THIS is a gritty, hard-hitting story which pulls absolutely no punches.

Set in the Australian outback, this is the tale of a dreadful decision a brother is forced to make.

Local law enforcer Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone) is determinted to come down hard on criminals and vigilantes in the community he has recently relocated to with his wife Martha (Emily Watson).

Two members of a gang of Irish brothers are captured by Stanley. The middle brother, Charlie (Guy Pearce), is told if he doesn't capture and kill older brother Arthur, a vicious individual, completely lacking in moral fibre, then his youngest, simple-minded brother Mikey will be hanged on Christmas Day.

There is a real sense of forboding throughout this film and you wonder whether even if Charlie does kill Arthur, Stanley will keep his word and spare young Mikey's life.

The acting in this film is top notch, the backdrop of the Outback is quite breathtaking and there are enough action-packed moments to keep everyone on the edges of their seats.

HC