Phil Roberts 
Predator Badlands takes some big swings that don’t always land. But with a glowing performance from Elle Fanning and its exploration of Yautja mythology, the film is an epic hunt!
At long last, the Predator franchise returns to the big screen this week. After rejuvenating the franchise with the superb PREY, director Dan Trachtenberg expanded the sandbox with the enjoyable Predator: Killers of Killers. But now, the legendary Yautja is making its comeback on the big screen in the long-awaited sequel, Predator Badlands. Set in the future, with a Yautja as the protagonist and boasting many links to the Alien franchise, the film has a wealth of buzz going for it.
With Elle Fanning leading the human cast, and a score boasting the talents of Benjamin Wallfisch and Sarah Schachner, Trachtenberg is taking some bold swings to give fans something fresh. But is the fanbase ready to rally behind a Predator as the hero? Or is this hunt a narrative step too far for the iconic hunter?
REVIEW
Fear not, Predator fans, because Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator Badlands is an epic spectacle that takes us on a deep dive into Yautja mythology. It’s more sci-fi epic than a traditional Predator film, and takes some big swings that don’t always land, especially with its protagonist. But with a glowing performance from Elle Fanning, some epic production value, and its exploration of Yautja mythology, the film is a home run for the director. Despite its bold approach, however, legacy fans may be left disappointed with this outing.
Unlike its predecessors, the film doesn’t feature Alan Silvestri’s iconic theme, which was a deal breaker for me. And finally, the lighter-hearted approach feels more attuned to The Mandalorian than the Predator universe, which ultimately takes something away from the character. So, if you’re hoping for the brutal alien hunter from the franchise’s originators, look away now —this isn’t your film! In the end, the film delivers everything a massive sci-fi spectacle should. It’s bold, action-packed, and full of fun, but sadly, a lot of it feels out of place in this franchise.
YAUTJA LORE
To be clear, the exploration of Yautja mythology is a poisoned chalice in this movie. It’s a double-edged sword that expands the lore while eroding the mysticism built up over decades. One of the Predator’s biggest lures is its mysterious origins, so when Trachtenberg announced that Dek, the new juvenile Predator, was set to be the protagonist of his sequel, we knew this film was going to be a massive departure from previous entries in the franchise. On that point, the director succeeds. However, with greater exposure comes less mystery, and our understanding of the Yautja culture will be forever changed. As a result, Dek feels less like a Predator in this film and more like a generic alien hunter.
The opening moments introduce the young hunter, considered the weakest of his clan. In a society that culls its weakest members, this puts Dek in a precarious position. However, his duty-and honor-driven brother believes Dek deserves a chance to prove himself. With a trial ahead, Dek resolves to hunt the largest and most dangerous prey in the galaxy. But the sudden appearance of his father forces the duo into a confrontation that finds Dek ostracised to the most hostile alien planet in the galaxy.
BADLANDS
Until now, the film has all the hallmarks of a classic Predator movie. However, once Dek crash-lands and sets off on his quest to vanquish a creature renowned for being unkillable, any resemblance to a vintage Predator film gets thrown out of the window. This new direction will ultimately split the fanbase. Legacy fans looking for the next Schwarzenegger-esque slaughter fest are in for a disappointment, whereas newcomers and casual fans will be eating well with a true sci-fi actioner that delivers everything but the kitchen sink.
However, as a legacy fan myself, I spent the running time pondering when Dek would actually turn into a legitimate hunter like his predecessors. Sadly, he never does, and that is my biggest detraction. My best analogy is like watching Boba Fett’s badass return in The Mandalorian, then its tempered cousin in The Book of Boba Fett. It’s kind of what you wanted, but without the conviction and badass nature of its predecessors. That is Predator Badlands in a nutshell.
DIMOTRIUS SCHUSTER-KOLOAMATANGI
Taking on the unforgiving role of Dek is franchise newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who utterly dazzles in this film. Despite the restrictive costume, the actor delivers a performance of conviction through his body language and mannerisms. These subtle nuances give Dek greater character depth than any Predator to date, and the contemporary polish makes all the difference. We empathize with Dek and rally quickly around him, especially after his father’s betrayal. His youth and inexperience make him vulnerable, allowing the audience to connect with him on a deeper level, which is what Trachtenberg set out to achieve.
Connecting with this young Yautja isn’t the problem; in fact, the director achieved his goal a little too well, so much so that the sharp screenplay written by Trachtenberg and Patrick Aison goes a little too far to make him relatable. A point that gets hammered home when he meets the Weyland-Yutani Synthetic Human Thia, played by the brilliant Elle Fanning.
