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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…military action movies have always been top tier with me and, when done right, delivers some of the most unflinching action set pieces infused with bravado, comradery and gut-wrenching drama. There’s nothing like a combat film to make you feel a whirlwind of emotions and it doesn’t hurt that when the explosions commence and the bullets start flying, audiences are in for a hellacious ride that will test your limits. From classic, authentic films like Platoon and Hamburger Hill to more mainstream actioners like Tears of the Sun (which happens to be my favorite Bruce Willis film) and most recently Warhorse One, the military themed thrillers punch through it all and delivers a visceral, immersive experience like no other.
This weekend sees the release of director William Eubank’s chair arm clenching latest entry in the military action themed subgenre titled Land of Bad which doesn’t exactly scream out tense military actioner but there’s a reason for the name. Boasting a sensational cast including Liam Hemsworth, his brother Luke Hemsworth, Ricky Wittle, Milo Ventimiglia and a scene stealing performance by the one and only Russell Crowe, Land of Bad deserves to be mentioned with the same breath as some of those aforementioned movies. Eubanks has crafted a standout thriller that infuses all the things that make these movies great and also manages to throw in a little heart and humor into the proceedings as well. Once the tracer fire starts flying and the explosions erupt left and right, viewers will find themselves sweating with elevated heart rates.
Land of Bad stars Liam Hemsworth as Kinney who is a rookie officer with no combat experience whatsoever that is thrust into an all too real military scenario as he is recruited to assist a Tier One Delta team of bad ass operators on a covert extraction mission deep within the South Philippines jungles. When the mission goes FUBAR, Kinney is left alone with only the guidance of Air Force drone pilot awesomely named Reaper (Crowe) to keep him alive as Kinney vows to bring his whole team back home or die trying. After 20 or so minutes of initial setup, what culminates for the rest of the running time is brutal and harrowing action-thriller that sucks the audience in with its unflinching action set pieces, human drama and run and gun fury.
In terms of plot, and this is essentially me nitpicking to the highest levels as I was trying to find something negative, we’ve seen this before. Yeah, there’s the green behind the ears soldier who must man and cowboy up to survive along with the rest of the team that at first dismisses him as someone that will most likely get them killed but as the movie unfolds, said green rookie transforms into a beast to earn the respect of the team that once threw him away like garbage. This film has elements of the superb 1988 war drama Bat 21 which starred Hollywood icons Gene Hackman and Danny Glover. Just like that unsung 80’s gem, Land of Bad touts an excellent thriller where a combat naive soldier must navigate the harsh terrains of a warzone with a savior in the skies watching over him to keep him alive. The plot is standard, but the dialogue and execution is what makes Land of Bad rise to the top.
Liam Hemsworth is really doing a good job to rise behind his brother Chris’ shadow and with Land of Bad, he might just have found his starring vehicle to put his name next to his brother. Hemsworth rocks the film, and his character arc is sublime going from a novice to a lethal killing machine who will do what it takes to bring everyone home. It does bode well for Hemsworth that he has a seasoned professional in Russell Crowe to bounce off of and here as military drone pilot Reaper, Crowe turns in one of his best performances in years stealing every scene he is with dry wit, sarcastic humor and genuine heart. Crowe has some of the best lines in the movie and I was glad to see that he was actually in the movie and not just another extended cameo to sell the movie with a big name. Hemsworth and Crowe have tremendous chemistry without even sharing a scene together in the same room for the most part and it’s their relationship that is the driving heartbeat of the movie.
Yes, Hemsworth and Crowe are the selling points, but we can’t forget the rest of the cast Tier One operators which includes Milo Ventimiglia as Sugar, Ricky Whittle as Bishop and Liam’s brother Luke Hemsworth as Abel. Each man is more than a supporting player and there are no throwaway characters here with each actor given more than something to do and enjoying their own moments of bravado throughout the running time. Ventimiglia. especially, as Sugar has some of the finest action beat moments delivering more than one “Fuck Yeah!” moment for action fans to punch the air with. He personifies bad assery and I loved it as he is not normally known for being a bring it action star in his movies.
In terms of adrenaline, Land of Bad not only excels with multiple nail-biting moments but it is locked and loaded with some of the best hard R rated set pieces we’ve seen in a while. I love combat action, but I love bloody, never shying away from the realism of violence combat action even more and here we are treated with multiple gunfights, massive explosions, heart stopping hand to hand carnage and a body count that would make John Matrix proud. Once Eubanks pushes the pedal to the metal, it never lets up with enough ammunition spent for more than one movie, I also loved that fact that every character was essentially “Expendable” so it added to the intensity of the chaos because anyone could die at any moment. The set pieces are truly a thing of bloody beauty and they vibe with a spectacular scope that has been missing from these types of films. It truly is a crackling spec ops rush from start to finish.
The cinematography and music also enhance the theatrics as well with the jungle becoming its own advisory for each and every man. Eubanks showcases an unforgiving terrain that can kill you just as fast as a bullet from an enemy AK-47. Hemsworth is really put through the ringer in terms of physicality as he has the most screen time that requires having a great cardio regime. We all know that the soundtrack for any movie, especially an action movie of this scale, can make or break the viewing experience and I’m happy to announce that the score by enhances the tension, highlights the heroism and draws the audience into every lip biting altercation.
Once again, it’s a real shame that a movie like Land of Bad will mostly be seen in living rooms as it didn’t get a wide theatrical release. It should be illegal for an action movie like this not to and if you’re one of the lucky ones that has the opportunity to see it on the big screen…do it! While watching the movie, i could only imagine how it would look on a large screen with the best and most immersive sound system possible. Unfortunately, in this day and age of streaming, this is what will happen more than not, and it is criminal.
I have to point out also that if you don’t like this movie then you are not an action cinema fan in general. I’ve seen some reviews for this flick and if you really want to laugh, read the one on the IMDb because it’s ridiculous. I would share it, but I don’t want to give that moron any publicity, but it is side splitting hilarious. Seriously, Land of Bad comes loaded with pretty much everything that we, as action disciples who deem this genre a religion, could ever want. It has characters you are invested in. Drama laced with humor and heart and above all, kick you in the teeth action set pieces that crackle with epic doses of fist pumping excitement. I think I’ve pretty much defended my opinion on this subject. If you disagree then I cannot help you.
Overall, Land of Bad is a crackling Spec Ops rush of bullets, bravado and heroism that does this genre proud. Liam Hemsworth shows us that he has what it takes to lead a major motion picture and Russell Crowe delivers with one of his best scenes stealing performances in years. The supporting cast all look the role, and the adrenaline never extinguishes until the final credits roll. The set pieces are a visceral and immersive experience with some of the finest bloody R rated action witnessed in a while with countless explosions firing off and rapid-fire firefights that will make you want to take cover as if you were there. 2024 is still young but with movies like this and The Beekeeper already hitting the screens, I hope this year can keep up with the pace for giving us some of the finest action cinema that we all know that we deserve.
VERDICT: 4.5 Out of 5 Stars
Land of Bad is a Visceral & Unflinching Spec Ops Adrenaline Rush from Start to Finish!!!!
