Prisoners of the Ghostland is a 2021 New Old West action film starring Nicolas Cage and Sofia Boutella and directed by Sion Sono.
Nicolas Cage plays Hero, a man, who, following a botched bank robbery, is hired by a ruthless dictator known as the Governor to find his missing granddaughter, Bernice.
He is equipped with a suit that, should he fail to comply with the Governor's orders, will self destruct in five days.
This film provides examples of:
- Antagonistic Governor: The Governor, in case his name didn't give it away.
- Big Bad: The Governor, once again unsurprisingly.
- The Dragon: Yasujiro, the Governor's right-hand man up until he decides to pull a Hazy-Feel Turn.
- Faux Affably Evil: Despite the Governor's attempts at presenting himself as a kindly old man who's concerned for his granddaughter, the Governor eventually reveals himself to be a creepy old geezer who couldn't care less about Bernice.
- Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Hero and the Governor.
- Groin Attack: Twice. First, the Hero has one of his balls blown up and the second timeless when Yasujiro kicked him right in his one remaining testicle.
- Hazy-Feel Turn: Yasujiro grows sick and tired of the Governor after he is forced to execute Stella, but he still fights Hero in the final battle.
- Informed Flaw: We are told the ghosts have taken all joy and liveliness from the children of the Ghostland. In spite of this, and living in a nightmarish wasteland, they seem like normal, happy children.
- Madness Mantra: "Tick... tock... tick... tock..." Said as Yashiro executes a helpless Stella.
- Non-Action Big Bad: The Governor doesn't have any fighting skills, leaving all the heavy lifting to Yasujiro.
- World of Ham: It's not just Nicolas Cage hamming it up. Some of the minor characters and even the Governor like to chew the scenery from time to time. Even the aesthetic looks over-the-top.
