Here's the thing about titles: You've got to live up to them. And writer / director Brendan Fletcher has set the bar high in that regard with his debut feature, Mad Bastards, soon to premiere at Sundance.
TJ is a mad bastard, and his estranged 13-year-old son Bullet is on the fast track to becoming one, too. After being turned away from his mother's house, TJ sets off across the country to the Kimberly region of northwestern Australia to make things right with his son. Grandpa Tex has lived a tough life, and now, as a local cop, he wants to change things for the men in his community.
Crosscutting between three generations, Mad Bastards is a raw look at the journey to becoming a man and the personal transformation one must make. Developed with local Aboriginal communities and fueled by a local cast, Mad Bastards draws from the rich tradition of storytelling inherent in Indigenous life. Using music from legendary Broome musicians the Pigram Brothers, writer/director Brendan Fletcher poetically fuses the harsh realities of violence, healing, and family.
The first trailer for this one has arrived online and it's looking like Fletcher will make good on the promise of the title as this looks to be raw, powerful stuff anchored by some very strong performances. Check it below.