Land of Bad

William Eubank's Land of Bad drops you into the chaos of a covert rescue mission that goes catastrophically wrong in the South Philippines. Liam Hemsworth plays Sergeant JJ Kinney, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) who coordinates airstrikes but has minimal ground combat experience. When his Delta Force team is ambushed, Kinney becomes the last man standing, relying on an Air Force drone pilot thousands of miles away to guide him through hostile jungle. Russell Crowe brings a weary intensity to Captain Eddie Grimm, callsign Reaper, the drone operator who can see everything but can't physically intervene. The film was shot across the United States, Australia, and the Czech Republic, with its premiere held at Edwards Air Force Base on February 9, 2024, before a theatrical release a week later.

With a reported budget between $18 and $20 million, the movie earned just over $7 million at the box office, but it has found its audience on streaming platforms. The cast includes both Hemsworth brothers, Liam and Luke, alongside Milo Ventimiglia, Ricky Whittle, and Chika Ikogwe. Eubank, who co-wrote the script with David Frigerio, originally started developing the project years ago after his film The Signal premiered at Sundance, but shelved it when other films like Good Kill tackled similar drone warfare themes. He cites Ridley Scott as a major inspiration for the film's visual tension and claustrophobic atmosphere.

The film's structure feels like a real-time video game, with Kinney's desperate run through enemy territory punctuated by Reaper's calm, calculated guidance from a remote control station. It explores the psychological toll of remote warfare, Reaper can see everything but can't save anyone with his own hands. The result is a taut, mission-based thriller that keeps the pressure on from the opening ambush to the final extraction. [edit]

Sergeant JJ Kinney is a JTAC operator assigned to a Delta Force extraction team led by Master Sergeant John Sugar Sweet (Milo Ventimiglia). The team includes operators Bishop (Ricky Whittle) and Abel (Luke Hemsworth). Their mission: rescue a CIA asset held by the Abu Sayyaf militia in the South Philippines. The militia is commanded by Saeed Hashimi (Robert Rabiah), a ruthless leader who has been working with a Russian operative named Victor Petrov (Jack Finsterer).

From a control station thousands of miles away, Air Force Captain Eddie Grimm, callsign Reaper (Russell Crowe), provides drone surveillance and communication support alongside Staff Sergeant Nia Branson (Chika Ikogwe). The operation goes wrong almost immediately. Hashimi's forces ambush the Delta team in dense jungle, killing several operators and scattering the survivors. Kinney, separated from the rest, finds himself alone and presumed dead by command.

Kinney has limited combat experience, his job is to call in airstrikes, not fight on the ground. But he's the only one left who can complete the mission. Reaper becomes his eyes in the sky, guiding him through enemy territory, evading Hashimi's patrols, and coordinating with command to keep Kinney alive. Over 48 hours, Kinney moves through jungle, villages, and enemy encampments, discovering that Sugar and Bishop may still be alive and held captive at Hashimi's fortified compound.

Colonel Duz Packett (Daniel MacPherson) oversees the broader command structure, but his hands are tied by military protocols and rules of engagement. Reaper fights his own battle against the limitations of remote warfare, he can see every threat, but he can't physically intervene. As Kinney gets closer to the compound, the situation becomes more desperate. Hashimi prepares to execute the hostages, and an airstrike is scheduled to obliterate the location. Kinney must infiltrate the compound alone, relying on Reaper's guidance and his own growing instincts as a fighter.[edit]