New Showbiz

You are here:
Badland

Badland

2007

Director

Francesco Lucente

Runtime

165 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Jerry (Jamie Draven) was an idealist when he served in the first Gulf War. But when he was later deployed to Iraq, Jerry was an older man, a father of three and embittered by broken promises and unfulfilled desires. When Jerry returns from Iraq he has been transformed by horrors that cannot be forgiven. He lives a life of poverty, his children afraid of him and his wife, Nora (Vinessa Shaw), unsympathetic and unhappy. When Jerry discovers that Nora has betrayed him, his anger and despair drive him to commit an act so heinous and irreversible that nothing he had experienced in combat could have prepared him for.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.5/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film centers on a heteronormative domestic structure. There is no evidence of non-cisnormative identities or narratives that critique heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Limited

Nora demonstrates agency through her betrayal, yet the film remains anchored in a fractured domestic hierarchy. The protagonist's descent reinforces a tragic view of traditional masculinity.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The narrative focuses on a specific Western, veteran-centric experience. There is no indication of a diverse cast or intersectional identity exploration within the character arcs.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film critiques the efficacy of state institutions and the social contract. It deconstructs traditional domestic ideals by portraying the family as a site of fear.

Disability Representation

Fair

The protagonist's psychological trauma suggests invisible mental health struggles. However, the narrative uses this condition primarily as a driver for a tragic character arc.

Strengths

  • Critiques the efficacy of state institutions and the social contract.
  • Deconstructs traditional domestic ideals and the sanctity of the nuclear family.
  • Subverts the heroic veteran trope by focusing on systemic and personal failure.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks intentionality regarding LGBTQ+ and non-cisnormative identities.
  • Provides limited racial and ethnic diversity within the primary character arcs.
  • Uses psychological trauma as a plot device rather than a nuanced exploration of mental health.

AI Analysis

Badland is a gritty character study focused on the psychological disintegration of a veteran. It avoids the idealized 'heroic' veteran trope, opting instead to explore the corrosive effects of institutional failure and personal betrayal. The film succeeds in deconstructing the sanctity of the traditional nuclear family and Western social contracts. By portraying the veteran's return as a descent into poverty and domestic horror, it offers a cynical critique of systemic stability. However, the film lacks intentionality regarding intersectional identities. It remains largely confined to a Western-centric, heteronormative framework, providing little representation for LGBTQ+ or diverse racial groups.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.