This is a haunting but mesmerizing tale that takes place in the dystopian landscape of Australia ten years after the collapse of society. My timing in watching the film coincides with the out of control wildfires taking place in that country to make the experience seem even more surreal. It begins with an outcast loner who goes on a quest to retrieve his stolen car, and slowly and desperately turns into a mission of revenge with irretrievable results. Guy Pearce portrays the principal character with a singular focus, while developing an unlikely alliance with the younger brother of one of the thieves who stole his machine. For his part, Robert Pattinson affects a spooky and sinister countenance while seeming to be somewhat challenged mentally. Appearing almost catatonic at times, Rey arrives at the conclusion that his older brother left him for dead following a shootout that stranded him in the desert landscape. The two men form an unlikely bond that tends more toward the symbiotic than actual friendship. Violence and fractured loyalties accompany the pair as they locate the thugs who stole Eric's vehicle, with further tragedy yet to strike. The title of the picture doesn't really come into focus until the final scene, in which the name 'Rover' takes on a strangely double entendre connotation that might not be entirely self evident. The finale emphasizes the visceral need for Eric to get his car back, owing to his alienation from human contact when his personal apocalypse began.

The world is reeling from an economic melt down. Society hangs on precariously in a state of lawlessness. Following a botched bank robbery a man's car is stolen. This is his story of getting his car back.

The main character is hardened, non communicative and solely dedicated to the task of getting his car back. What follows is a violent road movie with one of the most unlikable, grumpiest heroes of all time.

Despite being a total douche I did start to warm to the character. This is a clear indication of how well made the movie is. Guy Pierce is great, which is just as well as he is tasked with shouldering most of the load.

The world is grubby, squalid and dangerous. Yet it has an element of realism about it. The police desperately try to keep order in a world where most people have all but given up.

An enjoyable watch with a beautifully bitter ending.

A disheveled loner (Guy Pearce) trails a trio of thieves who stole his car. Along the way he picks up the slow-witted brother (Robert Pattinson) of one of the thieves. Dystopian future or post-apocalyptic movies kind of blend together after you've seen a lot of them. So when one comes along that feels fresh like this one, it deserves praise for that alone. The acting is excellent. Guy Pearce has long been an actor whose work I enjoy but the big surprise here is Robert Pattinson, who ensures with this performance that he will be remembered for more than the Twilight movies. Taut direction with quality acting, writing, and music. It's a good movie but not for everybody. Dark, gritty, often slow and certainly violent. But it's also very rewarding if you're wiling to give it a chance.