Scorched Earth (2018): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Scorched Earth is a 2018 action sci-fi film directed by Peter Howitt, starring Gina Carano as Attica Gage, Patrick Sabongui and Luvia Petersen. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Peter Howitt
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Cinedigm
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Scorched Earth About?
The premise of Scorched Earth without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In a devastated world plagued by toxic air and poisoned waters, bounty hunter Attica Gage seeks to capture Elijah Jackson, a dangerous outlaw. While infiltrating his gang, she encounters a young slave girl, prompting a reawakening of her own suppressed feelings. Gage is forced to question her solitary, survival-focused life and consider the possibility of finding redemption amidst the harsh realities of a ravaged landscape.
Scorched Earth Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gas mask
- silver
- environmental damage
- heavy rain
- storm
- lightning
- acid
- cowboy hat
- water
- silver mine
- mine
- mining
+38 more Show fewer
- abandoned mine
- dynamite
- dystopia
- near future
- dark future
- montana
- frontier town
- small town
- village
- beard
- sheriff
- power
- tyrant
- safe haven
- warlord
- doctor
- laboratory
- f word
- profanity
- impostor
- card game
- flashback
- scar
- disfigurement
- body armor
- greenhouse
- singer
- saloon
- horse
- coffin
- presumed dead
- abandoned ship
- abandoned boat
- shipwreck
- docks
- jail cell
- acid burn
- criminal
Scorched Earth Cast & Characters
Gina Carano leads the cast as Attica Gage, with Patrick Sabongui as Womack and Luvia Petersen as Chavo. Directed by Peter Howitt; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Peter Howitt
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Gina Carano as Attica Gage -
Patrick Sabongui as Womack -
Luvia Petersen as Chavo - Alisha Newton as Beatrice
Also Starring in Scorched Earth
· 6 more- John Hannah Doc
- Ryan Robbins Thomas Jackson
- Dean S. Jagger
- Stephanie Bennett Melena
- Nathan Mitchell Zee
- Sarah Troyer Young Gage
More from Peter Howitt
More films directed by Peter Howitt, best-rated first: Sliding Doors, Johnny English, Laws of Attraction and Antitrust.
Scorched Earth Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Scorched Earth 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 47/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in story & flow (35).
Scorched Earth Echo Score Breakdown
Scorched Earth suffers from inconsistent momentum and a modest production scope. While a few critics and viewers noted its engaging action sequences and effective world-building within a B-movie framework, many found the pacing draggy and the narrative lacking cohesion beyond its promising premise. Gina Carano's performance as a bounty hunter offers a focal point, though her talents are sometimes underutilized. Overall, the film delivers occasional thrills but falls short of sustained engagement.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of art and craft, Scorched Earth offers a credible post-apocalyptic environment through its production design and practical effects. Reviewers acknowledged the film’s effective world-building, with dusty landscapes and makeshift settlements. However, the low-budget cinematography and editing occasionally highlight resource constraints. Ultimately, the visual presentation remains serviceable but unremarkable.
- Character & Emotion 65
When it comes to character and emotion, the film centers on Gina Carano’s physical presence and fight choreography. Critics and viewers praised her commanding performance in action sequences, though some noted limited emotional depth and underdeveloped supporting roles. The chemistry among characters provides occasional engagement, but the character arcs lack substantial nuance. Overall, the performances register as competent yet restrained.
- Story & Flow 35
In terms of story and flow, Scorched Earth adopts a classic post-apocalyptic western structure that some found predictable. Reviewers cited a promising premise hindered by uneven pacing, with narrative momentum slowed by repetitive sequences. The plot coherence suffers from underdeveloped world dynamics and a lack of surprising twists. Consequently, the storyline feels patchy and underwhelming.
- Sensory Experience 50
When evaluating sensory experience, the film’s sound design and musical score complement its dusty aesthetic, though neither element stands out. Observers noted that ambient effects reinforce the desolate setting, but the soundtrack lacks memorable themes. The visual style maintains cohesion with its muted color palette, yet there is little in way of striking imagery. Overall, the sensory components are functional but seldom impactful.
- Rewatch Factor 40
In terms of rewatch factor, the film’s niche appeal limits its lasting engagement. Some viewers appreciated the B-movie charm and action beats enough to consider revisiting, but many found the uneven pacing and sparse character development diminished repeat viewing potential. While the premise offers intermittent entertainment, the overall experience lacks sufficient depth for enduring appeal.
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IMDb 4.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 20% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 41%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 32 Metascore
User score 4.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 53% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.6 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
Scorched Earth Plot Summary
What happens in Scorched Earth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the not-so-distant future, the world is reshaped by brutal climate upheaval called the Cloud Fall, where pollution and relentless mining have made large swaths of the Earth nearly unlivable. Water—delivered through purifiers known as tabs—and the precious metal silver, ground into the inside of breathing masks, become the era’s currency. Driving fossil-fueled vehicles is outlawed, and bounty hunting has flourished as people hunt for these scarce resources, often meeting grim endings as rewards are claimed dead or alive. Against this harsh backdrop, a formidable bounty hunter named Attica Gage, Gina Carano, moves with a relentless efficiency through a landscape of dust, ruins, and shifting loyalties.
Full summary
The whole story of Scorched Earth, scene by scene
Scorched Earth Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Scorched Earth.
How Well Do You Know Scorched Earth?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the outlaw who is building the shelter‑town called Defiance?
Cars in Scorched Earth
9 cars on screen, including the 1979 Chevrolet Blazer and the 1969 Dodge Charger.
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1979 Chevrolet Blazer Important role -
1969 Dodge Charger Important role -
GM K-Series Important role -
Mazda B-Series Important role
Scorched Earth Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “Обгорена земя” and “Spálená země”.
- Also known as
-
- Обгорена земя
- Spálená země
- Terra Queimada
- Tierra quemada
- Выжженная земля
- 스코치드 어스: 분노의 추격자
- 焦土之戰
- 焦土作战
- אדמה חרוכה
- Scorched Earth - Cacciatrice di taglie
- レッド・ハンター
Seen Scorched Earth?
Movies Like Scorched Earth
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Scorcher, Raiders of the Sun and Cold Harvest.
Scorched Earth FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Scorched Earth, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Scorched Earth?
Scorched Earth runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Scorched Earth released?
Scorched Earth was released on February 2, 2018.
Who directed Scorched Earth?
Scorched Earth was directed by Peter Howitt.
More films by Peter Howitt Who is in the cast of Scorched Earth?
Scorched Earth stars Gina Carano as Attica Gage, Patrick Sabongui as Womack and Luvia Petersen as Chavo, among 10 credited actors.
How is Scorched Earth rated?
Scorched Earth has 4.4/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 32 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.
Does Scorched Earth have a post-credit scene?
No. Scorched Earth has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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