Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
When a Delta Force special ops mission goes terribly wrong, Air Force drone pilot Reaper has 48 hours to remedy what has devolved into a wild rescue operation. With no weapons and no communication other than the drone above, the ground mission suddenly becomes a full-scale battle when the team is discovered by the enemy.
Land of Bad is a competent, well-executed action-thriller that delivers on its premise of dual-perspective warfare — a stranded Delta operative on the ground and a drone pilot managing the situation from afar. The plot is functional and moves at a solid pace, though it follows a fairly predictable mission-gone-wrong structure. Acting is serviceable, with Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe both delivering credible performances without truly elevating the material. Cinematography is solid for the budget, capturing the jungle combat environment effectively. The drone-warfare angle gives it a modest degree of novelty, but it doesn't push the concept far enough to feel truly distinctive. The ending resolves things in a fairly conventional fashion, lacking the punch or surprise to leave a lasting impression.