Edee Holzer (Robin Wright) is a grieving woman who has tragically lost her husband and child. Her sister Emma (Kim Dickens) worries about her, and tries to get Edee to seek counseling, but Edee just wants to be left alone. Edee throws away her cell phone, packs up some basic supplies, and moves to a secluded cabin in Wyoming. Upon her arrival, she even has her rental car and U-Haul taken away, leaving her stranded on this mountain, in the middle of a forest, in a rundown cabin with no electricity, running water, heat or plumbing. She had packed some how-to books, and is determined to teach herself how to fish, hunt, and grow her own food, and how to chop wood to keep a fire going for heat. But as winter rolls in and her canned food supply dwindles to nothing, Edee discovers that she is in far over her head. However, there is something personal and important about this venture, and she is determined to see it through, even if it kills her….which is nearly does. But just at her moment of need, a stranger named Miguel (Demián Bichir) finds her. Edee is reluctant to accept help from anyone, even Miguel. But he offers to teach her some survival basics and then get out of her way. Edee agrees on the condition that when he visits he doesn’t bring her news from the outside world. And so this reluctant friendship forms between the two, and as Edee becomes more and more confident in her abilities, she also starts to open up about her grief, and let the world back into her life.

Land takes viewers on an emotional journey. Edee starts off as this broken, devastated woman who wants to shut out the rest of the world, keeping her grief bottled up and erupting into screams and fits of anger. At moments she feels it may just be easier to give up on life. But there is something about this cabin that connects her to her husband and son. The daily struggle just to stay alive also helps to keep her mind occupied, even if it is physically and emotionally draining. The film provides an interesting look at one woman’s attempt to survive alone out of sheer grit and determination, trying to will herself the knowledge and strength. Just when all hope is nearly lost, Miguel shows up like her guardian angel. He is a caring and selfless person who just wants to make sure she’s safe and healthy, and doesn’t want anything in return. He’s even willing to play by her rules. Edee tells him that she feels more alone in the big city around other people than she does living by herself in the cabin. But he is the human presence and connection she didn’t know she needed. Edee starts to build her confidence, and open up about her grief. The viewer isn’t initially given any details as to what happened to Edee’s family, but it is clear that she has suffered a great loss. She has flashbacks and dreams of happier times with her husband and child, and the first time Edee picks up a hunting rifle at the cabin, she starts to quiver. There is some dark past that she is keeping bottled up inside.

Land is star Robin Wright’s feature film directorial debut, and she’s pretty much in every scene. Much of the film finds Edee on her own, either struggling to physically survive the elements, or mentally deal with her grief. Wright delivers a raw and emotional performance. You can really sense the despair Edee is in at the beginning of the film, and especially feel it as she hits rock bottom, before she finally starts to change and let things go. While the film starts in tragedy, it has a very uplifting message of faith and hope. Demián Bichir also delivers a great performance. While Miguel has some emotional baggage of his own, he doesn’t let that prevent him from giving Edee the help she needs to aid in her recovery. He honors her wishes to just be her survival tutor, but he knows he is also serving a greater purpose in her healing process.

Land is a gorgeous looking film, and Universal’s Blu-ray release does an excellent job of capturing all of its breathtaking beauty. The film is presented in an unusual 1.66:1 aspect ratio, leaving some black bars on either side of the picture, but this quickly becomes unnoticeable. The film takes place over several years, across all four seasons. Whether its the white winter snow squalls, the spring flowers, the green summer grass, or yellow and orange fall leaves, the beautiful cliffs, trees, streams, and other natural landscapes are always captured in such great, colorful detail—it’s hard to believe the filmmakers shot this all in one location over the course of a single month! I couldn’t really find any flaw in the video presentation as I watched this film—I just wanted to be there in that breathtaking setting (though in a cabin with modern creature comforts and supplies).

The film’s score also goes on an emotional journey with Edee, starting off with a soothing but slightly somber score, but by the end of the film, the strings becomes much lighter, faster, and more uplifting. The Blu-ray soundtrack makes excellent use of the surround sound to bring the ambiance of nature into your living room. This is especially noticeable on Edee’s first night in the cabin as she hears lots of strange wild animal and bird sounds, thunderstorms, and dripping water overhead. There is also this jarring difference in the sound the first time we see a city after having been at Edee’s secluded cabin for so long. It is evident how much louder civilization is, with its revving engines and honking horns. It’s an interesting culture clash that is presented in an interesting aural way to get the point across.

Universal’s Blu-ray release contains a single disc packed in a standard HD keepcase with a slipcover. The case also includes a sheet with redemption instructions for an HD Movies Anywhere-compatible digital copy of the film, plus a bonus Universal All-Access Rewards points code that can be used for a free digital movie or towards other rewards. The disc also contains about 12 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes with the cast and filmmakers.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:28:51)

Blu-ray:
• 1080p / Widescreen 1.67:1
• Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, French 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, English DVS (Descriptive Video Service)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Digital (code may not be valid after 6/30/2022):

• HD digital copy redeemable via Movies Anywhere or Vudu
• Universal All-Access Rewards Code (Offer may not be valid after 12/31/2025)
  Code can be redeemed for points towards a free digital movie or other items in the new Universal All-Access Rewards program. The selection of free digital titles changes every month or so. The selections for May 2021 include Atonement, Milk, About a Boy, It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Notting Hill.

Extras:
Play All, or select from:

• Crafting Land (5:07)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about the evolution of the script, building the cabin in Calgary, capturing four seasons in just one month of filming, the casts’ survival training, the evolution of Edee, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with Robin Wright (“Edee”/director/executive producer), production designer Trevor Smith, producers Allyn Stewart, Lora Kennedy & Leah Holzer, star Demián Bichir (“Miguel”), and hair department head Jo-Dee Thomson.
• Rob Wright: Feature Film Directorial Debut (3:50)
  Rob Wright talks about why she wanted to make the film, and the cast and crew discuss what it was like working with Wright in the dual role of star and director. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with star Demián Bichir, co-writer Jesse Chatham, and producers Allyn Stewart & Leah Holzer.
• After the Trauma (3:19)
  The cast and filmmakers discuss Edee’s journey and decision to disappear from the rest of the world to live in the wild. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with stars Rob Wright & Demián Bichir, producers Allyn Stewart, Lora Kennedy & Leah Holzer, and co-writer Jesse Chatham

Final Thoughts:

Land takes viewers on a nice emotional journey with Edee as she deals with her grief and goes from shutting out the rest of the world, to slowly letting people back into her life. Robin Wright gives a strong performance, especially where a large part of the film she is acting on her own. The film looks and sounds great, with a very satisfying Blu-ray presentation. There isn’t a lot of bonus material included, but I found the interviews with the cast and crew to be interesting. I would definitely recommend checking this one out.