Director: William Eubank
Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth, Milo Ventimiglia, Ricky Whittle
Genre: Action / Military Thriller
Runtime: 110 minutes
Released: February 16, 2024 (theatrical); July 18, 2024 (Netflix)
Land of Bad follows Sergeant J.J. “Playboy” Kinney (Liam Hemsworth), a rookie Air Force JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller), on his first mission in the Philippine jungle to rescue a captured CIA operative. When the mission goes sideways, Kinney is stranded and outnumbered, relying solely on veteran drone pilot Captain Eddie “Reaper” Grimm (Russell Crowe) to call in airstrikes and guide him to safety from afar
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Standout Performances:
Hemsworth delivers a compelling portrayal of a green soldier thrown into chaos—and growing into the role under pressure Crowe steals scenes as Reaper, an eccentric drone operator whose sarcastic warmth complements the high-stakes action -
Engaging Action Set Pieces:
The jungle combat and tense rescue operation are staged with gritty immediacy, balancing realistic practical effects with just enough cinematic flair -
Modern Warfare Theme:
The drone-versus-ground crossover—Kinney on the jungle floor, Reaper above in a command room—creates a fresh thematic tension about the emotional costs of remote warfare -
Beautiful Cinematography:
Behind-the-scenes praise has gone to Agustin Claramunt’s lush visuals, which sell both the scenic jungle and its lurking danger -
Authenticity Through Research:
The film benefits from technical polish; its portrayal of JTAC operations was informed by actual military consultants, lending realism to its execution
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Formulaic Storytelling:
Critics note that despite solid execution, Land of Bad follows a familiar “soldier stranded, guided by remote operator” pattern without surprising the genre -
Character Depth Could Be Better:
Some reviewers felt the plot leaned more on adrenaline than depth, with supporting roles feeling underdeveloped or generic -
Uneven Pacing:
While the jungle sequences deliver thrilling tension, the early exposition unfolds slowly, and a few slow-motion action beats felt stylistically overdone .
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Rotten Tomatoes: 67% critic approval; 93% audience score
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Metacritic: Mixed-to-average reviews, around a 57 score
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Fan Feedback:
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Reddit user u/…reddit16 praised it as “one of the better war-genre movies I’ve seen in a while… gripped me from start to finish,” rating it 8/10
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Others felt the title misleading and lamented a lack of emotional resonance beyond the action
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Land of Bad delivers solid, pulse-pounding military drama with credible tech-forward themes and strong leads. It shines through Hemsworth’s coming-of-fire performance and Crowe’s memorable, humanizing presence. However, it doesn't reinvent the rescue-thriller wheel. If you're craving gritty action and an examination of modern drone warfare's morality, this ranks as a worthwhile pick.
