IN THE LOST LANDS
US, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.
Milla Jovovich, Dave Bautista, Arly Jover, Amara Okereke, Fraser James, Simon Loof.
Directed by Paul W.S.Anderson.
The immediate attraction point: based on a short story by G.R.R.Martin, celebrated author of Game of Thrones. This is a short story, featuring a witch, Gray Alys, her being commissioned by a queen to fulfil a plan to take over opposed-apocalyptic community, but intending to write more stories with this character – but this has not eventuated.
The Dir is Paul W.S.Anderson, British Dir who moved into action films, six Resident Evil features, for Death Race films. And, with the resident evil films and others, featuring his wife, Mila job of each. And she is the star here. And she is teamed with Dave Bautista, star of many action films. The supporting British cast as well as Polish, as the film was made in Poland.
The film opens with the attempted hanging of the witch, a fierce female Inquisitor presiding, and guards dressed in rather media evil uniforms. Then, enter Boyce, Dave Bautista, with cowboy hat and gun, intimations of the spaghetti Western. When the witch and Boyce team up, they travel through a pokes apocalyptic industrial site, memories of mad Max films, as well as travelling in films like The Book of Eli.
The audience has to be attentive to follow the twists of the plot, all of the witch, the later revelation of the Queen and her plot, her killing of the overlord of the community, a liaison with the courtier, her pregnancy and ambitions – and Boyce as the father.
A lot of action adventures along the way, the budget spent on the grim look of the post-apocalyptic world, special effects, creatures attacking, the survival of the travelling duo, yet suspicions, bonding, and final twists, especially with Boyce emerging as a shape shifter on a mission to destroy the witch. However, she is more shrewd, is trying to get to the Valley of Skulls, Boyce leading her, even saving her from a desperate train ride on a train going over a destroyed bridge.
A lot of the explanations are left until the end, who is plotting with whom, the repercussions, Boyce and resurrection, the control of the witch… And, perhaps, many audiences hoping that Martin will write another story and Anderson will film it.
