Netflix Viewers Are Just Discovering Dystopian Cannibal Thriller Starring Unhinged Jim Carrey In Serious Role

The movie in question is a dystopian cannibal thriller where Jim Carrey, known for his comedic roles, delivers a surprising and standout performance.

There’s something fascinating about seeing an actor known for comedy step into a dramatic role. 

Think of Kevin Hart nailing it in Fatherhood, or Adam Sandler’s intense turn in Uncut Gems.

Even Jordan Peele’s leap from comedy to creating Get Out was unexpected and brilliant.

These kinds of roles can lead to some of the most memorable films around.

This brings us to a film that has recently caught the attention of Netflix viewers, featuring Jim Carrey in a serious role alongside a stellar cast.

He plays a very odd hermit in the film. Neon

The movie stars singer-songwriter and actor Suki Waterhouse, and she’s joined by big names like Jason Momoa and Keanu Reeves in a dystopian world where cannibalism is part of the plot.

The story centers around Waterhouse’s character, Arlen, who is captured by a group of cannibals led by Jason Momoa’s character, Miami Man.

Yes, that’s actually his name in the film. Meanwhile, Keanu Reeves plays a character known as The Dream, and Carrey’s character is called The Hermit.

The names alone hint at the wild ride this film promises.

The film is titled The Bad Batch, and it was released back in 2016 by writer-director Ana Lily Amirpour.

One fan took to Twitter to express their surprise, saying: "I had no idea that Jim Carrey was in the movie Bad Batch his character is just so random. He’s an old man." 

Despite his character’s limited screen time, Carrey managed to leave a lasting impression, even though he only spent five days on set.

When the movie was first released, the reviews were mixed, but Carrey’s performance stood out.

Carrey is near unrecognisable in the role. Neon

Indiewire’s Eric Kohn praised him on Twitter, saying:

"Jim Carrey is amazing, and totally different, in The Bad Batch. Too bad he's not talking about it. He should."

Kohn also wrote an article at the time, highlighting Carrey’s captivating performance, though it was puzzling why Carrey wasn’t involved in promoting the film.

Kohn described Carrey’s character, The Hermit, as one of the film’s most memorable figures. 

The Hermit is a silent, nomadic man who roams the desert with a shopping cart and eventually rescues the film’s heroine, an amputee played by Suki Waterhouse, after she escapes from the cannibals.

It remains unclear why Carrey didn’t participate in the film’s marketing, but his role was undeniably one of the film’s few bright spots. 

A pre-fame Suki Waterhouse stars. Neon

Despite the intriguing premise, The Bad Batch didn’t fare well with critics.

The film holds a 45% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 5.2 out of 10 on IMDb.

Jordan Hoffman of Vanity Fair commented, "There's just not enough excitement or empathy in this movie to move past 'yes, this is gruesome, but I get it.'" 

However, not everyone shared this view. Andrew Pulver of The Guardian remarked, "The Bad Batch is expertly constructed and looks great."

For those interested, The Bad Batch (2016) is currently available to watch on Netflix in the UK.