DVD & BluRay

MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN Acorn, cert 15; DVD 2-disc set £24.99 & on Digital

Making a prequel to a great film or TV show is a perilous affair. In drama, as in life, rewind is never as exciting as fast forward

There are exceptions. We all thought The Godfather could never be matched in Mafia movie annals. We were wrong. Godfather ll simply smashed it out of the park. Now here’s another, a scene setter to the great Australian series that lives up to the original BBC2 hit, with Mark Coles Smith (pictured) wearing Aaron Pedersen’s stetson (as the younger outback cop Jay Swan) well.

The story is set in 1999 when rookie cop Jay returns with some regrets to his dusty outback hometown of Jardine to become the sidekick of Sgt Peter Lovric (Steve Bisley) who straightened up the rebellious teenage Swan and persuaded him to join the police in the first place.

Coming back isn’t plain sailing for Jay who has difficult relationships with his dad Jack (Kelton Pell) a broke-down former rodeo star, and belligerent older brother Sputty (Clarence Ryan), Not to mention the ingrained racism of the locals who don’t like somebody with Aboriginal blood being in a position of authority.

His boss, however, sees Jay’s indigenous roots as a bonus when dealing with the mining company that brought about the town’s creation, and racial activists. Jay’s not so interested in the politics however as catching a rampant robber, and a killer who committed murder over a load of marijuana. He does, however, find time to rekindle the embers of his love for local girl Mary (Tuuli Narkle), which brings some light to this outback noir.