For us film critics, November and December are the busiest months on the calendar. It’s when studios and distributors send us their biggest movies of the year for awards consideration. So we go on a two-month cram session, watching every big or small awards contender before our voting deadlines. These are often more serious-minded movies. And after 15 or 20 in a row, you’re often looking for an escape. Enter “Predator: Badlands”.
Dan Trachtenberg continues to re-energize the Predator series with his third entry into the franchise. After two direct-to-Hulu hits (2022’s “Prey” and the animated “Predator: Killer of Killers” from earlier this year), Trachtenberg brings Predator back to the big screen with “Badlands”, and he doesn’t disappoint. His latest takes us to a new setting yet features the same feral action the movies are known for despite its surprising PG-13 rating.
The setting isn’t the only thing fresh about “Badlands”. Thematically, Trachtenberg takes his film in a slightly new direction, tapping into such themes as family strife, forging your own path, and finding the will to trust others. But fear not, “Badlands” serves up a steady diet of gritty action that fans will expect. And Trachtenberg leaves the door wide open for more of the traditionally ruthless Predator stories. Simply put, the franchise is in great hands.
On the distant planet Yautja Prime, a young Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is considered the runt of his Yautja Clan. His older brother Kwei (Mike Homik) tirelessly trains him, but Dek is never able to earn his chieftain father’s approval. Kwei tells Dek he can earn his place in the clan by traveling to the deadly planet Genna and hunting an unkillable beast known as the Kalisk. Dek eagerly accepts. But before he can depart, his father arrives and orders Kwei to kill his weaker brother. Kwei defies his father and is executed on the spot. But before he is, Kwei manages to seal Dek in their ship and launch him to Genna.
Genna is a planet of beauty and peril. It has lush forests and vast mountain ranges which Trachtenberg exquisitely captures. It’s also a planet where both flora and fauna can be a threat. The rage-fueled Dek immediately finds himself fighting for his life. But he gets help from the most unexpected source – Thia (Elle Fanning), a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who had her bottom half torn off during an encounter with the Kalisk. The comically cheerful Thia convinces the comically gruff Dek that she can be a useful “tool”. So he (literally) carries her with him on his hunt.
But creatures and plant life aren’t the only dangers on Genna. Thia’s synthetic sister, Tessa (also played by Fanning) leads an army of androids from Weyland-Yutani’s bioweapons division to capture the Kalisk for the company’s own nefarious purposes. This puts them at direct odds with Dek and Thia, setting up the film’s second-half conflict which is loaded with sci-fi action of all sorts. We get a little bit of everything from primal combat to giant creatures versus mechs. And of course there are the Predator favorites – shoulder-mounted cannons, triangulated laser sights, retractable blades, etc.
“Badlands” takes the series in a unique direction by having a Yautja become a protagonist rather than the antagonist. It also injects a healthy dose of humor, much of which is implemented well. Most of it comes through Dek and Thia’s oddball partnership (you can’t help but laugh as he carries her around on his back as Luke Skywalker did Yoda on Dagobah). Less effective is an indigenous CGI creature dubbed Bud who is a bit too cutesy and who visually stands out against the otherwise extraordinary digital effects.
But again, the franchise faithful shouldn’t worry and no one should give air to the knee-jerk negativity on social media. “Badlands” offers a new kind of story within the Predator universe that adds more depth and dimension to its eponymous hunter than we’ve ever seen. Yet it doesn’t forsake the sheer ferocity and (in some cases) brutality that has been a signature of the series. “Badlands” doesn’t come close to reaching the heights of the 1987 original. But to Trachtenberg’s credit, he doesn’t try to. He simply shows there are a variety of stories to tell within this growing franchise. And I’m thrilled that he has the keys to it.
VERDICT – 4 STARS
Keith & the Movies 
Awesome review Keith
Thanks! I appreciate that.
I’ll give it a go when it streams.
It’s a lot of fun. A little lighter in tone but full of cool action. I think you’ll enjoy it. Should stream on Hulu eventually.
Good review, Keith. I wondered if it could stand up to previous movies in the franchise. I haven’t seen the animated one, but I think it’s on netflix. Should I?
Oh I loved the animated one. I think I gave it 4.5/5. It’s brilliant. And it’s streaming on Hulu.
Simply put, the franchise is in great hands.
If this is on the same level as Prey, I have to disagree. Now, I haven’t seen Badlands yet, so I won’t knock it directly. But Prey? Prey was weak, Prey was “feelinz”, Prey was not what I wanted. So if Badlands goes the same route, even if it’s a decent movie, that’s not nearly good enough for a Predator movie.
Plus, after watching both AvP movies, I’m very concerned about them bringing Wayland/Yutaani connections. AvP was the lowest of the low for the Predator franchise and I do not want to go back there, never, never, never…
I liked “Prey” and loved the more brutal “Killer of Killers”. This falls somewhere in the middle. For me, I didn’t mind Prey’s direction especially considering where the franchise seemed to be.
Yeah, the less said about The Predator, the better 🙂
RIGHT? LOL
I hope to see this when it arrives on streaming as it does look cool. Besides, I’m seeing another film that you reviewed (which I have not read) tomorrow.
I’m guessing it’s DIE MY LOVE?
Yep. Review coming Tuesday at the latest.
I saw this movie earlier today and I loved it. I love the fact that Dan Trachtenberg’s been swinging for the fences with his Predator movies and they’ve all been good. I think they could’ve toned down the humor just a tad here and there, but I still loved the dynamic between Dek and Thia. I want to see more of those two. Seriously. I can see how this movie would turn some die-hard fans off, but even with the PG-13 rating, this movie pushes it to the absolute limit, despite the fact that there are no human characters involved whatsoever. The violence is as savage as anything you’ll see in the other movies. Also: Swords are always awesome. I loved it, and the music by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch is AMAZING. It’s also a gorgeous film to boot. The cinematography is great, and I would love to see more of Yautja Prime.
I agree with everything you said. I had high hopes for it and it managed to exceed my expectations. Looks like it is doing really well at the theater so I can see his third live-action film getting the green light pretty soon.
It’s funny: 20th Century Studios’ two big tentpole science fiction franchises were on life support not even 10 years ago, and now they’re in a better situation than they have been in decades. Alien with Romulus and Alien: Earth, which I LOVED by the way, and Predator with Prey, Killer of Killers and now Badlands. 20th Century Studios has been killing it(pun intended)over the last 4 years. I never thought that this was possible when Disney bought 20th Century Fox. Yet, here we are. Who knew?
I really liked Romulus but haven’t seen Alien: Earth (I don’t do many series). Sounds like it’s worth seeing?
Alien: Earth is worth seeing, and it’s only 8 episodes. It’s not perfect, but it expands the universe quite a bit and better than how Prometheus tried to do it. So, yeah, Predator and Alien are in a pretty good place right now, and I can’t wait to see more from either franchise.
Good recommendation Keith. just saw it earlier with my son (his first predator movie) and it was a blast like you said in your previous post. A unique direction indeed, and great mishmash of inspiration (Prometheus and Star wars came to mind) and a thundering soundtrack.
I agree. Looking forward to seeing it again. What did you son think about it?
He’s 14 and is more into Minecraft stuff. But he said that it was very well made.