Warning: Spoilers ahead for Land of Bad.

Summary

• Packet's negligence almost gets Kinney killed, highlighting the importance of discipline in war movies.
• Hashimi serves as a traditional villain in Land of Bad, challenging Kinney and adding tension to the story.
• Reaper's refusal to advance in rank showcases the consequences of leadership decisions, affecting the mission's success.

Liam Hemsworth's best war movies of all time are renowned for their iconic bad guys, so there's no denying that a compelling antagonist can be vital within the genre. Land of Bad is quietly aware of this important factor for an effective war movie and has taken a creative approach to the trope that adds another layer to the story.

Hemsworth helps lead the Land of Bad cast as Sgt. JJ Kinney, alongside Russell Crowe's Eddie "Reaper" Grimm. Both men are in remote throughout most of the movie's events, with the latter assisting the former to navigate hostile terrain after a failed mission in the Philippines results in Kinney being stranded and alone. However, while Kinney comes face-to-face with the movie's main antagonist, Reaper is also quietly fighting a battle back in Las Vegas.

Colonel Packet's Behavior In Land Of Bad Is Surprisingly Unprofessional

Packet's negligence almost gets Kinney killed

Played by Daniel Maherson, Colonel Duz Packet puts Kinney's life at risk almost to the same degree as the movie's terrorist leader villain. As the ranking officer at the Las Vegas military installation, part of Packet's job is to make sure his troops conduct themselves with an air of discipline and professionalism. Instead, everyone but Reaper and his partner are more concerned about being able to watch basketball on TV, being largely unconcerned with the possibility of missing vital phone calls.

Packet does have occasional bursts of doing things by the book.

While Packet does have occasional bursts of doing things by the book - like checking Reaper's alertness before granting him a shift extension - the colonel is dangerously negligent and lazy throughout Land of Bad. If it weren't for the atmosphere he put in place, his men wouldn't have been quite so nonchalant about answering the phone - or even allowing it to ring - which very nearly meant Kinney failed to call off the airstrike that would have killed him. For this reason, Packet could be viewed as the movie's secondary antagonist.

Land Of Bad's Main Villain Was Scary But Predictable

Hashimi is more of a traditional action movie bad guy

Robert Rabiah's Saeed Hashimi is a textbook war movie villain, but it doesn't detract from how terrifying he is. His violent acts against innocent villains and enemy soldiers alike place him on high as Land of Bad's primary bad guy. However, it's no surprise that he's so nightmarish, as movies in this genre often have figures in place with similar motivations. He's a huge obstacle to overcome and escape, which Kinney is arguably very lucky to be able to do. Interestingly, the expectation of Hashimi's evil deeds highlights how reckless Colonel Packet is too.

With the US military fighting an enemy like Hashimi, discord in the ranks can be the difference between life and death for soldiers in the field.

With the US military fighting an enemy like Hashimi, discord in the ranks can be the difference between life and death for soldiers in the field. So, that's why Packet's conduct is so surprising and unnerving. His blasé attitude to Kinney's scenario makes him a danger to the mission's success, which had already included the loss of other operatives and had an ongoing risk of overall failure. That being said, Packet's demeanor makes Land of Bad a much more entertaining watch, increasing tension and creating more problems for Kinney and Reaper to solve.

Packet's Military Position Highlights Reapers Refusal To Be Promoted In Land Of Bad

Reaper has opted not to advance beyond the rank of captain

Despite being much older than Packet, Reaper is outranked by the careless officer. Reaper's surprisingly low rank of captain given his lengthy military service is by his own choice, as he explains to Kinney during the movie. The ever-expanding family of Russell Crowe's character would place a financial strain on him if he was promoted any further, as he would lose his active duty bonuses. While Reaper's logic greatly benefits his personal life, it means men like Packet become leaders instead, and events like those in Land of Bad are made inexorably worse.

Reaper is clearly a much more committed officer than Colonel Packet, but has opted not to accept a higher rank that would better reflect his superior attitude and leadership abilities. The military needs men like Reaper in charge rather than Packet, and the movie demonstrates the negatives of the specific scenario that has unfolded as a result of Reaper's commitment to remaining a captain. If Reaper had a rank more suited to his age and level of experience, Kinney's life may never have been at risk of losing his life due to the air of negligence in Land of Bad.