In the Lost Lands

I had high expectations for In the Lost Lands, given the well-known cast and the intriguing premise. Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of the worst movies I've seen in a cinema.

The film relies heavily on visual effects, but beyond that, there is little to enjoy. The storyline is chaotic and lacks clarity, making it difficult to stay engaged. The dialogue feels artificial-almost as if it were generated by AI-devoid of any real emotion or depth.

Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista are talented actors, and their performances were solid, but even great acting can't save a movie with a weak script. A compelling story is the backbone of any good film, and this one simply didn't have it.

I can't help but wonder: Did anyone actually read the script before agreeing to this project? With such a high-budget production, featuring top-tier actors and elaborate CGI, it's baffling that the storytelling was so poor.

I'm giving In the Lost Lands a 5/10, solely because of the acting and visual effects. Sadly, without a strong narrative, it all feels like an empty spectacle.

4/10 STARS - In the Lost Lands is based on a George R R Martin short story of the same name from 1982. Milla Jovovich stars as Gray Alys, a witch who has to grant the wish of everyone who comes to her, even though granting those wishes has unintended consequences for those who ask. She is sent by the queen to the Lost Lands to obtain the power of turning into a werewolf. Before embarking on her journey, Alys enlists the aid of a mysterious hunter named Boyce, played by Dave Bautista. Unfortunately, Milla Jovovich doesn't have the best track record for starring in quality films and In the Lost Lands is no exception. There were some things I did like about this movie: the cinematography felt like something that came from the pages of a graphic novel, similar in some ways to a film like Sin City. And the framework of the story itself is actually pretty solid. The issues are largely in the execution of the story, which probably would have been much better served as a limited series type of production for a streaming platform. Given the vastness of the world, the various characters involved, as well as the political and religious issues at play in the background, a film of an hour and 41 minutes doesn't give it enough space to make it feel fully fleshed out and satisfying, reducing most of the characters to almost clownish figures -- hollow shells of what could have been more interesting depictions. And with a rather hefty budget of more than 55 million, this film will have an uphill battle just to break even.

"In The Lost Lands" sets the stage for an action-packed adventure, starring the duo of Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich. Unfortunately, despite its promising premise, the film ends up being a muddled mix of contrasting elements that fail to deliver on its potential.

The movie attempts to blend light-hearted banter with fast-paced action scenes, but rather than complementing each other, these two elements feel disjointed. The interactions between Bautista and Jovovich are meant to bring an engaging dynamic to the screen, yet their relationship comes across as confusing and inconsistent. It's as if the film can't quite decide if it wants to be a buddy action flick or a more serious, high-stakes adventure. The result? A love-hate chemistry that never quite resonates.

The monsters featured in the film are a notable aspect, with two very distinct types making an appearance. However, while they could have added an exciting layer to the narrative, their presence doesn't feel fully explored or impactful. The action sequences, though fast-paced, seem to lack any real depth or excitement, leaving the audience somewhat detached.

The pacing of the movie is another point of frustration. For all the action and monster encounters, the film still manages to drag in places. Despite the thrilling backdrop, I found myself zoning out at times, wondering why the story failed to maintain my attention. The blend of humor, action, and monstrous threats should have kept things lively, but instead, it felt like a series of missed opportunities.

In conclusion, "In The Lost Lands" is a film that doesn't quite know what it wants to be. The relationship between Bautista and Jovovich offers a flicker of potential, but the inconsistent tone, lackluster action, and overall pacing make it a difficult movie to invest in. While it may appeal to those who enjoy lighter, more chaotic fantasy films, I found it hard to stay engaged.

I had not watched anything from this 2025 movie prior to sitting down to watch it. But I figured that there was potential here, as it was starring Milla Jovovich. And I have to admit that the premise of a post-apocalyptic setting did seem mighty alluring.

But what director Paul W. S. Anderson delivered here was essentially just another "Resident Evil" movie, just without the T-Virus and the zombies. Or at least that the sensation and vibe I was getting from the movie, as the story unfolded and we got to know the characters. Yeah, Gray Alys (as Milla Jovovich's character was named in this movie) was essentially just a variant of the Alice character from the "Resident Evil" movies. Except for being a clone, she was a witch with magical powers, but the same fighting skills and also using the same weaponry.

The storyline in "In the Lost Lands" was pretty straightforward, although a bit of a strange mixture of many different genres scrambled into one. Sure, it was watchable and entertaining enough for the mindless action fantasy that it turned out to be, but don't get your hopes up for a stellar storytelling event here. I have not read the short story, from writer George R. R. Martin, that this movie was based upon, so I don't know how true screenwriters Constantin Werner and Paul W. S. Anderson were to the source material.

The acting performances in the movie were fair enough taking into consideration the material they had to work with. The movie does have some familiar faces on the cast list, with the likes of Milla Jovovich, Dave Bautista and Fraser James. Fraser James really stood out in the movie with his performance as The Patriarch. I am by no means a fan of Dave Bautista, and "In the Lost Land" didn't convince me otherwise.

What worked out the most in "In the Lost Lands" was the special effects. The CGI effects looks good and there were some nice creature designs, and the props and wardrobe departments definitely worked their magic quite well.

This movie is an odd mixture of multiple genres, and thus it was a little bit hard to fully get submerged into. But it proved to be fair enough entertainment for the mindless action that it was.

My rating of director Paul W. S. Anderson's 2025 movie "In the Lost Lands" lands on a five out of ten stars.

In the Lost Lands had all the right ingredients to be an exciting fantasy adventure-strong leads in Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich, a promising world, and some genuinely fun twists along the way. Unfortunately, it never fully comes together in a satisfying way.

Bautista, as always, brings a commanding presence, and Jovovich delivers her signature action-hero energy. There are moments that hint at a deeper, richer world, and a few surprises that add some excitement. But the pacing drags, making it hard to stay fully engaged, and the story doesn't develop in a way that feels particularly compelling. It's not that it's bad, just that it never reaches the heights it seems to be aiming for.

That said, if you're a fan of the actors (which I am), there's still enjoyment to be found here. It's the kind of film that has its moments but ultimately doesn't leave a lasting impact.

Would I recommend it? Maybe-for die-hard fans of Bautista and Jovovich or those who just want a bit of fantasy escapism. But for anyone looking for a truly gripping story, this one might get lost in the shuffle.