Backlash (1986)

Australian police officers Trevor Darling (David Argue) and Nikki Iceton (Gia Carides) have to escort Kath (newcomer Lydia Miller), a young Aboriginal woman, from Sydney to a small town in the NSW outback to stand trial for the murder of a publican who tried to rape her.

Trevor is a disgraced detective who has been demoted for shooting an Aboriginal youth during a drugs bust, while Nikki – the well-bred daughter of a barrister who is herself studying for a law degree – is a new recruit who thinks Trevor is a racist.

They become stranded in the desert when Trevor decides to take a shortcut along a dirt track.

They are forced to abandon their car when the tyres go flat and find shelter in a ramshackle sheep shack.

Kath saves them with her bush skills, and by the time they are rescued, both Nikki and Trevor believe Kath is innocent and are determined to find the proof.

Trevor and Nikki help convict the publican’s wife for the murder of her husband, and Kath is released.

But in a surprise (and fairly gratuitous) ending, Trevor is ambushed by an Aboriginal man and speared to death in revenge for the death of the man’s son – the youth who the cop had shot in the drugs raid.

It’s a very low-budget film, and most of the dialogue is improvised, making some of the scenes awkward and unconvincing.

Constable Trevor Darling
David Argue
Constable Nikki Iceton
Gia Carides
Kath
Lydia Miller
The Executioner
Brian Syron
Publican
Don Smith
Publican’s Wife
Anne Smith
Waitress
Jennifer Cluff
Cook
George Skiadas
Motel Receptionist
Mary Prentice
Property Owner
John Lawrence
Owner’s Son
Greg Lawrence
1st Policeman
Garry Jackson
2nd Policeman
Gregory McMahon
Detective
Anthony Holmes

Director
Bill Bennett