At first, The Tracker seemed to be a straightforward Australian Western with three white men tracking down an Aboriginal man accused of murder, with the help of another Aboriginal man more familiar with the location. But The Tracker takes unexpected paths. First, no one is given an actual name– they’re referred to in the credits by titles (The Fanatic, The Follower, The Veteran, and of course, The Tracker). Second, the soundtrack seems to act as somewhat of a Greek chorus, with Archie Roach crooning the beliefs each player seems to hold, especially that of the Tracker. And third, the violence becomes more gripping because of the way it’s presented– intercuts to Peter Coad’s paintings depicting the violence inflicted upon Aboriginal people in just one frame. With David Gulpilil’s powerful performance and Rolf de Heer’s direction, The Tracker takes a familiar Western plot in unexpected, haunting ways.

The soundtrack. Like it or hate it, there’s no denying that it adds a unique touch to the film.