Paul W.S. Anderson, the director behind the Resident Evil franchise, has brought a new dark fantasy to the big screen. In the Lost Lands is based on a short story by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin. Therefore, this film promised to deliver the twisted characters, intrigue and dark settings that fans of Martin’s work have come to love .
Starring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista, the movie takes viewers on a journey through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. As a result, it combines elements of spaghetti westerns, swords and sorcery, and Mad Max-style thrills .
What Is In the Lost Lands About?
The world has fallen to an unspecified apocalyptic disaster. The last refuge of civilisation lies in a city ruled by a young, ambitious Queen (Amara Okereke). She dispatches a powerful witch named Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich) into the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands. Her mission: find a werewolf and steal its shape-shifting power .
Gray Alys enlists the help of a grizzled hunter named Boyce (Dave Bautista) to guide her through the dangerous wasteland. Together, they must outwit and outfight man and demon. However, a mysterious curse forces Gray Alys to grant any request made of her. This creates dangerous complications as she becomes entangled in the Queen’s political schemes .
The pair is relentlessly pursued by Ash (Arly Jover), a ruthless enforcer for a violent religious cult led by The Patriarch. Ash wants to stop Gray Alys from completing her mission. The chase forms the backbone of the film’s action sequences .
The Cast of In the Lost Lands
The film features a talented ensemble cast bringing this dark fantasy world to life .
- Milla Jovovich as Gray Alys, the powerful and feared sorceress cursed to grant any request
- Dave Bautista as Boyce, a grizzled hunter and guide through the Lost Lands
- Arly Jover as Ash, a ruthless enforcer pursuing Gray Alys
- Amara Okereke as Melange, the young Queen who sends Gray Alys on her mission
- Fraser James as Patriarch Johan, leader of the religious cult
- Simon Lööf as Jerais, Captain of the Overwatch
- Deirdre Mullins as Mara, Boyce’s intermittent love interest
- Sebastian Stankiewicz as Ross
- Jacek Dzisiewicz as the Overlord
Like Dracula: A Love Tale, this film features a star-led cast bringing a gothic fantasy vision to the screen.
Production and Filming
Principal photography for In the Lost Lands began in November 2022 at Alvernia Studios in Poland. Filming wrapped in February 2023 .
The film was produced by Jeremy Bolt, Dave Bautista, Milla Jovovich, Constantin Werner, Paul W. S. Anderson, Jonathan Meisner and Robert Kulzer. Vertical Entertainment handled distribution in the United States .
Director Paul W.S. Anderson has said that Martin’s short story “has the elements that people are familiar with from George’s work, which they love — the twisted characters, the intrigue, the dark setting, the monsters.” He added that the film is “a brand-new landscape, a world they’ve never seen before” .
Release Date and Box Office Performance
In the Lost Lands began its worldwide rollout on January 14, 2025, in South Africa. It had its wide US release on March 7, 2025, distributed by Vertical Entertainment .
The film received an R-rating for violence and has a running time of 1 hour and 41 minutes .
At the box office, the film has grossed approximately $1.87 million domestically and $3.83 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $5.7 million as of its 2025 theatrical run .
Critical Reception: A Mixed Response
Critical response to In the Lost Lands has been largely negative. Reviewers have criticized the film’s thin plot, wooden performances and lack of emotional depth.
One critic described the film as “a masterclass in how to take an intriguing concept and strip it of anything remotely compelling.” They wrote that it feels like “a two-hour endurance test, complete with cringe-worthy dialogue, terrible pacing, and a story that stumbles over itself before falling flat on its face” .
Milla Jovovich’s performance has been described as “wooden and humourless,” with the actress “sleepwalking through the role.” Dave Bautista “doesn’t fare much better,” which reviewers found surprising given his demonstrated range in other films like Blade Runner 2049 and The Last Showgirl .
The visual effects have also been criticized as “cheap,” with sets described as “empty and lifeless.” The action sequences, while frequent, are “choppy, weightless, and completely devoid of impact” .
Some reviewers conceded that the film might work as “disposable, switch-off-your-brain entertainment” with a bag of popcorn on a Friday night, but gave it a modest 2/5 rating .
Like Skye Newman’s debut divided critics, In the Lost Lands has generated strongly negative reviews from most major outlets.
George R.R. Martin’s Involvement
Director Paul W.S. Anderson has claimed that George R.R. Martin loved the adaptation. However, some critics have questioned whether Martin was “just being polite” .
The short story was originally published in 1982. It has now been expanded into a feature film over four decades later. Anderson stated that Martin felt the film “captured his voice better than other adaptations” .
Unlike Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, this story is not set in Westeros. It takes place in a completely different universe: a post-apocalyptic future rather than a medieval fantasy world .
Where to Watch In the Lost Lands
In the Lost Lands completed its theatrical run in 2025. It is now available on digital platforms for rental and purchase. Check services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu for availability in your region.
FAQs
Is In the Lost Lands based on a George R.R. Martin book?
Yes, the film is based on a dark fantasy short story of the same name by George R.R. Martin, originally published in 1982.
Who stars in In the Lost Lands?
The film stars Milla Jovovich as Gray Alys and Dave Bautista as Boyce. The supporting cast includes Arly Jover, Amara Okereke and Fraser James.
What is the film about?
A queen sends a powerful witch named Gray Alys into the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands to find a werewolf and steal its shape-shifting power.
Who directed In the Lost Lands?
The film was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, known for the Resident Evil franchise, Event Horizon and Mortal Kombat.
Was In the Lost Lands a success?
The film grossed approximately $5.7 million worldwide. Critical reception was largely negative, with many reviewers criticizing the plot, performances and visual effects.
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