[2] Set in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the film uses mainly local Aboriginal people in the cast, and draws on their stories for the plotline.
TJ's son Bullet is nearly as troubled as he is - at the age of 13, he has already been arrested for arson, and instead of serving a sentence in a juvenile detention home, he is released to the custody of Elders.
The storyline was developed from the true stories of local Indigenous people of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, where the film was shot.
[3] Mad Bastards received positive reviews from critics and audiences, earning an approval rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
However she also points out that "Fletcher’s atmospheric approach is not without moments of emotional power, and the raw, unyielding landscapes of Northwestern Australia are framed to resonant effect.