Nick Cage adds another acing credit to his long list, his third film this this year. Taking the reigns as a criminal that’s at the wrong place at the wrong time, he gets to tear the ghost filled world apart. The action runs high in Prisoners of the Ghostland even though, his body gets another beating. And thanks to notable director Sion Sono the movie becomes a rollercoaster ride through hell.
The future world of Japan has gone mad with devastation causing groups of people to rule their own cities and villages. Wanting to grab what they could get, Hero (Nicholas Cage) and Psycho (Nick Cassavetes), with blazing guns, charge into a bank causing complete chaos. About to get away with the loot, Psycho thinks he notices a gun and things end in a melee with only Hero getting arrested.
Taken before The Governor (Bill Moseley) of the land, he offers Hero a deal. He wants to find his granddaughter Bernice (Sofia Boutella) who went missing from his village and if Hero can bring her back to him within five days, The Governor will set him free. There is a codicil to this offer however, he has to wear a special outfit that’s locked to his body. The tightly fitted suit has special explosives that will go off it he doesn’t bring Bernice back and before the time runs out.
Japanese Director Sion Sono, known for films laden with chaos, killing and bloody scenes like; Why Don’t You Play in Hell?, Tag, Suicide Club, Tokyo Tribe and many more (go to YouTube to watch the trailers so you get my meaning). He starts his film off with a bang and “treats” his high energy thriller fans with a pretty cool story that moves along at a fast pace. His sets and locations are perfect for this film showing a Japanese brothel harem city filled with captive young ladies who are at the whim of The Governor, and a nearly decimated ghost haven that serves as a hell for the toxic homeless. While it’s not a dystopian world, it may as well be. If you like films like Mad Max: Fury Road, Snowpiercer or Resident Evil then this is your cup of tea.
A lot of Nick Cage films find him in various precarious situations and this one is no different. It is very questionable as to why he takes on these roles, because in some cases they are very demining to his ability as a fine actor. Here, he portrays a hapless criminal who for the sake of his freedom and to thwart instant death, he takes on the punishing and sometimes comical circumstances. But, that said, he does a terrific job of pulling off the role of Hero making the film work. It’s actually a lot of fun to watch Nick take a beating and even get a few things blown off of his body in the process.
Prisoners of the Ghostland has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains language, sexual innuendoes, violence and disturbing images. The film also includes a reference to the Hiroshima, Japan atomic bomb. The film has a target audience of males over 17 to early 30’s, especially fans of thrillers and dystopian films.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Nick Cassavetes, Bill Moseley, Narisa Suzuki
Tak Skaguchi, Grace Santos,
Directed by: Sion Sono
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, language, sexual innuendoes, violence,
Running Time: 1 hr. 43 min.
Opening Date: September 17, 2021
Distributed by: RLJE Films
Released in: Theaters, VOD and Digital
