The Rover

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, The Rover is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Guy Pearce's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

The Rover arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. At its heart, The Rover understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Ten years after a severe economic collapse in the western world, lawlessness reigns and life is cheap. Eric is a lone drifter, and his car is his only possession. When a gang steals it, Eric comes across the injured Rey, left behind by the car thieves. The writing gets a boost from Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2014. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Rover passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in The Rover. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Guy Pearce anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.