Reviews of Bad Land 22

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  Page-turning Genre Mixer
  A review of Bad Land
  by splitframe on 03/24/2006
  Script was definitely a page turner. Writing style is strong and clear cut and you did an excellent job in mixing genres. I liked all of its elements from character, plot, story, etc... Clearly this is a well polished script, so I'll only mention a couple of story points--hopefully it may be of some use to you. One minor point: Instead of Jed fleeing the army to go to his... Script was definitely a page turner. Writing style is strong and clear cut and you did an excellent job in mixing genres. I liked all of its elements from character, plot, story, etc... Clearly this is a well polished script, so I'll only mention a couple of story points--hopefully it may be of some use to you.
  
  One minor point: Instead of Jed fleeing the army to go to his sick mother, maybe it could be for his infant/toddler son; the letter coming from his wife and he got there just in time to bury her too.... (it's a stronger reason for leaving and makes us feel greater empathy for him)
  
  One slightly bigger point: There is Sand Curly, Sand Ned, etc... I like the imagery in giving this creature a face, however it may get a little repetitive. I believe it needs to morph into something greater/larger then life in the third act... (I like the duel with Sand Hangman-- maybe he could morph larger then life out of the dust devil with Hangman, then morph into Sand Hangman when it encounters Jed on the street.)
  
  Overall, excellent job on the script, it was a pleasure to read. read
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  John Carpenter should make this!
  A review of Bad Land
  by cswood on 03/05/2005
  What can I say? This was an entertaining little gem of a horror flick in the style of movies like Predator and Pitch Black (and of course a few Carpenter films). I wasn't quite sure why Abby was so quick to trust Jed and Cante at the beginning, but that's about the only gripe I can make about the script. The writing is very curt and fluid, and never gets bogged down with chunky... What can I say? This was an entertaining little gem of a horror flick in the style of movies like Predator and Pitch Black (and of course a few Carpenter films). I wasn't quite sure why Abby was so quick to trust Jed and Cante at the beginning, but that's about the only gripe I can make about the script. The writing is very curt and fluid, and never gets bogged down with chunky dialog or descriptions. I liked all of the characters, especially Hangman's gang, since they get most of the funny lines. But the best thing is just that I've never seen a creature-feature set in the old West. And there is actually some sense of intrigue behind the creature (the speculation of why it's doing what it's doing never bored me). There isn't much else I can say past that. It was funny, witty, and well done. Recommended. read
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  Promise Unfulfilled
  A review of Bad Land
  by MagnoliaMoon on 02/28/2005
  The setting is familiar, the characters one-dimensional, the plot superficial and also very familiar (alien force escapes its containment, becomes a shape-shifter, goes on killing rampage - can be destroyed, however, by one simple element). Dialogue is fresh and believable in few instances. Unlike the crisp but visual, rapid-fire writing style, character development and dialogue... The setting is familiar, the characters one-dimensional, the plot superficial and also very familiar (alien force escapes its containment, becomes a shape-shifter, goes on killing rampage - can be destroyed, however, by one simple element). Dialogue is fresh and believable in few instances. Unlike the crisp but visual, rapid-fire writing style, character development and dialogue evidenced in this writer's previous work, Bad Land fails to follow suit. Description/action lines are so skeletal that the space taken up by the double spaces between them becomes a waste. Wholesale editing of superfluous action/description and condensing that which remains, could allow development of shallow characters and framework for a missing theme, expansion of the thin plot, the dialogue, the needed backstories of both Jed and Hangman. As it stands, Bad Land is a segment for "One Step Beyond" or "The Twilight Zone", in dire need of a merciless re-write, a re-focus. The good news? This writer has the talent to do so.. read
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  Genre Busting Pleasure
  A review of Bad Land
  by Valinn on 02/27/2005
  Everyone is always looking for "high concept." This is a great "high concept." Good writing: the descriptions keep me involved in the story and the western dialgue was perfect without getting camping (a risk with writing cowboy talk). Since I thought this was one of the better scripts on the site, I'll focus on what didn't work for me. The biggest thing: I didn't like the... Everyone is always looking for "high concept." This is a great "high concept." Good writing: the descriptions keep me involved in the story and the western dialgue was perfect without getting camping (a risk with writing cowboy talk). Since I thought this was one of the better scripts on the site, I'll focus on what didn't work for me. The biggest thing: I didn't like the beast taking the shape of a giant sandperson It put an image in my mind that you don't want: Staypuft Marshmellow Man. I promise, if this movie were actually on a big screen, I'm not the only one who will think it. It will not be scary--it will be silly. Do it once if it all. You can find more creative ways to kill your victims. Second, I had difficulty visualizing victims before we first see the sandmonster kill. You just write "bloody" a lot. Third, why water? Isn't every space beast vulnerable to water (See Signs)? Cliche. Finally, I don't understand the mythology behind this beast. Why is it invisible? How does it take the shape of victims? Why does it only use sand? Why not other things? Etc. The world you build must have consistent and reasonable rules or the reader will lose faith in the entire enterprise. Excellent start! read
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  Even popcorn monster movies need sympathetic, well-rounded characters or at least a monster that follows set of rules. In the best monster flicks, the creature doesn't just attack when things get dull. The actual writing is great, but I just did not...
