Predator: Badlands review
Badlands doesn’t feel like a Predator movie. And that’s ok.
New movie reviews will not contain spoilers.
Predator: Badlands
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
Screenplay by Patrick Aison and Brian Duffield
Starring Elle Fanning
Predator: Badlands Review
One of the biggest mistakes in recent film history involved the release of 2022’s Predator movie Prey. Prey debuted directly on Hulu…meaning that people couldn’t experience on the big screen. There’s also a certain negative connotation with direct to streaming movies whether it is warranted or not. Think back to every discussion or review you’ve had or seen about Prey. The phrase “how did they not put this in theaters” was almost certainly a part of it. It was too good for a direct to streaming release…even if there have been plenty of great movies released that way. It felt truer in the case of Dan Trachtenberg’s first Predator outing though. Because this was a Predator movie. Good, bad and ugly the franchise has traditionally been a theater experience first and foremost. After another direct to Hulu animated release within the franchise…Trachtenberg finally get his time to shine.
The first thing you’ll notice about Predator: Badlands is that, like its predecessor, it belongs in theaters. It’s a beautiful movie full of sweeping vistas and gorgeous cinematography. Predator: Badlands isn’t as good as Prey. But it does benefit from being shown in a format that accentuates its scope and scale. What I’m trying to say is that Predator: Badlands is a very good movie that should be seen on the biggest screen possible. And that I really wish we all could have discovered Prey the same way three years ago.
The second thing you might notice about Predator: Badlands is that there aren’t any human characters. You may recall this fact popping up a few weeks ago as the director defended the film’s PG-13 rating. When there are no humans to harm…the MPAA is more forgiving with blood and dismemberment. Detractors were concerned that it isn’t a Predator movie without an R rating. That’s silly, of course. The amount of blood and gore isn’t what defines the franchise. And it isn’t why Predator: Badlands doesn’t feel like a Predator movie. Which it doesn’t. And that’s ok.
Badlands is told from the perspective of a Predator. Or Yautja, if you care about the terminology. Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is the runt of his clan. His father commands his own brother to kill him…something that his brother isn’t capable of doing. The violent end of that discussion sees Dek head out to fill the most legendary and (supposedly) unkillable creature in the universe. Which…when you think about it is kind of the plot of Prey too. The underdog brimming with confidence hunting something that they have no business messing around with. Both lead characters even have an older brother who is a respected warrior among their clan. But Predator: Badlands doesn’t feel anything like Prey. It doesn’t feel anything like Predator either. This will annoy some people. For once, I’m able to see both sides of that argument.
Instead of retreading the same well-trodden ground, Trachtenberg delivers a fun creature feature that is, occasionally, too cute for its own good. There is plenty of monster action set on a deadly planet where a tree branch or a flower is as dangerous as (almost) any creature. It’s surprisingly funny…with Elle Fanning’s android Thia providing entertaining commentary throughout Dek’s journey. Fanning doubles as another android, Tessa, who has a very different outlook on life in the Badlands. And, of course, there is the mythical beast that Dek is meant to conquer. Like I said, there’s a lot of fun here. Perhaps, at times, too much fun. Where Prey set out to prove the strength of one person…Badlands argues for the strength of the pack. That means the addition of a cutesy sidekick that feels fine for this story…and completely out of place in the world of Predator.
Which brings me to the central question I had while watching Predator: Badlands. Who is this for? Hardcore fans of the franchise were already grousing about the PG-13 rating. They’re unlikely to be swayed by the addition of a character that feels like it should end up a plushy toy. Star Wars is famous for these. But Star Wars is, famously, for children. Despite what the saddest adults you know try to tell you. Predator isn’t for children. At least, it hasn’t been in the nearly four decades it has existed. It’s hard to imagine Dutch breaking bread with an alien monkey thing. It’s hard to imagine Naru doing it either. And she spent the whole movie hunting with her awesome dog.
Predator: Badlands embraces its cartoonish aspects. It is the most family friendly Predator movie…even the animated film had a harder edge to it than this. But we’ve already seen a lot of Predator movies. Some have been great. Some have been terrible. Badlands is very good at being what it is. An action-packed adventure film with cool creature ideas, funny moments…and a couple too many cute things that feel like they’re from a different franchise altogether. And that’s ok. Being very good is what matters most. Trachtenberg probably isn’t done with the franchise, and he’s already found three different ways to present content within it. And…all three are really good. Not feeling the same is a positive. It’s something that most franchises would kill for 38 years into their existence.
Scare Value
Predator: Badlands is a very good movie. It doesn’t feel like a Predator movie…but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Trachtenberg has delivered three movies within the franchise that bottom out at “very good”. The fact that they all feel different should be taken as a positive as long as the quality remains at the high level he’s been delivering. Dek is a good character. Thia is too. Some other aspects skew a bit too cartoony for my taste…but everyone’s tastes are different. “A Predator film the whole family can enjoy” may make hardcore fans bristle…but here we are. With a very good movie.
3.5/5
Predator: Badlands Link
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