Search - Badland on DVD

One incredible performance, one miserable film

Steve Kuehl | Ben Lomond, CA | 02/20/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had to set aside some serious time to review this whole release as there are over 7 hours of film and material to get through. This film has been both touted and lambasted for representing a facet of PTSD amongst returning Iraq/Afg vets, and I will admit it covers it in length (the film is 3 hours long). After watching this and the associated docus, this should best be kept as a film review, since anything else begs for arguments.



Some spoilers: The story revolves around an Iraq vet who lives in squalor while supporting his family of five in a junkyard trailer. The amount of depression and misery is detailed in minute eloquence, sometimes for 10-15 minutes at a time with no dialogue. He eventually snaps, commits a brief serial killing and flees. The scenery of Canada was well preserved, and the scope of panoramic vistas makes for a character in itself. In essence this is a minimalist film with acute bouts of violence. The violence is abbreviated but involves the execution of 2 children.



The performances are varied, with Grace Fulton giving a truly incredible showing as the surviving child accompanying her father on this journey through hell. Jamie Draven (the dad) was a poor choice, as his Brit accent blatantly seeps through in every other scene. He gave convincing looks of evil, with the camera sometimes focused on his stare for minutes at a time. "Gut wrenching", "poignant", and "shocking" fill the reviews across the Internet, but in the end I felt like I had watched an extreme updated version of Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge, complete with a sometimes horribly misplaced music score and tedious subplots.



The special features are extensive, complete with interviews, music info, commentaries and even a deleted scene. I wish I could find a way to say "yes, absolutely see this long and arduous journey of a film", but I find that it misses the mark in too many ways. The ending is irritating, but does leave it for you to interpret what it could possibly mean. If you liked the theatrical cut, this 2-disc version is a must own, otherwise dedicate a long evening to a rental."