Badland Hunters Story

Starring Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Roh Jeong-eui, Badland Hunters is a sequel to the 2023 highly acclaimed film, Concrete Utopia. It follows a dystopic world that shakes up lives after a drastic earthquake. Nearly three years later in the apocalyptic wasteland Seoul, Nam San and his younger helping hand Ji-wan hunts creatures to feed the remaining survivalists. The story also delves into the dark mind of a mad doctor who captures the teen lead for his dangerous mission, followed by rescuers Nam-san and Ji-wan risking their lives over their quest.

Badland Hunters Review

The tale of survival and humanity takes place in the city ruins of Seoul after the shattering earthquake and weighs on the action sequences but lacks complexity or structured storyline. It revolves around the formulaic villain and his inhumane and deadly quests that threaten to trade lives for his ulterior motives. Stuntman-turned-director, Heo Myung-haeng makes a striking debut with this dystopic sequel but the lack of character development and loosely packed storyline dimmers the shine of his first directorial, despite the stellar cast.

Be it the god-complex doctor (Lee Hee-joon) or his evil minion soldiers, the characters seemed to be inspired by some Hollywood movie that threatens to upend humanity over the inhuman and brutal scientific experiments on human beings. One of the key features of Badland Hunters is the use of ideal set props and impeccable makeup skills to accentuate the rippling effects of a badland or apocalyptic world. The visual effects like the blood fountain amid slashing the evil pawns, the makers ensured to add a gory flavor as they upscaled resources to compete with the massive budget films in the action territory. Another feature that weighed upon the loose screenplay is the action choreography, especially the climax scene when Nam-san and Ji-won, along with Eun-ho ward off the Zombie-like creatures in the epic battle.

The use of drought and rain in the climax scene is a major highlight that depicts nature’s way of dealing with humankind.

Badland Hunters lost its edge over the roughly written characters like the survivalists, who didn't have any impressive backstory, nor were they explored in terms of humanity, power, or survival struggle except the portrayal of drought. Action prowess Don Lee, aka Ma Dong-seok (Train to Busan fame) enamored viewers as usual with his signature fighting style. His machete scenes were highly structured and highlighted meticulous special effects as he violently fought alligator-like creatures.

Badland Hunters Verdict

Indirect sequel to one of Korea’s highly lauded action films, Um Rae-hwa's Concrete Utopia, the recently premiered ‘Badland Hunters' falls off the cliff of expectations, but the Zombie actioner is still an entertaining watch that will keep you hooked to the gory violence and the predictable end of the mad doctor. The expected storyline overshadowed the meticulous action scenes, but the magnificent screen presence of Don Lee is a major green nod that works in the favor.

Badland Hunters is currently streaming on Netflix

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