Paul W.S. Anderson’s In the Lost Lands is like a leftovers casserole of fantasy tropes—familiar, occasionally tasty, but mostly reheated. Starring Milla Jovovich as the brooding sorceress Gray Alys and Dave Bautista as her gruff guide Boyce, this Hindi-dubbed action fantasy throws demons, magic, and muddy landscapes at the screen. But does it cast a spell?
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THE PLOT (OR LACK THEREOF)
A queen (Eveline Hall, underused) sends Gray Alys—a sorceress with a reputation darker than her eyeliner—into the cursed Lost Lands to retrieve a mythical power. Teaming up with Boyce, a mercenary with a heart of… well, something, they battle demons, treacherous terrain, and trust issues. The premise screams potential, but the execution feels like a checklist: portal here, CGI monster there, vague prophecy everywhere.
CAST: MILLA AND DAVE CARRY THE LOAD (LITERALLY)
Milla Jovovich does her best “mysterious badass” routine, glowering and spell-casting with the ease of someone who’s fought zombies in six Resident Evil films. Dave Bautista, as Boyce, growls his way through one-liners and axe swings, proving he’s still Hollywood’s go-to gentle giant. Their chemistry? It’s… functional. Think of them as coworkers on a deadly corporate retreat—no sparks, but they get the job done.
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The supporting cast? Forgettable. Arly Jover pops up as a witch with cryptic warnings, and Fraser James hams it up as a snarling demon lord. But most characters are as deep as a puddle in the desert.
DIRECTION: ANDERSON’S FANTASY PLAYBOOK
Paul W.S. Anderson loves two things: Milla Jovovich and CGI. Here, he gets both. The Lost Lands are a murky blend of Game of Thrones vistas and PS3 cutscene graphics. Action scenes are chaotic—demons leap, fireballs explode, and swords clang—but lack weight or originality. The pacing drags worse than a hungover ogre, with endless trudging through foggy forests and exposition dumps around campfires.
THEMES: YAWN-WORTHY
Power corrupts! Trust no one! Blah blah. In the Lost Lands leans on clichés like a wizard on a staff. Gray Alys’ “dark past” is about as nuanced as a toddler’s finger-painting, and the moral dilemmas feel tacked on. Even the demons lack personality—just hissing, generic baddies waiting for their CGI demise.
WHO’S IT FOR?
- Milla Jovovich completists: She’s in her element, slicing monsters in slow-mo.
- B-movie fantasy fans: If Dungeons & Dragons (2000) is your guilty pleasure, this’ll fit right in.
- Dave Bautista admirers: His biceps deserve their own IMDb credit.
FLAWS? OH, LET’S COUNT THEM
- Dialogue: Lines like “The Lost Lands will be your grave!” sound better in trailer voiceovers.
- Pacing: At two hours, it feels longer than a dragon’s tax return.
- Originality: The plot twists are so predictable, that you’ll guess them while scrolling Instagram.
FINAL VERDICT
In the Lost Lands isn’t bad—it’s just bland. Like fantasy fast food: fills the void, but leaves no aftertaste. Milla and Dave try valiantly, but the script shackles them to a world we’ve seen a hundred times. Stream it on Desi Cinemas if you’re craving mindless monster-mashing, but keep expectations lower than a goblin’s IQ.
RATING: ★★½ (2.5/5)
Grab some popcorn, mute the dialogue, and enjoy the chaos. 🍿🔥
PS: The Hindi dubbing? Serviceable, but don’t expect Baahubali-level gravitas.