The star-studded 2016 Western dystopia, The Bad Batch, features comic legend Jim Carrey in a truly unrecognisable role.
This ‘mind-bending’, under-the-radar thriller – now on Netflix – was directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour and stars Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves and Suki Waterhouse.
The synopsis reads: ‘Banished to a wasteland of undesirables, a young woman Arlen (Suki) struggles to find her feet among a drug-soaked desert society and an enclave of cannibals (including Jason and Keanu).
Nestled within this ‘unflinching’ social commentary is the 62-year-old Hollywood star who is widely beloved for his string of famed comic roles from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas to The Mask.
Jim has also shown his prowess in dramatic roles such as The Truman Show for which he won a Golden Globe and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for which he landed a BAFTA nomination.
Boasting a cinematic past filled with plenty of original and subversive characters, it’s hard to find something the actor hasn’t tried his hand at. But this unearthed role might just be his wildest, and most unexpected, yet.
In The Bad Batch, the actor plays an unnamed role as the Hermit – a minor, and easy-to-overlook, character.
A silent observer wandering the desert with an empty shopping trolley, his rugged and subdued appearance deftly disguises the larger-than-life Jim we all know so well.
In fact, his cameo could easily be missed by those not sure to keep an eye out for him.
Talking about offering him the role, Ana told LA Weekly: ‘When he opened the door, he had this full beard like the character, and I had goosebumps,’ per the Playlist.
His performance was commended by IndieWire, who wrote: ‘The role stands out as one of the most exciting actor transformations in ages, in part because it’s a reminder of what can happen when he pushes beyond his default mode.’
The publication added he ‘once again ventures into fresh terrain, pushing beyond the boundaries of anything he’s done before to portray a wizened, world-weary figure…’
The post-apocalytpic film has divided critics over the years, settling at a humble 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, with some reviewers criticising the lackluster plot and poor direction.
As put by Slash Film: ‘Despite a promising start, The Bad Batch runs out of gas about halfway through, and spends the rest of its time meandering through a halfhearted narrative.’
Elsewhere, TheWrap called it a ‘confusing saga’, adding it ‘feels less like a coherent film and more like a pastiche.’
But, others were left more impressed.
The New York Times described it as a ‘a messy, sunbaked pop-culture cobbler’ which is both ‘a bummer and a blast’.
‘You may wonder what the heck you’re looking at, but that’s kind of the point,’ the reviewer adds.
The Globe and Mail echoed the praise, adding: ‘It’s a trippy, sun-scorched apocalyptic horror film with a rom-com finish that gets as bloody, visceral and cannibalistic as its U.S. R rating will allow.’
As you make your own mind up about which side you land, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the one and only Jim.
Most recently, the actor has appeared as the voice of Dr Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, with the third film set to come out later this year. He stars opposite
The Bad Batch is available to watch on Netflix now.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : The Acolyte’s cancellation proves TV is in peril
MORE : Billie Piper fans bewitched by star’s transformation in ‘new obsession’ Netflix series
MORE : Creator behind Netflix’s ‘biggest show of 2024’ owns 0% of it
