PREDATOR: BADLANDS

Director
Dan Trachtenberg

Starring
Dimitrius Schuster-Kolomatangi
Elle Fanning

Following an initiation trial with his older brother, Dek [Schuster-Kolomatangi] sets his sights on an impossibly ambitious hunt to prove himself worthy of his merciless father’s approval. Arriving on the planet of Genna, Dek starts to track the supposedly unkillable Kalisk in an unbelievably hostile environment. Thankfully, pointing him in the right direction is the half disembodied synth unit Thia [Fanning]. But Thia and Dek aren’t the only ones hunting the Kalisk, and every living thing on this planet is out to stop them.

When Matt Reeves turned up to make two of the best Planet of the Apes movies, it was clear he was a perfect fit for an already well established (and at that point tired) franchise. In a similar way, Trachtenberg has now proven he is the voice that not only understands the Predator legacy but is driving it forward in the best way. Firstly with Prey, which stripped the formula back and put a unique spin on the concept to make it all feel fresh and engaging. Then he did it again with the animated Predator: Killer of Killers, expanding the lore and complexity of this previously antagonistic species. And now Predator: Badlands has taken a mountain of terrible ideas and setups from across several years and multiple mediums and expertly deployed them all. And I think the key is an immersion in 80s callbacks: big meathead action, buddy cop interplay, dystopian survival, and dark fantasy. We even get a creepy-cute alien sidekick that should tank the entire tone but ingratiates itself superbly.

Setting itself apart from previous on-screen outings, Predator: Badlands puts the character of the Predator (the Yautja) front and centre. And while so many sci-fi warrior cultures lose some of their mystique when you dig beneath the surface, this story roots itself in a very simple and sympathetic blood feud; which is brought to life magnificently by Schuster-Kolomatangi. While Dek’s goals are fairly uncomplicated, he is an emotionally broad and relatable character. And through an impressive combination of practical costuming and CGI performance work, Schuster-Kolomatangi is easily the most endearing and memorable Predator we’ve seen to date. This is, of course enhanced with Elle Fanning’s dual role as androids Thia and Tessa, giving us both viciousness and levity in a fantastically engaging way. But in terms of actors, that’s largely it, the film doesn’t oversaturate itself with countless personalities or competing side plots. What it does, however, is utilise a myriad of alien creatures and synthetic beings to give us one of the most violent and visceral experiences in a 12a/PG13 movie, as all of the blood we see is either neon green, white, or alien goop. Allowing audiences of a range of ages to revel in the carnage without clutching their pearls thanks to jets of claret.

Interestingly, from the opening scenes, the hand of Dune can be felt, namely in the film’s scope and sweeping vistas. But this doesn’t seep into the pacing or directorial beats, which retain their action franchise grounding. What’s more, thanks to the great pairing of practical and visual effects, the fairly modest budget is put to exceptional use, and we get a truly expressive predator, a bisected android, and a host of alien threats that entertain throughout. And topping off the technical achievements, the co-scoring from Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch (having both worked on respective Predator features) is highly engaging. Granted, it doesn’t get to the iconic heights of Schachner’s leitmotifs on Prey, but it makes a more than commendable and unique effort nonetheless.

What possibly surprised me the most was the film’s clean, straightforward, unobstructed narrative, arcs and themes – making Predator: Badlands an easy film to just watch, absorb, and appreciate. From the evolution of Dek’s character, to Thia finding her own strength, and the overarching attempts of striving in vain to impress abusive family members, it’s simply gripping. However, while this makes Predator: Badlands an unexpected but welcome amount of fun, it also means it suffers from similar issues as Alien: Romulus, in that its developments and twists could be construed as slightly facile or pedestrian. In other words, if you have even a surface level understanding of media literacy or narrative structuring, you’ll be able to predict the entirety of the plot from start to finish. Naturally, the question of how much that diminishes your experience will vary.

Similarly, all the references, tropes, and inspiration that Trachtenberg is calling upon, does limit the film somewhat. Rather than fully branching out into new exciting territory, we essentially get a familiar skeletal model with a Predator skin draped over it. Now, I’ll be the first to admit this works incredibly well and serves to reignite a trust and enthusiasm for this setting, but the trappings of what came before, limit what could be. My hope is that with a very likely sequel on the horizon, we get a bit more experimentation, a touch more daring ambition, and hopefully, an even greater hunt.

Release Date:
07 November 2025

The Scene To Look Out For:
Following a challenging hunt in the jungle, the trio of Dek, Thia and the tiny chimp-looking alien (affectionately dubbed ‘Bud’) are sat around the campfire. The bonding is awkward and slow but present nonetheless. And as the cultural clashes subside, some trauma-dumping takes place, and a few jokes squeak by, you are immediately hit by the reminder that this isn’t your average adult-rated Predator film. This movie is trying to appease and entertain older audiences and fans of the franchise, but it’s also trying to connect with younger viewers, in the same way that kids watching old westerns or Mad Max movies at a far too young age, would have had in the 80s or 90s. And once that epiphany hits, the rest of the movie, in terms of its tone and unspooling, makes complete sense.

Notable Characters:
Both Schuster-Kolomatangi and Fanning are phenomenal. Each in their own way, they are captivating and charming in equal measure. The chemistry between them, the dynamic and exchanges, they make for such fun viewing.

Highlighted Quote:
“Father calls me the weakest, so I must kill the strongest!”

In A Few Words:
“An exhilarating breath of fresh air for a once stagnant franchise.”

Total Score: 4/5

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