“A lot of things have happened down this way over the years. It’s got to be at least six missing persons that I have heard of.”

There is gold in the vastness of the Australian outback, and a special breed of men who prospect for it. Tim is bush-hardened and skilled; the love for this harsh country comes naturally. His prospecting partner John shares Tim’s love of the freedom, but times have changed. A new breed of prospector has reason to appreciate the desolate isolation of the bush — but it is not gold he is after. The country’s biggest meth lab is doing well, and its owner, Mr C. does not appreciate passers-by.

The cattle on the Hatchet River homestead have not been mustered for the past ten years. The brutish Maxine, her husband Scrubber, and her brother Price have agreed to run interference for Mr C.; after all, they have always enjoyed killing the odd lone prospector when they had the chance.

But they make a mistake, and the solitary prospector they pick off one day was not alone as they thought. There are witnesses to the crime this time, and they want justice for their friend. Tired of the Hatchet River trio’s murdering ways, intimidation and threats, and suspecting local police corruption, Tim, Jack and Sam call in the state authorities.

A massive search begins; the hunters become the hunted, the innocent pay for the crimes of the guilty and the good guys don’t always win. But the net does tighten. The well-camouflaged drug lab explode in flames and the blood of many, good and bad, soak into the parched land in a spectacular finale. It is not the authorities who bring justice to Hatchet River, however, but a band of indomitable bushies, who have never learned to say die.

Dave Wright