  A review of Bad Land
  by Dunksta on 02/27/2005
  feel any of the characters were taking their predicament seriously. There was no mad terror or sense of dread. Tongue-in-cheek works best when characters don't know they're in a tongue-in-cheek film - e.g. Bacon and Ward in Tremors. I think you need to establish Jed's deserter back story earlier. The characters were thin and too many. As a result, I didn't feel anything when... feel any of the characters were taking their predicament seriously. There was no mad terror or sense of dread. Tongue-in-cheek works best when characters don't know they're in a tongue-in-cheek film - e.g. Bacon and Ward in Tremors. I think you need to establish Jed's deserter back story earlier. The characters were thin and too many. As a result, I didn't feel anything when they were consumed by the sand creature. They were all unlikable and brash hicks. I think you should populate your story with smarter characters. THe creature itself is complicated. I don't fully understand why it takes the sand form of people. What would it gain since the copies look nothing like the original? This seems like a gimmick. Does the creature think it can fool the humans with its replicas? I kept wondering can't it be a good ole fashioned monster that's allergic to water? By continually changing its appearance, you diminish its power to scare. The relationships need work. I never felt a sense of comrade between Cante and Jed till final scenes when Jed's wounded. Ditto with Jed and Abby, and the rivalry between Jed and Hangman seems tacked on. Characters lack emotional qualities and wants. Thus we are not moved emotionally. read
• 
  evil sand
  A review of Bad Land
  by bmadyun on 02/24/2005
  Nice intro. I thought it set up the story base well. I liked the characters, especially Jed, Abby, and Cante. Hangman was true to his character, but it would have been nice to see at least one redeeming quatlity in there somewhere. The story concept of the meteor monster in the sand in the old west was very creative and different. A couple of points of concern. I counted... Nice intro. I thought it set up the story base well. I liked the characters, especially Jed, Abby, and Cante. Hangman was true to his character, but it would have been nice to see at least one redeeming quatlity in there somewhere. The story concept of the meteor monster in the sand in the old west was very creative and different. A couple of points of concern. I counted five men killed on page 7 unless the "another rider" was both shot and hit with the hatched in the back. Ugly Man-shot, One Eye-knife in chest, Next rider-hatchet in neck. Page 61, should have been Sand Curly, not Sand Jeb. And page 77, should have been Cante speaking, not Butch (carrying the girl). There was good action from page 97 forward with the Hangman fighting the monster and Jeb shooting the meteorite bullets killing the monster. Overall, i enjoyed the script. read
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  SAND, GLORIOUS SAND
  A review of Bad Land
  by royfox on 02/23/2005
  Not a screenplay thats going to be breaking a lot of new ground, but it is pretty entertaining, well paced and at times funny. The basic premise is standard horror movie fare - a group of miscreants and misfits thrown together to combat the menace that is picking them off one by one.Throw into that a bit of buddy-movie banter, wild west action and one of the strangest monsters... Not a screenplay thats going to be breaking a lot of new ground, but it is pretty entertaining, well paced and at times funny. The basic premise is standard horror movie fare - a group of miscreants and misfits thrown together to combat the menace that is picking them off one by one.Throw into that a bit of buddy-movie banter, wild west action and one of the strangest monsters I've heard of in a while.The character Hangman says it best- "Well, I'm from Georgia, and we strive to get the hell out of town when some kind of sand thing comes after us". Pretty much somes up the plot.I would have prefered a slower reveal of the monster, but I don't think that hurts the story. The dialog is snappy and the description sharp, the story bounces along. The characters are interesting enough, though I found it a bit easy to guess where all the characters were going and who would survive and who wouldn't. Put simply, its classic popcorn movie stuff. I can't think I'd be complaining too much if I'd paid a few quid to see this one. Especially if they could pull the CG off and cast Owen Wilson as Jed.Just one point. Bad land? There must be a better title. Tells us nothing, sounds cheap.Btw, I love the last two lines. Very cute :) read
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  Bad Lands... not a bad read.
