Warning: Spoilers ahead for Land of Bad.
Summary
Liam Hemsworth’sLand of Badis in many ways a typical action movie, but it also deviates from the time-honored villain formula in one key way. Some of thebest war movies of all timeare renowned for their iconic bad guys, so there’s no denying that a compelling antagonist can be vital within the genre.Land of Badis quietly aware of this important factor for an effective war movieand has taken a creative approach to the trope that adds another layer to the story.
Hemsworth helps lead theLand of Badcastas Sgt. JJ Kinney, alongside Russell Crowe’s Eddie “Reaper” Grimm. Both men are in remote contact throughout most of the movie’s events, with the latter assisting the former to navigate hostile terrain after a failed mission in the Philippines results in Kinney being stranded and alone. However, whileKinney comes face-to-face with the movie’s main antagonist, Reaper is also quietly fighting a battle back in Las Vegas.
Land Of Bad Ending Explained
Liam Hemsworth’s Land of Bad has an ending befitting the movie’s overall tense tone, with the twists and turns throughout influencing the finale.
Packet’s negligence almost gets Kinney killed
Played by Daniel MacPherson, Colonel Duz Packet puts Kinney’s life at risk almost to the same degree as the movie’s terrorist leader villain. As the ranking officer at the Las Vegas military installation, part ofPacket’s job is to make sure his troops conduct themselves with an air of disciplineand professionalism. Instead, everyone but Reaper and his partner are more concerned about being able to watch basketball on TV, being largely unconcerned with the possibility of missing vital phone calls.
Packet does have occasional bursts of doing things by the book.
While Packet does have occasional bursts of doing things by the book - like checking Reaper’s alertness before granting him a shift extension - the colonel is dangerously negligent and lazy throughoutLand of Bad. If it weren’t for the atmosphere he put in place, his men wouldn’t have been quite so nonchalant about answering the phone - or even allowing it to ring - which very nearly meant Kinney failed to call off the airstrike that would have killed him. For this reason,Packet could be viewed as the movie’s secondary antagonist.
Robert Rabiah’s Saeed Hashimi is a textbook war movie villain, but it doesn’t detract from how terrifying he is. His violent acts against innocent villains and enemy soldiers alike place him on high asLand of Bad’s primary bad guy. However, it’s no surprise that he’s so nightmarish, as movies in this genre often have figures in place with similar motivations. He’s a huge obstacle to overcome and escape, which Kinney is arguably very lucky to be able to do. Interestingly,the expectation of Hashimi’s evil deeds highlights how reckless Colonel Packet istoo.
With the US military fighting an enemy like Hashimi, discord in the ranks can be the difference between life and death for soldiers in the field.
With the US military fighting an enemy like Hashimi, discord in the ranks can be the difference between life and death for soldiers in the field. So, that’s why Packet’s conduct is so surprising and unnerving. His blasé attitude to Kinney’s scenario makes him a danger to the mission’s success, which had already included the loss of other operatives and had an ongoing risk of overall failure. That being said,Packet’s demeanor makesLand of Bada much more entertaining watch, increasing tension and creating more problems for Kinney and Reaper to solve.
Packet’s Military Position Highlights Reapers Refusal To Be Promoted In Land Of Bad
Reaper has opted not to advance beyond the rank of captain
Despite being much older than Packet, Reaper is outranked by the careless officer. Reaper’s surprisingly low rank of captain given his lengthy military service is by his own choice, as he explains to Kinney during the movie. The ever-expanding family of Russell Crowe’s character would place a financial strain on him if he was promoted any further, as he would lose his active duty bonuses. WhileReaper’s logic greatly benefits his personal life, it means men like Packet become leaders instead, and events like those inLand of Badare made inexorably worse.
Russell Crowe’s Movie That Was Over A Decade In The Making Is Now Streaming
After 12 years of production and a mixed cinematic release, Land of Bad, starring Russell Crowe and two Hemsworths, is now streaming on Netflix.
Reaper is clearly a much more committed officer than Colonel Packet, but has opted not to accept a higher rank that would better reflect his superior attitude and leadership abilities.The military needs men like Reaper in charge rather than Packet, and the movie demonstrates the negatives of the specific scenario that has unfolded as a result of Reaper’s commitment to remaining a captain. If Reaper had a rank more suited to his age and level of experience, Kinney’s life may never have been at risk of losing his life due to the air of negligence inLand of Bad.
Land of Bad
Cast
Land of Bad follows an elite air force mission gone awry, setting up a high-stakes rescue led by a drone pilot. The team must navigate hostile terrain in a bid for survival, featuring action-packed sequences that test their skills and resilience.
