Movie Review: Badland

Firstly let me say this; it’s been a long while since I’ve sat down and watched a western. Secondly let me say this; this was a bloody great film! It has a perfect blend of good ol’ fashioned gun slinging which I was more than happy to watch but then flips that coin and delivers some really heartfelt and tender moments.Â The film is segmented into three chapters which presents you with three great stories and your main character connecting them together. Each chapter is a name on his list; a criminal that must atone for past sins but this film digs deeper and shows how different people react to their previous mistakes or misdeeds.

The connecting character in this being the lawman Matthias Breecher (How cool is that name!?) The gruff hero with a heart is portrayed brilliantly by Kevin Makely who brings that awesome old school feel I remember from westerns I watched with my dad as a child.Â He is a fantastic leading man and has an AMAZING ensemble of supporting characters over the three chapters, I mean look at the list of stars.

You’ve got:

Mira Sorvino
Bruce Dern
Amanda Wyss
Wesley Studi
Tony Todd
James Russo
Jeff Fahey
And Trace Adkins (who may have the lowest voice I have ever heard from a human being since Barry White)

That is a bloody impressive cast and they all deliver.

Writer and Director Justin Lee penned an extremely strong script and as mentioned it doesn’t pull any punches with regards realistic action and on the old heart strings too. There’s regret, compassion, mistrust, anger and love….and that’s just Matthias!Â Couple all that with a moving and exciting score by Jared Forman and you have yourself a total package of a flick.Â I would highly recommend you take the time to enjoy this film.

SCORE: 5/5