My quick rating – 5.3/10. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and adapted from a short story by George R.R. Martin, In the Lost Lands had all the ingredients to cook up something memorable. We have a fantasy setting, a quest for ancient power, demons, swords, and a cast that includes Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista. On paper, that’s a recipe for a wild ride. But what we end up with is a visually ambitious film that feels more like an underwhelming detour than the epic journey it wants to be.
The plot kicks off with a queen who sends the feared sorceress Gray Alys (Jovovich) into the spectral wilderness known as the Lost Lands, accompanied by the wandering swordsman Boyce (Bautista). Their mission? Retrieve a mystical power that can grant transformations. Along the way, they tangle with treacherous humans and deadly demons, all while building a fragile rapport. There’s action, magical lore, and a few narrative turns that try to keep things fresh. The problem is that it never quite gels.
Jovovich and Bautista are solid. Their chemistry is understated but functional, and their dialogue, while sparse and occasionally clunky, ends up working once the film’s central theme is fully revealed. That said, neither performance elevates the material, and both feel constrained by the script so if you weren’t fans of them before, this won’t be changing your mind. I’m a fan of both actors—Jovovich still owns a place in my movie-loving heart thanks to The Fifth Element, and Bautista has been fun to watch evolve beyond the wrestling ring—but this movie doesn’t really play to their strengths.
Visually, the film leans hard into CGI landscapes, and to be fair, if you like your fantasy worlds drenched in that digital haze, you might enjoy the scenery. Some of the creature designs are straight-up stunning—menacing, weird, and creative in a way that shows off what CGI can do when applied thoughtfully. But for me, the immersive magic was dulled by the constant sense that everything was shot in a warehouse. Even outdoor scenes had that hollow, artificial quality, like the actors were stuck in a snow globe with a green screen.
Anderson usually delivers punchy, stylized action—see the Resident Evil series for evidence—but here the fight scenes lack the kinetic energy or inventive choreography that made those films fun. Sure, the pace is brisk and there’s never a long stretch without something happening, but the action never hits that wow moment you keep waiting for. It’s serviceable, not spectacular.
There are glimmers of what In the Lost Lands could have been. The world-building hints at something grander, and some of the philosophical themes (power, transformation, sacrifice) are intriguing if underdeveloped. But the execution just doesn’t deliver on the potential. The puzzle pieces were there: a strong concept, a capable cast, an experienced director. They just didn’t snap together right.
It’s not a terrible film by any means, just one that leaves you wishing for more, especially given the names attached. If you’re here for fantasy vibes and impressive creature effects, it might scratch the itch. Just temper your expectations. I did, and still walked away feeling like I’d seen a shadow of a better movie.
Grab some popcorn and flip on Amazon or any of these streamers to check this one out.