IN THE LOST LANDS
(director/writer: Paul W.S. Anderson; screenwriters: Constantin Werner, story by Constantin Werner and Paul W.S. Anderson, based on the short story by George R.R. Martin; cinematographer: Glen MacPherson; editor: Niven Howie; music: Paul Haslinger; cast: Dave Bautista (Boyce), Milla Jovovich (Gray Alys), Arly Jover (Ash, Enforcer), Amara Okereke (Melange, The Queen), Fraser James (The Patriarch), Simon Loof (Jerais), Deidre Mullins (Mara), Sebastian Stankiewicz (Ross); Runtime: 101; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Constantin Werner, Dave Bautista, Paul W.S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt, Milla Jovovich, Robert Kutzer, Jonathan Meisner; Vertical; 2025)
“Monstrosity of a fairy-tale film.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Paul W.S. Anderson (“The Resident Evil movies”/”Monster Hunter”) directs and co-writes this monstrosity of a fairy-tale film with German screenwriter Constantin Werner. It’s based on the short story by The Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin.
In a dreary post-apocalypse world, where the familiar world no longer exists, Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich, the director’s wife) is a powerful sorceress who the young Queen (Amara Okereke) orders to steal the magical power from a shape-shifter so she can possess it for her own personal use to turn people into werewolves. Her courtier lover Jerais (Simon Loof) asks her not to pursue that power. While the Queen agrees to her lover’s request, she still asks her hired witch to do what she’s been paid to do.
The Queen’s request requires Gray to trek to the apocalyptic “Lost Lands.” That requires her to hire a hunter guide Boyce (Dave Bautista), a gunslinger familiar with the region.
The travelers pass though dangerous locations, where their foes are either humans or demons.
The visuals are shoddy, the action sequences are poorly executed and the narrative fails to be exciting. If the author and director had the same view about what is the point of the story, it might have been a more bearable and coherent film. As is, this pic tells us nothing new about a dystopian future.
REVIEWED ON 4/6/2025 GRADE: C
dennisschwartzreviews.com