The Bad Batch 2

Overview

Ana Lily Amirpour returns with The Bad Batch 2, the gritty, hallucinogenic follow-up to her 2016 cult hit The Bad Batch. Set in a dystopian wasteland outside the bounds of civilized society, the sequel dives deeper into the lawless zone where outcasts, cannibals, and dreamers fight not just for survival—but for meaning.

Stylized, brutal, and uniquely surreal, The Bad Batch 2 continues to explore the fringes of humanity through a lens of striking visuals and haunting allegory.

Plot Summary

Years after narrowly escaping the cannibal settlement known as The Bridge, Arlen (Suki Waterhouse) has built a fragile new life in the desert, leading a group of exiles trying to carve out a peaceful existence beyond the reach of tyrants and traffickers.

But peace doesn’t last long.

When a new threat arises—an ultra-violent warlord known as “The Shepherd” (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) who seeks to unite the desert under his brutal vision—Arlen must return to the chaos she thought she left behind. With Miami Man (Jason Momoa) believed to be dead and The Dream (Keanu Reeves) missing, Arlen is forced to make alliances with unlikely allies, including a former enemy (Sasha Lane), to lead one last rebellion for freedom.

Cast & Characters

• Suki Waterhouse reprises her role as Arlen, now a hardened survivor and reluctant leader.

• Jason Momoa returns in flashbacks and visions as Miami Man, a figure of both violence and love.

• Keanu Reeves makes a mysterious reappearance as The Dream, his cult-like influence still lingering.

• Sasha Lane plays Remy, a rogue scout with her own secrets and agenda.

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II joins as the fearsome Shepherd, a warlord who believes the Bad Batch should be ruled with an iron fist.

Direction & Style

Ana Lily Amirpour once again delivers a visually hypnotic, genre-bending experience. The film blends spaghetti westerns, psychedelic road movies, and dystopian survival tales into a bold artistic vision. Sweeping desert landscapes, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and long, silent sequences speak volumes without words.

Themes

• Redemption in a lawless world

• Freedom vs. domination

• The price of survival

• What defines humanity in a broken system

Production Highlights

• Filmed in Mexico and southern California’s deserts

• Minimal use of CGI, with emphasis on practical effects and immersive sound design

• Score by electronic artist Mica Levi, blending industrial noise with tribal rhythms

• Costume design inspired by post-apocalyptic street fashion

Final Thoughts

The Bad Batch 2 is not just a sequel—it’s a raw, unfiltered exploration of identity, community, and chaos in a world where the rules are erased. With a powerful performance by Suki Waterhouse and stunning visuals, it continues Ana Lily Amirpour’s legacy of creating cinema that challenges, mesmerizes, and lingers long after the credits roll.