plot

SetintheAustralianoutbackinthe1880s,themoviefollowstheseriesofeventsfollowingthehorrificrapeandmurderoftheHopkinsfamily,allegedlycommittedbytheinfamousBurnsbrothersgang.ThefilmopensinabrothelduringaviolentgunfightbetweenthepoliceandCharlieBurns(GuyPearce)gang,whichendswiththedeathsofallofthegangmembersexceptforCharlieandhisyoungerbrotherMikey.CaptainStanley(RayWinstone)makesthepropositiontoCharlie:heandMikeycangofreeofthecrimestheyhavecommittedifCharliekillshisolderbrother,Arthur(DannyHuston).ArthurisamercurialpsychopathwhohasbecomesomethingofalegendandissoviciousthattheAboriginaltribesrefertohimasquot;TheDogManquot;andboththepoliceandtheAboriginalsrefusetogonearhiscamp.CaptainStanleymusesthatperhapsthebountyhunterswillkillArthurintimeandthenstateshisintentiontocivilizetheharshAustralianwildernessbybringingArthurtojusticeandusingMikeyasleverage.CharliehasninedaystofindandkillArthur,orelseMikeywillbehangedfromthegallowsonChristmasDay.WediscoverwhyCaptainStanleyisintentontamingAustralia:hehasbeenforcedtomovetherewithhisdelicatewife,MarthaStanley(EmilyWatson),andapparentlywantstomakeitanappropriateplaceforthemtolive.TheStanleyswerealsofriendsoftheHopkinsfamily,leadingMarthatohavenightmaresaboutherdeadfriendsandtheunbornchildoneofthemisrevealedtohavecarried.WordspreadsofStanleysdealwithCharlie,primarilyfromStanleyscorruptsubordinate,SergeantLawrence(RobertMorgan),causingdisgustamongthetownspeople.Shortlythereafter,EdenFletcher(DavidWenham),forwhomCaptainStanleyworks,ordersthatMikeybegivenonehundredlashesaspunishmentfortherapeandmurderoftheHopkinsfamily.Stanleyisaghastatthis,notonlybecausehebelievesthatMikeyisinnocentandthefloggingwillsurelykillhim,butbecauseitwouldalsobreakhisdealwithCharlieandthusputhimandhiswifeingravedanger.StanleysendsSergeantLawrenceawaywithtrackerJacko(DavidGulpillil)andothermentoquot;investigatequot;thereportedslayingofDanORileybyagroupofAborigines.CaptainStanleyattemptstodefendMikeybygunpointfromthebloodthirstytownspeople,butisoverruledonceMarthaarrives,insistingonrevengeforherdeadfriends.Mikeyisthenbrutallyflogged,andhorrificallywounded.TheformerlyexcitedtownspeopleslowlybecomedisgustedandMarthafaintsattheghastlydisplay.After40lashes,Mikeyhascollapsedandthewhipissoakedwithblood.CaptainStanleygrabsthewhipandthrowsitatFletcher,staininghisfaceandsuitwithblood,whointurnfiresStanley.Meanwhile,CharlieridesagreatdistanceinsearchofArthur,drinkingandapparentlyreflectingonwhathewilldo.Alongtheway,heencountersaninebriatedoldmannamedJellonLamb(JohnHurt).Inthecourseofconversation,CharlierealizesthatLambisabountyhunterinpursuitoftheBurnsbrothersandknockshimout.Lateron,aftersleepingonarockbed,Charlieawakesand,beforehecangatherwhatsgoingon,isspearedinthechestbyagroupofAboriginalmenstandingoverhim.Secondslateragunshotisheardandtheheadofthemanwhothrewthespearexplodes.Charliethenpassesout.CharliewakesupinthecampofhisbrotherArthur,whichislocatedincavesamongdesolatemountains.ArthursgangconsistsofSamuelStoat(TomBudge),whoshottheAboriginalmanwhohadspearedCharlie;awomannamedQueenie(LeahPurcell)whotendstoCharlieswound;andamuscularAboriginalmancalledTwo-Bob(TomE.Lewis).Asherecoversfromhiswounds,Charliehasseveralopportunitiestokillhisbrother,butdoesnot.NottoofarawayfromArthurscamp,SergeantLawrenceandhismenhavefoundandbutcheredagroupofAborigines.ArthurandTwo-BobfindLawrencesgroupwhiletheysleep,ostensiblytogetahorseforCharlie,andproceedtokillJackoandSergeantLawrence.BeforeArthurstompsLawrencetodeathwithhisboot,LawrencetellsArthurthatCharliehasbeensenttokillhim.Whilethisoccurs,JellonLambentersArthurscampandtiesupSamuelandCharlie,bothofwhomaresleeping.Withouthisrealizingit,LambisshotfrombehindbythereturningArthur.Arthurthenproceedstobegintorturingthestill-livingLambwithaknife,butCharlieinsteadperformsamercy-killing.CharliedecidesthathewantstobreakoutMikeyandinformsArthur.Arthur,SamuelandCharlierideintotowndressedintheclothestakenfromtheofficersArthurandTwo-Bobhadkilled,pullingbehindthemTwo-Bob,posingasanAboriginethattheyvecaptured.Onceatthejail,themenfreeMikey,andCharlieandTwo-Bobrideoffwithhim.ArthurandSamuelremaintoslaughterthetwoofficersinsidethejail.ThebadlyinjuredMikey,whohasneverrecoveredfromtheflogging,diesinCharliesarms.AstheyburyMikey,Two-BobtellsCharliethatallofthisisCharliesfault:quot;Youshouldneverhaveleftus.quot;CaptainStanleyandMartha,whohadbecomeincreasinglyparanoidastheywereostracizedbythetownspeopleaftertheflogging,lettheirguarddowntohaveapeaceful,civilizedChristmasdinner.Immediatelyfollowingtheirconclusionofgrace,ArthurandSamuelshootopenthedoorandinvadetheirhome.ArthurpullsCaptainStanleyintotheotherroomandbrutallybeatshim,whileSamueltauntshiswife.ArthurthencallsSamueltotheroom.SamueldragsMarthainside,andArthurshootsCaptainStanleythroughtheshoulder.AsSamuelrapesMartha,CharliewalksinandinformsArthurofMikeysdeath;ArthurignoresthenewsandencouragesCharlietolistentoSamuelsbeautifulsinging.CharliewalksuptotheunsuspectingSamuelandshootshimpointblankinthehead,thenshootsArthurtwice,sayingafterward,quot;Nomore.quot;AfterthisArthurstaggersoutofthehouse.Charlielooksatagunonthetablethatcouldpotentiallybepickeduptoshoothim,andthentellsCaptainStanleyquot;Iwanttobewithmybrother.quot;CharlieleavesthehouseandfollowsatrailofbloodtofindArthurhunchedoveronahillnearbyandsitsdownnexttohim.ArthurstatesthatCharliehasfinallystoppedhimandaskswhathewilldonow,tonoanswer,andthenslowlydiesashisbrotherwatchesthebloodredsunsetoftheoutback.