Prisoners of the Ghostland

Bitters End | Release Date: September 17, 2021

3.8	USER SCORE Generally unfavorable reviews based on 28 Ratings

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User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

NeowufSep 20, 2021

Im a fan of Nicolas Cage, but everything else in this movie is really bad. Its like a thousand directors talking at same time making the script, in the end, the movie is blockbuster wanna be. Uncanny and not in a Nicolas Cage way, in a cringe way.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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BubberSep 19, 2021

It's a very strange movie, but unfortunately not in a good way. They should probably have made it into an anime instead of a live action movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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JLauOct 5, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a weird Japanese-western alternate universe and a girl has gone missing in the wasteland so they send out detained bank robber Nick Cage in an suit that will explode within five days if he does not find her.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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TheQuietGamerNov 23, 2021

An intriguing pairing of Nicolas Cage and one of Japan's most notoriously wild directors that seemed poised to be the next Mandy. Playing out like a live-action oddball anime, this samurai western black comedy can certainly be delightfullyAn intriguing pairing of Nicolas Cage and one of Japan's most notoriously wild directors that seemed poised to be the next Mandy. Playing out like a live-action oddball anime, this samurai western black comedy can certainly be delightfully strange at times. Yet, what keeps it from reaching the same heights as other of the Matchstick Men star's wackier outings like, say, Willy's Wonderland is that its peculiarity is really all it has to offer.

Sion Sono was intent on packing every scene with as many eccentric sights as possible, so there's always something interestingly bizarre to look at and I was left consistently impressed by his ability to direct such elaborate clutters of madness. The vast majority of it though occurs without meaning. An enticingly goofy opening gives way to a lengthy middle portion where the plotting hits a brick wall and only a few noteworthy moments can be found (all of which involve the lead's ballsack), before eventually picking up again in the action-packed finale. This causes the curious flourishes and outlandish visuals to often feel like filler content designed to pad out the length rather than anything of actual significance. Particularly inspired filler, but filler nonetheless.

If you're like me and check out Cage's work just to see whatever kind of ridiculous crap he's getting up to next, you'll get a sense of satisfaction out of knowing you watched what may very well be the weirdest release of his career thus far. It's weirdness without substance however so its staying power compared to his modern successes such as Color Out of Space is limited. Perhaps even being one of the more forgettable entries in his catalog overall, outside of the one or two instances where it delivers some of the most memorable Cage-isms to date.

6.6/10… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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HabibiehakimSep 22, 2021

7.5/10
I really really wanna give the movie a higher rating than Nicolas Cage's previous movie, Pig, but it is what it is, unfortunately at in the end, the movie still cannot reach that point, but did i still prefer Pig than this?, No,7.5/10
I really really wanna give the movie a higher rating than Nicolas Cage's previous movie, Pig, but it is what it is, unfortunately at in the end, the movie still cannot reach that point, but did i still prefer Pig than this?, No, because somehow someway Prisoners Of The Ghostland is simply a better movie, and besides all of that, Prisoners Of The Ghostland is strongly perform by Nicolas Cage and Sofia Boutella, the color, the cinematography, special effect, and Japan as always been a perfect location, Prisoners Of The Ghostland still delivers a good action packed, not perfect in the storytelling and that's the big issue in the film, but it's still worth watching, overall, Prisoners Of The Ghostland is pretty good.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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MetacriticOnurSep 17, 2021

bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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umaumaiMay 28, 2022

I’ve seen a lot of “films” trying to come off as high art. This was one of the most laborious things I’ve ever watched. I don’t mind the setting, visuals, the FX or the acting, but it needed to be filmed significantly better, and have a lessI’ve seen a lot of “films” trying to come off as high art. This was one of the most laborious things I’ve ever watched. I don’t mind the setting, visuals, the FX or the acting, but it needed to be filmed significantly better, and have a less “video” aesthetic, for it to earn how pompous it was coming off. It’s not horrible and at many times it was entertaining and different. However, it was trying way too hard to be different for the sake of being different. It has a story, but it’s more stream of consciousness how it gets from place to place as the plot moves forward. There might be higher meaning in a lot of the dialogue that is spoken, but it’s lost in the silly chanting and antics that are happening in every other scene. I swear it was like a cast of people try to out “Nicolas Cage” the actual Nicolas Cage.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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RichardSayreSep 30, 2021

Nic Cage is at it again with the out of this world PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND, a movie best enjoyed when you throw questions out the window and hold on for dear life. Its **** crazy, bonkers, trippy, dream-like, and pretty action packed. ANic Cage is at it again with the out of this world PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND, a movie best enjoyed when you throw questions out the window and hold on for dear life. Its **** crazy, bonkers, trippy, dream-like, and pretty action packed. A mash up of Mad Max and everything that makes Sion Sono so great, PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND definitely isn't for everyone, mainly Sono and diehard Cage fans, but its most certainly unlike anything you've seen before. It relishes in the weird and the movie is that much better for it. Easily the weirdest movie of 2021. Cage delivers another delirious performance.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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imthenoobApr 11, 2022

Made it about 20 minutes in and I shut it off. The movie is honestly pure garbage. The plot is total nonsense, The "acting" is laughable at best, and I truly could not click out of it fast enough.