Land of Bad: How dangerous is Sulu Sea in real life? Explained

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, Land of Bad, starring Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, and Luke Hemsworth, was released on Netflix. Following its release, the movie gained momentum among people with a knack for American war films such as this. It also gained significant traction among audiences in general, who do not mind a 114-minute watch.

Chronicling the lives of members of the United States Army Delta Force, the events of Land of Bad are predominantly based in and around the Sulu Sea, situated in the southwestern part of the Philippines.

Milo Ventimiglia's Master Sergeant John “Sugar” Sweet, Luke Hemsworth's Sergeant Abell, and Ricky Whittle's Sergeant Bishop are all deployed at this location. They are later joined by Liam Hemsworth's Sergeant JJ Kinney.

So, what exactly is the significance of this place, and does it have any real-life implications? As it turns out, the Sulu Sea, which is at the heart of the Land of Bad, has always been an area subject to significant turmoil. Be it kidnapping, ship hijacking, or other related criminal acts, the Sulu Sea has seen everything.

What is even more interesting is that these acts did not arise out of thin air in recent times but have existed since as early as the 16th century. For the uninitiated, the 16th century Philippines was a very volatile period in the country's history, as it was a period of unrest triggered by Spain's attempts at colonizing the country.

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The Sulu Sea in the southwestern part of the Philippines is still a place of unrest

The unrest in the Sulu Sea that began in the 16th century troubled the locals and people on the sea for years after it first came into prominence. It continued unregulated until as late as the 20th century. During this period, several violent criminal acts were committed, including piracy, kidnappings, and killings.

One of the most infamous incidents that led to the formation of a committee to regulate the activities of the Sulu Sea and its adjoining areas was the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff, also known as the Lahad Datu incursion.

In early February 2013, approximately 235 militants claiming allegiance to the Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo arrived in Lahad Datu on boats. They claimed that they had been sent by someone who had a claim on the Sultanate of Sulu. The conflict between the opposing forces persisted between February 11 and March 24 and led to several casualties on both sides.

The incident triggered the Malaysian authorities to tighten security near the Sulu Sea and its adjacent areas. The Malaysian government established a special force team called the Eastern Sabah Security Command, which has been regulating the activities of the location ever since.

Since then, the area has experienced a significant drop in the crimes committed; however, they are not non-existent.

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Are there any other streaming platforms where you can watch Land of Bad?

It has been some time since Land of Bad was made available for digital viewing. As previously stated, it was released on Netflix on July 18, 2024. However, Netflix is not the only OTT platform where the movie is available.

Land of Bad is also available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango at Home.

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Based on more than 250 reviews, Land of Bad has a positive score of 94% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes.