Land of Wolves: More Online Bloodsport

In real life, rich people buy sportscars and yachts, which supports a lot of high-paying manufacturing jobs. They also might invest in companies (also good for the economy), buy fine art, and maybe just enjoy the lap of luxury. However, in exploitation films and Squid Game rip-offs, they wager on illegal dark web bloodsport competitions. Seriously, you would think there needs to be an entire law enforcement agency devoted to this phenomenon. Honestly, centuries from now, historians will assume this was the greatest anxiety of the 2020s. Unfortunately, a team of former SEALs do not know this is exactly what they are walking into in Tommy Jackson’s Land of Wolves, which releases tomorrow on VOD.

Marcus is not eager to go back out into the field, but he reluctantly agrees when Briggs tells him he may have located their missing comrade, Knox. They will hit the industrial-looking former church complex, way out in the middle of nowhere Mexico, with Wade and Jace, while their old CIA associate, Anderson provides remote overwatch.

However, nothing goes to plan, unless it is the bad guys’ plan. Cut off from the outside world, the ex-SEALs are forced to fight in yet another online gladiatorial game, while the “Illuminati” watch and place their bets. Ostensibly, the imposing “Butcher” runs the show. Yet, they soon learn Knox has gone Heart of Darkness, embracing the brutal fights, because of his sick new ideology.

Obviously, no real SEALs were involved in this production, because they would never allow the “Brotherhood” to be depicted in such a way. The ranks of the not-so-secret villains also include high-ranking American military and CIA officers. Consequently, the patriotic looking key art really constitutes deceptive advertising. Instead of love or pride, this film only has cynicism and scorn for those who serve in our county’s military and intelligence services. Indeed, Jackson clearly portrays Marcus and his colleagues as suckers, who become psychos.

In addition to its anti-Americanism, Land of Wolves is also overwhelmingly brutal—and not in a spectacularly cinematic way, as is the case for gritty martial arts spectacles like Diablo. The cruelty is very grounded, which makes it rather unfun. Still, the fight scenes are impressive, in their way, because they are so unflinchingly fierce. This film was basically made by a crew of two, Jackson and producer Ivana Cipurko, who handled multiple additional production duties. Frankly, they were both probably working so hard, they lost sight of their primary goal: to entertain.

The basic premise of Land of Wolves has become such a familiar cliché, any new take really needs to show at least a small spark of inspiration. Instead, it questions the sanity of SEALs and the loyalty senior military and intelligence officers, which is a poor substitute. Not recommended, Land of Wolves releases tomorrow (6/19) on VOD.