natasha…
Review by Ryan Francis ★★★★★ 9

I'd do the same thing in that situation... if I were as badass and intimidating as Guy Pearce is in this.
I'm a sucker for unflinchingly violent, thoroughly intense, quite harsh and bleak post-apocalyptic films with an awesome lead and a slow-but-steady-burn pace, as well as (in my opinion) some perfect final moments; and The Rover fit the bill perfectly. Wasn't expecting this to become one of my favorite films of the year, and I definitely wasn't expecting to be this impressed by Robert Pattinson.
I'll be checking out David Michôd's other film, Animal Kingdom, very soon.
Review by Eli Hayes ★★★★½ 10

I love David Michod.
I love Guy Pearce.
And Pattinson's best role.
Review by Mike D'Angelo ★★ 4

40/100
Las Vegas Weekly review, in which I had insufficient space to poke holes in the film's idiot plot. To take just the inciting incident, hey bad guys:
(1) Since you stole Pearce's car because you thought your truck was totaled, and can now see that it isn't, why not just give him his fucking car back? Problem solved.
(2) Given that you're not gonna do that, for whatever wonky reason, why not kill this unarmed avenger who seems pretty determined to come after you? Isn't this supposed to be a post-apocalyptic wasteland where life is cheap? Certainly that's the movie's ostensible point.
(3) Given that you're not gonna do that, for the love of motherfucking christ just take the…
Review by Naughty aka Juli Norwood ★★½ 2

That dog don't hunt.. Figuratively and Literally!
Review by davidehrlich ★★★½

THE ROVER (aka "Miffed Max"). a terse and grounded post-apocalyptic exploration of justice – its origins and its ghosts. small but strangely affecting. ends perfectly.
longer thoughts to follow.

Recent reviews

Review by Hashcrack ★★

Boring and meandering movie where Robert Pattinson plays a mentally challenged person
Review by Markdharrell ★★★

I think what Michod did with what he had was incredible. Pearce was great and Pattinson can just do whatever he wants, he’s tremendous in everything. It’s a near futuristic western of characters that have either lost their humanity or are looking for it, and the lengths they go to do so. It threw us in a world I wish I knew more about and wish he gave us a little more story to chew on but there is enough there go home with and have a conversation about.
Review by acalhoun ★★★★½

Perhaps it is unsurprising coming from the director of Animal Kingdom, but The Rover is a bleak, unrelenting film. Set in a post-societal breakdown future, The Rover has Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson wandering an abandoned Australia.
This is, mostly, a movie about nihilism. Nothing matters. Lives only matter briefly, for their connections between each other; but even these break down.
Guy Pierce is great as a depressed, empty shell of a man and Robert Pattinson is equally brilliant as a mentally slow, erratic individual.
Review by plantmouf ★★★

I don’t know why I thought this movie was about being on mars...anyway...woulda watched it much sooner had I known about the scene where RP sits in a car listening to Keri Hilson’s Pretty Girl Rock
Review by ChannellNo5 ★★★½

This is an example of a movie's ending adding so much more levity to the the rest of the movie. Also, magnificent performances by Pattinson and Guy Pierce, they really carry this movie.
Review by steinfeldslance ★★★

Where's my car?
Review by Alex ★★½

slow paced
Review by Daniel Rendon ★★★½

61/100

Well this is embarrassing…
The Rover has been on my watchlist for nearly two years. That means that every time I look at my watchlist here on Letterboxd, I have seen the poster for it. This entire time, I had assumed it was Idris Alba on the poster. So you can imagine how surprised I was when I pieced it all together and realized it’s actually Guy Pearce.
I’m a bit torn with this film. I thought the story was pretty weak and felt myself constantly having to force myself to re-engage with it but I loved the way it made me feel. This film made me feel disgusting. The way the movie looks, how dirty each character is,…
Review by seba1125 ★★★★★

Visually compelling while being simple and unique.
Love Guy Pierce and Robert Pattinson together, and the grit of Australia makes it seem so authentic.
Seems like A24 can do no wrong

It’s always about the dogs 🐕