WFG RATING: B+

The Avenue and Highland Film Group presents a Volition Media Partners/Broken Open Pictures/Short Porch Pictures production. Directed by William Eubank. Produced by Adam Beasley, William Eubank, Mark Fasano, Arianne Fraser, David Frigerio, Michael Jefferson, Petr Jakl, Nathan Klingher, Riccardo Magnoni, and Ryan Winterstein. Written by William Eubank and David Frigerio. Cinematography by Agustin Claramunt. Edited by Todd E. Miller.

Stars Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth, Milo Ventimiglia, Ricky Whittle, Daniel MacPherson, Lincoln Lewis, Gunner Wright, Joey Vieira, Chika Ikogwe, and Robert Rabiah. 

From the director of The Switch and Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin comes this throwback to the 80’s and 90’s popcorn military action thriller.

Kinney is a rookie member of the Air Force who is given the codename “Playboy” because of his looks. He is sent on his first assignment and teams up with Delta Force veterans Abel and Sugar as part of the team while Reaper, a veteran drone pilot awaits for a command. When the team finds themself ambushed, Kinney makes the decision not to leave them behind.

When Kinney informs Reaper of what has happened, the veteran decides to help Kinney traverse through the jungles as his “eyes from the sky”. As Kinney continues to move through the jungle, he finds himself in one situation after another. Eventually, Kinney catches up to one of the ambushed soldiers, and together, with Reaper’s guidance, become determined to complete the mission and rescue the soldiers. 

Originally an idea he came up with around the time he made his feature film debut, William Eubank was inspired by some of the older military action films such as The Rock and Navy SEALs to name a few. However, when it came time to finally being the project to fruition, he and co-writer David Frigerio learned about the more modern technology used in military warfare and used it to their advantage while still paying homage to the old school military action thriller. 

Liam Hemsworth proves to be a good lead actor in the role of Kinney, who goes behind enemy lines after an ambush with a Delta Force squad goes awry. As the rookie of the group, he may seem helpless at first but at the same time cautious and ready for action. In a very ironic twist, the role of Abel goes to Luke Hemsworth, which makes one wonder how it happened. According to Eubank, it’s sheer coincidence but it works seeing them together and not play brothers while 

Milo Ventimilglia is excellent as Sugar, who helps Kinney once they run into each other in the jungle and form an alliance in the vein of films like Let’s Get Harry and even a B-movie, Merchants of War. Ventimiglia gets some fight scenes in the film and with Kenny Low’s choreography, he gives it 125 percent and definitely could hold his own in a fight movie down the road. The iconic Russell Crowe also takes center stage as Reaper, a drone pilot who becomes Kinney’s eyes in the skies and a father figure of sorts as he attempts to help Reaper out of the situation. There are times in the film where Reaper must be cautious as well as he feels that Kinney could get his cover blown with his hiding. However, Reaper ultimately must get the job done to help Kinney complete the mission. 

Land of Bad is a popcorn flick in the vein of 80’s and 90’s military action films that doesn’t have to take itself seriously. Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe are aces in the film with Milo Ventimiglia showing he could throw down and kick some butt. Definitely worth checking out.

The film will be released in theaters on February 16.