The Rover
A24 | Release Date: June 13, 2014
7.0
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 129 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
88
Mixed:
29
Negative:
12
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
deckNov 12, 2016
Exciting movie.
Well performance by Pattinson and Pearce. Story could be deeper, its like the small brother of the movie "the road". Music is sometimes out of place.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
Brent_MarchantJun 21, 2014
Despite fairly solid lead performances, great atmospherics and an edgy soundtrack, there's not much else here that hasn't already been done before (and better) in movies like "The Road Warrior," "The Road," "Thelma & Louise" and (dare I sayDespite fairly solid lead performances, great atmospherics and an edgy soundtrack, there's not much else here that hasn't already been done before (and better) in movies like "The Road Warrior," "The Road," "Thelma & Louise" and (dare I say it) "Dude, Where's My Car?" Hyping style doesn't make a movie any better; it's still just style with a good publicist.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
notacritic01Sep 29, 2014
The rover storyline wasn't horrible but wasn't wonderful. However, I would watch it over and over just to see Pattinson's and Pearce's performance. Wonderful Actors!!!
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
TVJerryJun 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,"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. 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
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5
jrodfilmsJul 2, 2014
i think with most movies today, so much happens in the first half that the second half loses focus. this film is no exception, not to mention i didnt like pattinsons character at all, he does questionable things that arent really explained.i think with most movies today, so much happens in the first half that the second half loses focus. this film is no exception, not to mention i didnt like pattinsons character at all, he does questionable things that arent really explained. the score and cinematography are nice.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
NRNSWApr 26, 2015
This movie is really well-made, but it seems like a really long stretch when you get to the end and find out the driving purpose behind the main character's (Guy Pierce) drive to get his car back..... At the end of it, I felt a bit cheated byThis movie is really well-made, but it seems like a really long stretch when you get to the end and find out the driving purpose behind the main character's (Guy Pierce) drive to get his car back..... At the end of it, I felt a bit cheated by the story - but I did think that the production had very good strengths. The performances were also very, very good.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
kevinCHONJul 27, 2023
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. sketchy motives and bleak characters. very drawn out scenes of cars on highways. soundtrack was great besides one glaring weird one.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
DawdlingPoetNov 27, 2021
This is a crime and drama film, with themes covered including threats, sibling relationships, confessions and theft. It is quite a bleak film, with a desolate setting. It features chilly, unsettling, menacing sounding even music in the formThis is a crime and drama film, with themes covered including threats, sibling relationships, confessions and theft. It is quite a bleak film, with a desolate setting. It features chilly, unsettling, menacing sounding even music in the form of what sounded like almost slow, painful scrape-y, trudging noises in the background, which sounded quite haunting. Some of the dialogue I found to be quite unsettling too. There are a variety of characters, which may not be what you might expect, although I won't say anymore so as not to provide any spoilers but suffice to say that some of the people he comes across aren't what you may expect to find in such a setting. At times I felt it had the look of an old fashioned western film - there are various gun shootouts, for one thing.

I found the start of the film a bit confusing, as it doesn't really try to explain whats going on and so it seems like your already perhaps mid way through a film, rather than at the start. Its only as the plot slowly develops that we get a glimpse in to whats happened before and why the main character, Eric, is doing what he's doing, why he is in the position he is.

I noticed there were some quite impressive landscape camera shots, i.e. good cinematography present at times. This reinforces the bleak environment at times but also shows some of the beauty of nature in such a desolate place at other times as well.

Cast wise, Guy Pearce plays the main character Eric. He comes across as quite cold blooded/cold hearted, quite a quick witted person, very determined and steely - someone to be nervous of, thats for sure. He plays the role quite deadpan and so his portrayal does seem eerily realistic. Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson plays the unlikely 'friend' Rey, who is less self assured and less witty but does seem genuinely quite uncomfortable and nervous, as anyone would in his situation. I thought it was interesting to see Pattinson take on what seems like a different type of role to his previous films. Rey is more of a sort of naive country bumpkin sibling type and I thought he was played well by Pattinson in this film and I did find myself feeling quite sorry for him, as he presumably didn't realise from the outset what he was getting in to. His southern accent sounded relatively genuine to me but then I've not been to the area, so it might be bad for all I'd know, I suppose! im perhaps not the best person to judge that(?). Other characters include Scoot McNairy as Henry and David Field as Archie.

Content wise, the film contains very strong language, some sex references and violence (mainly gunfire related) including bloody violence with bloody injuries shown on screen. The film as a whole is quite dark in tone and the violent scenes can be quite sudden, so they may be more distressing or frightening to some people - suffice to say its not for the very feignt hearted. The film has been given a 15 rating in the UK due to said content.

Yes, I'd recommend this film as I felt it was very atmospheric, spooky and mysterious and it features good performances from the main cast. It is quite dark and bleak and so won't suit everyone but for what it is, its a good film, certainly not a predictable one.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
PixarPalApr 4, 2022
The archetype of an average film. The narrative's slight and the music is occasionally misplaced. However the visuals are solid and Pattinson & Pearce turn in good performances -- of course they're reliable.
6/10 [C]
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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