"Consider, for a moment, a lesser “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Now consider a greater “Southland Tales.” Now drive out, preferably on a clapped-out scooter or a souped-up golf cart, into the Saharan expanse of quality that still exists between those two things, find the exact midpoint and plant a flag for Ana Lily Amirpour‘s second feature “The Bad Batch,” a film that frustratingly contains a good, or at least a fun movie, without actually being a good, or a particularly fun, movie."
,- The Playlist (full review)
"Ana Lily Amirpour’s second feature shoots for Harmony Korine meets Mad Max and would have nearly almost hit the mark were it not for the gratingly aloof attitude and the swaths of directorial license being taken. The Bad Batch might come as music to the ears of diehard fans of films like Spring Breakers and Gummo. However, beneath its dazzlingly hip surface the script and characters leave much to be desired. It’s like taking a trip to Burning Man: a pseudo-spiritual, uniquely punky experience perhaps, but one that’s full of annoying rich kids and ultimately emotionally shallow."
&
"...and Jim Carrey offers a masterclass in subtle physical comedy..."
,- Filmstage.com (full review)
"Cannibals and Trump-style politics converge in Ana Lily Amirpour's striking but dissatisfying sci-fi mashup. To be fair, with its legion grindhouse references and deliberately glassy performance style, “The Bad Batch” isn’t necessarily out to touch the heart. But the film doesn’t exactly quicken it, either: the dreamy deliberation that Amirpour’s debut used to such tense effect doesn’t cast quite the same spell here."
,- Variety (full review)
As for my fellow movie-lover who was there. He texted me (translated from Flemish) :
"Seen it! Tons of ideas and some scenes that really look great and are thrilling. Aside from that, it lacks focus. She focussed on being hip. Many scenes go on for too long and people like Diego Luna are just there in the background, wouldn't matter at all if the supporting cast got replaced or not be there at all. Perhaps this is not the final cut? Her first movie was way better, less forced. The movie has no heart. But I guess you just want to know about Jim?
He has nothing to say in this movie, literally. Nothing. But he's fine with the physical stuff, classic Carrey but toned down a lot. He's not that important though. I know this was much anticipated by you, my friend. He wasn't here, btw."
, but in languages I don't understand. 
