Paul W.S. Anderson teams up again with wife and muse Milla Jovovich for a video game-caliber film with In the Lost Lands. Things are a little different this time though, instead of tackling the adaptation of Resident Evil, the source material derives from Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. Anderson’s early works have glimpses of what his films resemble today. Films such as Mortal Kombat (1995) and Event Horizon (1997) display the use of intricate sets mixed with very questionable CGI that made for a pleasant viewing experience during that decade. That combination doesn’t work too well now, especially when Anderson’s vision of digital Maximalism overwhelms any source material he tries to tackle.
In the Lost Lands tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world burdened by the destruction of man. All areas that were once governed now sit desolate and are known as The Lost Lands. One city remains standing and is governed by a religious force that all must follow. The film opens with Gray Alys (Mila Jovovich), noose around her neck in preparation for a hanging due to being claimed a witch. Turns out she is a witch, so she manages to escape and goes back to her normal Zoltar type of routine. The Queen (Amara Okereke) of the city comes to her for a wish, as Gray Alys always fulfills her wishes. The Queen for some reason wants to turn into a shape-shifting werewolf; she hires, more so demands, Alys and a drifting gunman by the name of Boyce (Dave Bautista) to travel in the lost lands to retrieve this sought-after power.
To integrate the characters in the film with a fictional background of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Anderson chose to use the Unreal Engine, rendering an interactive display. At times, In the Lost Lands exhibits a visual style reminiscent of a Zack Snyder film—glossy, luminescent, and often very appealing. However, there are moments, such as a scene featuring a shapeshifting werewolf terrorizing a group of hunters, that feel gimmicky and resemble an early 2000s PS2 video game. While I admire the effort it takes to create a fictional world through visual effects, Anderson tends to push his vision to the extreme, sometimes at the expense of practicality. Some of my favorite scenes in the film—with only a few standout moments—were in studio sets and were quite engaging. One particularly notable scene early on features Milla Jovovich stealthily fighting off her attackers after her hanging attempt.
The two lead roles in Jovovich and Bautista were the standouts. Jovovich’s role isn’t too demanding. It’s a very quiet reserved role with her usual ability to perform in action set pieces. There’s even a scene where she became Wolverine for a little bit and oddly gave me a glimmer of what a Paul W.S. Anderson Wolverine film would be like. Dave Bautista on the other hand works the best in this type of film as a Dark Tower gunslinger type of character. He’s able to embody the nature of his environment and does so with his suave, natural voice and infectious portrayal of charisma.
The film’s blend of genres ranges from a post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Mad Max to hordes of horror similar to World War Z, as well as elements of fantasy similar to the poorly received Dungeons & Dragons (2000). Just this year, the genre-blending film The Gorge was released, successfully combining a variety of styles. In contrast, In the Lost Lands feels like a rehash of CGI-heavy blockbusters from the 2000s. Anderson seems stuck in a time when these types of films appealed to general audiences, who have since evolved and are now seeking something different.
Final Thoughts:
In the Lost Lands is a chaotic mix of different genres that don’t quite come together, but the solid script helps it feel somewhat coherent. Mila Jovovich and Dave Bautista do enough to keep the audience entertained, but not enough to anchor the film. Paul W.S. Anderson needs to take a step back and realize that his trend of adapting films with a video game-style may not be the right path for him anymore. I don’t know if I speak for everyone, but I believe many of us would prefer George R.R. Martin to focus on ending the Game of Thrones series rather than having his older short stories adapted.
2/5
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Ever since my mom took me to go see The Blair Witch Project in theaters when I was 7 years old I’ve been obsessed with not just movies but the horror genre. When I’m not watching movies you can find me thrifting, attending a local horror convention, or collecting physical media. I attended the University of Central Florida with a degree in Cinema Studies and use my degree to rant about movies online.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: The Cabin in the Woods, Cabaret, Seven Samurai, The Blair Witch Project, Inglourious Basterds