The Rover

Name: The Rover
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Crime
Released: June 13, 2014
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 64
Cast: David Field, Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 108 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 108 Ratings

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THE ROVER

Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: June 13, 2014

Starring: David Field, Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy

Summary: Ten years after the collapse of society, the rule of the law has disintegrated and life is cheap. Eric (Guy Pearce) travels the desolate towns and roads of the outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind a wounded Rey (Robert Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths toTen years after the collapse of society, the rule of the law has disintegrated and life is cheap. Eric (Guy Pearce) travels the desolate towns and roads of the outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind a wounded Rey (Robert Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that still matters to him.… Expand

Director: David Michôd

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan

Jun 12, 2014

There is nothing noble about Eric's mission or about the considerable violence he resorts to to get the job done, but Pearce's willingness to give him an integrity of purpose mixes well with Michôd's intense, controlled direction and his ability to blend unexpected, empathetic character moments with all the killing. Read full review

CineVue - John Bleasdale

May 23, 2014

For most post-apocalyptic films, the nightmare is really a disguised fantasy. In Michôd's excellent The Rover, the nightmare is real. Read full review

TheWrap - Diane Garrett

Jun 16, 2014

The Rover is less an allegory than a suggestion how bad things could become. It's well made, and it's disturbing, if not overly passion inducing. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Marjorie Baumgarten

Jun 18, 2014

Despite not breaking any new cinematic ground. The Rover plays like a taut spellbinder. Read full review

Time Out - Joshua Rothkopf

Jun 12, 2014

The Rover is almost worth it for the coiled central performance of Guy Pearce, who outfuries Mel Gibson with his pinpoint shotgun skills and monomaniacal quest. Read full review

IndieWire - Eric Kohn

May 23, 2014

Like its tattered setting, The Rover is scattered with intriguing ideas never successfully fleshed out. Read full review

The Telegraph - Tim Robey

May 23, 2014

Michôd’s film consciously plays like an outback western, peppered with jagged and unpredictable outbursts of hard brutality. But it could do with losing control a little more often – and with establishing the dangers of its dog-eat-dog world more precisely. Read full review

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User Reviews

TwoShay

Jun 22, 2014

The cinematography in The Rover is almost the third character in this film. It captivates you with the bleak vastness of the landscape, and sets the tone for the movie. But the movie itself is not bleak. You become invested in Rey & Eric and can't help but be drawn into the dynamic ofThe cinematography in The Rover is almost the third character in this film. It captivates you with the bleak vastness of the landscape, and sets the tone for the movie. But the movie itself is not bleak. You become invested in Rey & Eric and can't help but be drawn into the dynamic of their relationship. The performances are remarkable, superb, award winning in my opinion. The score is so interesting and unusual, perfect! I believe I've become a Michod devotee & look forward to seeing his future projects.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

deweydays

Jun 19, 2014

Intense but mesmerizing, bleak yet beautiful. In a future with little hope, some still finds a way to shine through in the most unlikely pair of Eric and Rey. Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson both give outstanding performances in the film. They express so much with very little dialogue, andIntense but mesmerizing, bleak yet beautiful. In a future with little hope, some still finds a way to shine through in the most unlikely pair of Eric and Rey. Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson both give outstanding performances in the film. They express so much with very little dialogue, and they are completely captivating in doing so. If that's not enough, the cinematography is amazing, the scenery of the Outback breathtaking and the soundtrack is just perfect. This is definitely a film that will stick with you for days.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

hazeyjane

Jun 19, 2014

The Rover is the perfect, but not necessarily expected, follow-up to David Michôd's Animal Kingdom. Those going into this film expecting a copy of Mad Max may be disappointed, but those viewers that want an engrossing character study including wonderful performances, amazing cinematographyThe Rover is the perfect, but not necessarily expected, follow-up to David Michôd's Animal Kingdom. Those going into this film expecting a copy of Mad Max may be disappointed, but those viewers that want an engrossing character study including wonderful performances, amazing cinematography and a fantastic score are in for a treat. No spoon-feeding here, just plenty to draw from and to think about for yourself. It stays with you long after.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

StatlerWaldorf

Oct 27, 2015

If you have not seen The Rover then stop reading this review and go watch The Rover. I walked into this movie with the background that it was post-apocalyptic and had good performances. Both of those things are true to the fullest extent one could hope for, but there is much more to it thanIf you have not seen The Rover then stop reading this review and go watch The Rover. I walked into this movie with the background that it was post-apocalyptic and had good performances. Both of those things are true to the fullest extent one could hope for, but there is much more to it than that. There is a total desolation and perfect balance to its sparse moving parts. It stands like a confounding inverse mobile found in the blasted Outback. It is a litmus, it rewards patience, you will probably not agree with all of my praise. When the big “reveal” happens some people will groan and others will relive every moment of the film and appreciate them anew, not in the way of a Twilight Zone or Shyamalan twist, but in the way of dismantling a bit of analogue technology and seeing the beauty and simplicity of elegant design—even the name is balanced within the microcosm of the film’s (non)mystery—but the greatest part of it is that the characters show you everything about themselves from their earliest moments and with that comes a kind of perfection within the reality they portray that is rarely represented in film and heretofore missing from the post-apocalyptic subgenre. Most movies make you feel for their antiheroes by making them cool, world-changing, or having them change at the end. The Rover does not make these concessions, but if you’re really watching, then, in spite of the seeming senselessness, you will feel what Eric feels, and it will feel like what it would feel like to live after the end of the world: having had something beautiful that you did not understand destroyed in front of your eyes and knowing that nothing will ever bring it back.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alejandro970

Jul 9, 2017

Outblack thriller. Unrecognizable Pierce and Pattinson as two men in a road to nowhere. The post apocalyptic atmosphere is far from Mad Max or The road but the creepy score does the needly for save the 103 minutes.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Jun 26, 2014

It's not Mad Max, but this film does take place in Austrailia a decade after a global collapse. Guy Pearce plays a dour, dirty traveler of few words and violent action. When three men steal his car, he chases after them with a "halfwit," interestingly played by Robert Pattison. EverythingIt's not Mad Max, but this film does take place in Austrailia a decade after a global collapse. Guy Pearce plays a dour, dirty traveler of few words and violent action. When three men steal his car, he chases after them with a "halfwit," interestingly played by Robert Pattison. Everything about this film is gritty and grim: the people, the look, even the attitude. Director David Michôd has crafted it with an assured hand that makes it compelling, even with the tedious pacing and minimal explanations. He loves to hold long closeups of Pattinson as he ruminates.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lupio

Apr 27, 2015

Interesting parts but the main character is just flat and boring. Patchy logic, broken motivations and inconsistent tone make what could have been great kind feel boring and pointless.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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