Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND [Sundance Film Festival 2021 - Virtual]

The mix of East & West is always an interesting balance depending on where the perspective comes from. "Prisoners Of The Ghostland" [Premieres] it seems was originally going to be directed somewhere outside Japan, according to the director in his intro, but an event (not the pandemic) created the essence of shooting in Japan on his own turf. In this way, "Prisoners Of The Ghostland" may have some Western leads but it integrates the aspects of samurai but also the aspect of the nuclear age and the essence of subjugation in certain ways. It has the basis of a Western town but with cars, cell phones and guns (and not in that order). In many ways, this is one of Nicolas Cage's more straightforward movies of late. His choices are always interesting and looks to work with interesting directors that cross the spectrum. Cage knows people have a certain expectation of sorts with him (even in independents which is where he started) but it is also, for him (as he has mentioned in the past) to subvert certain essence structures of those expectations. Between the leather suit and an early use of Elvis Presley's "Don't", the groundwork is laid almost in a Mad Max way but with maybe an original "Stargate" spin and a tinge of "Evil Dead" chicanery and body horror. This world doesn't exist in reality but indeed functions as an odd liberation and morality tale. The rumination of nuclear holocaust as a meaning for the Ghostlanders (considering it is Japan) is not lost. One image has Cage being rolled helpless in a cart with an image of a nuclear blast in his purview with a room filled with people dressed in porcelain all over their bodies. The melding of a gunslinger movie of sorts with mix of apocalyptic Old West imagery is a fun and distinctive choice. But also the music. Joseph Trapanese creates an interesting mix that both builds and underscores the action. The same can be said of Cage. There is an interesting bit of a plot device that forces him to keep calm in different ways which is an interesting modulation of his energy (another challenge of sorts). Musically, one scene integrates a Jim Croce song in a reverse Tarantino in a certain way and it works beautifully considering the scene it leads in from. Time is a curse in this land and yet it is also the lifeblood. Sofia Boutella, who is also doing interesting work including "Hotel Artemis" & "Atomic Blonde" plays Bernice who is the pendulum of the movie. Although she doesn't get that much to do (considering her talent), at one point, she swings literally into action and one wonders why they wouldn't have her do more. But it does make sense for the character. The film also allows Cage to bring some of his humor into the role which is sometimes harder with some of his thrillers and horror tinged films. The ending is also definitely satisfying. "Prisoners Of The Ghostland" is not a polished gem but a rough sparking ruby that delivers both fun, artistry and ruminations on themes that continue to be a cross-section of both East & West. B+

By Tim Wassberg