Overview: After serving in Iraq, reservist Jerry Rice (Jamie Draven) returns home to a life in ruins: a dead-end job at a rural gas station, a failing marriage to Nora (Vinessa Shaw), and a mind poisoned by the horrors of Fallujah.

When his ruthless boss falsely accuses him of theft, Jerry’s fragile psyche shatters. In a moment of madness, his family is destroyed; only his eight-year-old daughter, Celina (Grace Caroline Currey), survives.

Blu-ray Verdict: Desperate and on the run, Jerry stages a bloody crime scene at a river to convince the world they are both dead. They disappear into the American backroads, living a grim existence of abandoned farmhouses and cheap motels while the national news paints Jerry as a monster. Despite the trauma, Celina - who talks to God like a friend - accepts a new identity as Rose to stay by her father’s side.

Their journey stalls in Fineman, a fading town where Jerry finds work at a diner owned by Oli (Chandra West). For a moment, Jerry and Celina find the semblance of a real home. However, Celina’s desire for a normal childhood leads her to a local church, where she is spotted by Max (Joe Morton), the town’s new sheriff.

A fellow Iraq veteran struggling with his own demons, Max bonds with Jerry over shared war stories, unaware of the man’s true identity. But as DNA evidence from the river reaches the media and a digitally aged photo of Celina goes viral, Max begins to suspect that his new friend is a fugitive.

Torn between his duty and his empathy for a fellow soldier, Max confronts Jerry. Their meeting triggers an intimate, tense showdown over guilt, faith, and the violence they brought home from the war. As his refuge collapses, Jerry must make one final, devastating choice to determine Celina’s future - and his own.

In truth, one cannot watch this film and not be affected by the emotional impact it has long after leaving the theater. Badland is the type of powerful movie that longs to be discussed and debated.

The film is a disturbing view into the psyche of one man who returns from war beaten and broken. Jamie Draven gives an amazing performance as Jerry, the vet who returns home to a world as alien as the one he was fighting in. His tormented soul struggles to fit back into society, only to find that he is truly lost.

The music is haunting in its simplicity and underscores the torment of Jerry’s character (the soundtrack is actually included here, and rightly so, as its very own audio CD). The panoramic vistas seem to add a sense of normalcy and serenity to an otherwise harsh and brutal subject matter and they seem to enhance Jerry’s yearning to find peace and redemption.

In closing, Badland is a character-driven drama exploring war’s long shadow and a father’s last chance to break a cycle of violence.

LIMITED EDITION BONUS CONTENTS:
Francesco Lucente (Director) and Carlo Varini (Cinematographer) Audio Commentary
English Trailer
German Trailer
Jamie Draven Interview
Joe Morton Interview
Joe Morton Music Video - Devils Lonely Fire
Grace Fulton Audition
Cast / Crew Epk 1
Cast / Crew Epk 2
Makeup VFX Documentary
Music Epk
Delete Motel Scene
Deleted News Report Scene

Soundtrack CD - Tracklisting: Ludek Drizhal - War; Ludek Drizhal - Dusty Road; Ludek Drizhal - Jerry’s Theme; Ludek Drizhal - Nora’s Theme; Ludek Drizhal - Betrayal Pt. 1; Ludek Drizhal - Celina’s Theme; Ludek Drizhal - Snowy Hill; Ludek Drizhal - Betrayal Pt. 2; Ludek Drizhal - Running Away; Ludek Drizhal - River Crossing; Ludek Drizhal - Grand Land; Joe Morton - Devil’s Lonely Fire; Ludek Drizhal - Sherrif’s at Farm; Ludek Drizhal - Jerry’s Confession; Ludek Drizhal - Nothing’s There; Ludek Drizhal - Playground; Ludek Drizhal - Max’s Arrival; Ludek Drizhal - Sheriff Karl; Ludek Drizhal - Jerry’s Forgiveness; Ludek Drizhal - Max & Celina; Ludek Drizhal - Phonecall; Ludek Drizhal - Max Drunk; Ludek Drizhal - Max Awakens; Ludek Drizhal - Road To Crucifixion; Ludek Drizhal - Crucifixion.

Official Purchase Link