In the Lost Lands
Adapted from the short story of the same name by Game of Thrones‘s George RR Martin and helmed by Paul WS Anderson, In the Lost Lands is an ambitious, but ultimately by-the-numbers post-apocalyptic action flick. Set within a world that blends elements of Mad Max, fantasy, Western and monster movies, the plot sees a witch named Gray Alys (Mia Jovovich, who’s previously worked with Anderson in his Resident Evil films) hired by the princess (Amara Okereke) to grant her the power to shapeshift. To fulfil this obligation, the witch must venture outside the relative safety of the city’s walls into the titular Lost Lands to steal power from a formidable werewolf. She enlists the help of grizzled hunter Boyce (Dave Bautista) before the pair set out to find the beast before the full moon rises.
There’s a lot going on here despite the simple-sounding premise. Alongside the heroes’ quest, Alys is pursued by a Templar witchfinder (Arly Jover) while the princess’s involvement in a coup acts as the motivation behind her actions. There’s an attempt to flesh out this world of magic and monsters with political intrigue and exposition about what happened to the world since it was destroyed in a cataclysmic war, but each aspect isn’t fully developed and they fail to make much of an impact. Instead, their inclusion only muddies the narrative as the filmmaker throws a bunch of ideas against the wall to see what sticks.
What the feature lacks in depth, though, it partially makes up for with Anderson’s bold visual style. The cinematography is dominated by oversaturated colours and lens flare, while action scenes embrace slow motion and over-the-top spectacle. The CGI may be a little rough at points, but there’s still fun to be had watching a two-headed snake being hurled at a knight and a train exploding into an absurdly large fireball.
Anderson’s commitment to his vision results in some entertaining moments throughout the heroes’ perilous journey, with the amalgamation of different styles making this world feel uniquely its own. An uninspiring plot filled with underwritten characters and motivations, however, prevents this movie from meeting its potential.
Andrew Murray
In the Lost Lands is released nationwide on 14th March 2025.
Watch the trailer for In the Lost Lands here:
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