Mad Bastards film review

Directed by Brendan Fletcher, Mad Bastards draws inspiration from true life testimonies of Indigenous people of the Kimberly region in northern Western Australia. TJ (Dean Daley-Jones) is an Aboriginal man who admits he carries 'a man with an axe' inside him. He's unexpectedly graphically violent, needing only a minor trigger to set off an explosive reaction that is unleashed on those around him. With obvious disregard to authority,  a brother in prison, and a mother who wants nothing to do with him, his anger builds. Perth city life holds nothing for him, almost spontaneously deciding to hitch-hike his way the tiny town of Five Rivers in the Kimberly. In search for his now 13-year-old estranged son Bullet (Lucas Yeeda), he encounters many fellow mad bastards along the way.

Bullet isn't without his own problems though. Having no positive role models in his life, including a mother that drinks constantly, he wanders the streets in gangs at night causing havoc. Ultimately landing himself in jail, Texas (Greg Tait) the local police officer, has sympathy for him and sends him on a trek through the outback with an Aboriginal elder to help straighten him out.

 

When TJ arrives in Five Rivers he is warned by equally mad Texas that he won't stand for trouble. After a rocky start TJ meets up with Bullet, though both are at a loss of how to begin a father/son relationship. This not helped any by his ex-partner Nella (Ngaire Pigram). It seems to Bullet he can't escape the violence that surrounds him and his town. Inevitably Texas steps in to run TJ out of town in yet another bloody battle.

The highlights of this film are the distinctively beautiful landscapes dueted by the music of the Pigram Brothers and multi-ARIA Award winner Alex Lloyd. Lucas Yeeda has alluring screen presence, of which I'm certain we will see more of in the future.

 

Mad Bastards in currently showing nationally.