ELLE FANNING
In this film, Thia is designed to serve as Dek’s conscience as he continues his quest for validation, and Elle Fanning rises to the challenge, delivering a character of genuine depth. She is a new line of synthetics that feel emotions, so Fanning is afforded room to make the character as human as possible, just without the fragility. This quality makes Thia an excellent companion. Her innocence is captivating, allowing for subtle nuances in her character, as everything she encounters is new and exhilarating. Initially, her energy is off-putting, but as we understand the character better, we empathize with her and explore this new hostile environment through her perspective.
Similar to C-3PO in The Empire Strikes Back, Thia has lost her legs in a battle with Dek’s quarry and offers to assist him on his quest in exchange for her safe return to her team, led by her synthetic sister, Tessa. As a result, Dek sets aside his traditions, which dictate that a hunter must complete their quest alone, and agrees to take her along for the journey. This decision marks the beginning of the erosion of Dek’s character. Once this rule is broken, all the Predator rules of engagement become open to interpretation, and Trachtenberg bends them to fulfill his vision.
THE QUEST
From here, the film settles into a buddy road movie with Thia and Dek relying on each other to make it through the killer terrain. There is a treasure trove of monstrous creatures to slay, and some hostile conditions to overcome. But together, Dek and Thia turn into an incredible team. Along the way, they add to their party with a cuddly critter designed to be the next Baby Yoda (Grogu), which quickly adopts Dek into its clan, and all the traditions and tropes associated with the franchise are either banished to the sidelines or adapted to suit the screenplay. While this direction will once again divide newcomers and legacy fans, it makes for one helluva exciting adventure, one that deserves to be enjoyed.
WETA WORKSHOP
Weta Workshop and Studio Gillis have delivered some incredibly ferocious monsters for this film, and they make for thrilling opponents for Dek to combat. The visual effects/creature studios also helped craft the film’s special and practical effects, and they have never been better. From the creature designs to intricate work designing Dek’s mask and facial expressions, the Yautja have never looked as realistic as they do here. Trachtenberg even brought in the linguist who created the Naʼvi language in the Avatar movies to develop the Yautja language, and the intricate work makes Dek all the more believable.
Fans have often found it challenging to accept Yautja characters who can speak. The original creators of the franchise allowed these creatures to talk only when they were mocking their prey. As a result, this aspect may spark further debate among fans. However, we cannot deny the conviction. Dek feels fully developed and more complex than previous Yautja, making his species much more believable than its predecessors, which is quite an achievement. I can only applaud this team’s effort.
DAN TRACHTENBERG
Together with Trachtenberg at the helm, this team has its finger on the pulse of this franchise and knows how to deliver magic. So it is bewildering to be critiquing the film on its failings when there are so many positives to celebrate. But Badlands is that kind of film. Under ordinary circumstances, I would be praising the film for its freshness and its bold narrative. After all, the director discovered the winning formula with PREY. But for all its triumphs, Badlands falls far short of expectation. The action is bigger, bolder, and far more nuanced than any Predator film to date, but in expanding the lore and adding fresh sand to the sandbox, the Predator as a species has lost a step. Its beauty was in its simplicity, and that is the biggest flaw here.
After chatting with the director firsthand, he was quick to explain his reasoning behind this bold creative choice, and I admire his reply. He was eager to create something truly different in Badlands —something we had never seen before —which is why Silvestri’s classic theme isn’t used in the film. The theme has been used frequently, and he wanted the brilliantly tribal score from Benjamin Wallfisch and Sarah Schachner to stand out on its own, and for that, I applaud him. I cannot hide my admiration for what Trachtenberg has achieved. After three films, he has asserted himself as the master of the franchise, and I truly hope he gets to return for another outing.
VERDICT
Overall, Predator Badlands is another home run for Dan Trachtenberg, albeit an anticlimactic one. By expanding the sandbox and taking the narrative beyond its simplicity, the lore of the Yautja has been opened to interpretation, and legacy fans may be disappointed with the result. That said, the film is a true epic that takes us to a new frontier as beautiful as it is brutal. Jeff Cutter’s glorious cinematography has established this as the most visually stunning Predator film to date, and that is to our benefit. The film looks glorious, making the 107-minute running time fly past in wondrous IMAX, and the scale of the film deserves nothing less.
In truth, there is more to enjoy here than to critique. Trachtenberg has delivered another fantastic Predator movie. The only drawback is that it feels like a Predator film from the Disney universe—interpret that as you will. So, get your tickets and prepare for the hunt! Finally, we have a Yautja that bleeds, but we’d rather take him home as a plush toy than hunt him down and kill him! It’s up to you to decide whether it’s worthy of the franchise or not.
Happy hunting!
Predator Badlands brings the hunt to cinemas on November 7th.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
