The Rover is a visually arresting and fascinating illustration of the nature of selfishness and savagery. In his second feature film, David Michôd has shown his true directorial trademark, which is providing a strong microcosm for the characters and the world that they inhabit. Michôd’s bare desert landscape feels like a Western Hobbesian state of nature that forces the weak to survive and the good to be suspicious and trigger ready. At the centre of this harsh picture is Guy Pierce’s Eric, who is a cynical and silent former farmer and soldier. His past has made him into a man who is terrifying for his pent up rage and penchant for violence. It is Pierce’s commendably subtle performance that makes the film truly special as his small moments of regret and empathy contrast with the desolate environment extremely well. It once again shows that Michôd can create a bleak, believable and scary portrait of humanity, which was last seen with Ben Mendelsohn’s performance in the director’s first feature film, Animal Kingdom.