  A review of Bad Land
  by Brengunner on 02/20/2005
  Makings of a truly unique sci-fi. I still think you need a little polish; right now you have a really good B+ movie just screaming out to become an A+. Couple of minor notes: Consider changing Cante's horse's name to something that doesn't mean F*#k in Spanish, it's distracting. (Although giving Cante the Sioux name of Heart is a nice touch.) You have a couple of times when... Makings of a truly unique sci-fi. I still think you need a little polish; right now you have a really good B+ movie just screaming out to become an A+. Couple of minor notes: Consider changing Cante's horse's name to something that doesn't mean F*#k in Spanish, it's distracting. (Although giving Cante the Sioux name of Heart is a nice touch.) You have a couple of times when a Sand Jed appears and it is confusing as to weither you meant Sand Jed or some other Sand Character. I liked the water conceit, yet it made me wonder why it liked killing people who are basically all water. I liked your ending, but like many great horror genre flims, you have the opportunity to imply that more of these creatures may becoming with the shooting star scene. You may have intended that but didn't want to overplay it, but I think it would have heightened the danger if they saw the shooting star... they have the nice moment... then all of a sudden meteors strike striking all over. (Never crazy about people suggesting alternate ends to my films... but I just can't help it here!! LOL) Overall good structure, dialogue and story. You have interesting characters that manage to overcome their stereotypes. I encourage you to dig even deeper! Good luck. read
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  Bad Land Review
  A review of Bad Land
  by Lexey on 02/20/2005
  I like westerns and I like horrors -- what an original idea to combine these two genres. Good job! Your sparse writing style makes for an easy read, your characters come to life, your dialogue stays true to the genre, and your story held my interest. Now for my nit-picking (I always feel I need to give the writer their 2 credits worth) -- I found pg 61 confusing - SAND... I like westerns and I like horrors -- what an original idea to combine these two genres. Good job! Your sparse writing style makes for an easy read, your characters come to life, your dialogue stays true to the genre, and your story held my interest. Now for my nit-picking (I always feel I need to give the writer their 2 credits worth) -- I found pg 61 confusing - SAND JED. At first I thought it was a typo, then realized that it wasn't. This is one scene I could not grasp the visual. Up until this point the sand only recreated its victim's image (I found that believable), but I question your choice of recreating just anyone's image. Again this occurred on pg 98 with Hangman. Maybe others will have no qualms about this particular idea, but it doesn't feel right to me. Second, I feel if someone is bleeding from the mouth (written as an internal injury) they are a goner -- so I wouldn't have Jed's ( a burst of blood from his mouth) or Cante's (blood pooling from his mouth) injuries described as such. Last, pg 55 I think Jed's dialogue "MOVE!" should be O.S. That said, I enjoyed this SP - it was fun! GL with it. read
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  And you were saying...
  A review of Bad Land
  by dmellas on 02/18/2005
  So you've deliberately embraced every archetype that makes a B-movie, well, predictable and unchallenging. Still, the "old-school" rules can't be abandoned and you have to have a story in there somewhere. B-movies that become popular may be mindless and trivial, but something creative always holds some interest. When you, as the author, loose track of your own body count... So you've deliberately embraced every archetype that makes a B-movie, well, predictable and unchallenging. Still, the "old-school" rules can't be abandoned and you have to have a story in there somewhere. B-movies that become popular may be mindless and trivial, but something creative always holds some interest. When you, as the author, loose track of your own body count and the names of who is actually dead, I have to assume you didn't really care either. And just how many of his own men can Hangman blow away to make some obscure point before he has nobody left in his gang to lead. There is no rhyme or reason when Jed and Hangman can one moment trust each other and the next turn. One moment spit will kill a sand devil and the next a bucket of water will do no good. And considering all the water that turns up later, it's hard to justify the doom and gloom earlier - actually nothing follows anything. Jed and Hangman have a past but the story doesn't lead anywhere. read