Impressive but extremely downbeat down-under western. Ray Winstone plays an English lawman in remote 1800’s Australia, who is forced into conflict with a band of outlaw brothers including Guy Pearce and Danny Huston. The whole cast is covered in flies, there are regular outbursts of nasty violence and the barren scenery is stunning.

It’s well written by Nick Cave and directed by John Hillcoat, and it’s a pleasant change to see Winstone playing something other than a Cockney thug, and doing it very well. Again, it makes for an impressive and thought-provoking night in rather than an enjoyable one.

Mild Peril Rating:

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