Predator: Badlands - A Cosmic Road Movie Redefining the Franchise
Predator: Badlands ventures into uncharted territory for the franchise, delivering a cosmic road movie across a perilous galaxy’s most dangerous planet. Under the direction of Dan Trachtenberg, the film features intense action sequences and inventive new monsters. However, notably, it feels surprisingly bloodless, a departure from traditional Predator gore.
This shift might come as a surprise to longtime fans, given the franchise’s iconic penchant for violence. Instead of rampant slaughter, the story centers on Dek’s quest to accomplish what seems impossible—winning his father’s approval and earning his own cloaking device—rather than brutal intergalactic battles.
Despite the restrained violence, Predator: Badlands still offers a thrilling space adventure, laced with humor, especially through the playful chemistry between Dek and Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani android he encounters.
Trachtenberg expands the franchise’s universe by weaving in cultural elements from the animated film Killer of Killers, adding depth to the Yautja lore. Dek stands out as a uniquely crafted character, not just another generic hunter. Yet, the film ultimately doesn't deliver the gritty savagery that the trailers hinted at.
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What is Predator: Badlands about?
Predator: Badlands follows Yautja hunter Dek, who aims to kill a monstrous creature called the Kalisk to prove himself to his clan on Yautja Prime. Success would grant him acceptance and a coveted cloaking device—all symbols of status within his species.
His journey takes him to the treacherous planet Genna, the galaxy’s most dangerous environment, where even the grass is razor-sharp. Unbeknownst to Dek, the ecosystem is meticulously designed to be deadly, making every step a threat.
On Genna, Dek meets Thia—a damaged Weyland-Yutani android (Elle Fanning)—who offers to help find the Kalisk in exchange for reunification with her robotic twin, Tessa. This sets the stage for a quirky, buddy-road-trip-like adventure.
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Hit the road, Dek
The Predator franchise has often included moments of humor to ease tension, and here, those moments are key to the relationship between Dek and Thia. She provides comic relief as the synth with a sharp wit, often questioning human behaviors with humorous curiosity—like the classic debate over whether a predator’s bite lands outside or inside its mouth.
These small moments make the pair endearing, even as their story attempts to explore themes of chosen family over biological ties. However, this sentiment is only marginally developed amid the chaos of monsters and action sequences.
The duo's journey gets an unexpected addition—a sidekick that sparks more adrenaline-fueled battles and inventive creature encounters, showcasing Trachtenberg’s creativity in designing horrifying monsters and otherworldly bugs.
In the climax, Dek demonstrates everything he has learned—engaging in intense combat on the dangerous planet. While the battles are visceral, the film overall doesn’t quite deliver the savage impact one might expect from the franchise.
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Predator: Badlands bares its teeth, but doesn’t have bite
It’s worth noting that the film’s lack of gore isn’t necessarily a flaw. Excessive bloodshed isn’t a hallmark of cinematic quality; however, traditionally, Predator films have been notorious for their brutal violence. Seeing Yautja opponents cut down without the expected crimson flow creates a somewhat less visceral experience, reducing the sense of weight behind their injuries.
Dek does kill many monsters—bleeding on Genna—but they don’t bleed visibly, making the kills feel less impactful. The violence, while still intense and exciting, lacks the visceral punch of previous entries.
An interesting choice is using Weyland-Yutani synths as human substitutes, which raises questions about the film’s stakes. Trachtenberg skillfully intertwines elements from the Alien universe without resorting to a full-blown crossover, but having synths as enemies diminishes some of the danger traditionally associated with the franchise.
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Is Predator: Badlands good?
While Predator: Badlands might earn praise for its theatrical release—fans would likely be upset if it had debuted solely on streaming—it does suffer from some predictable plot points and dialed-back violence. Nonetheless, it boasts sleek action sequences and surprisingly humorous performances, especially from Elle Fanning in dual roles and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who brings fresh energy to a role that could have been cliché.
Overall, Predator: Badlands is a fun, visually engaging entry into the franchise, even if it doesn’t fully capitalize on the savage potential the trailers teased.
Score: 3/5
Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7.