“Predator: Badlands” is not revolutionary by any means, but it is an incredibly satisfying and fun adventure that is well worth seeking out. Director Dan Trachtenberg and screenwriter Patrick Aison have delivered a wonderfully engaging film that honors what has come before while forging a new path ahead for the franchise. Along with the two other projects Trachtenberg has supervised in the “Predator” world—2022’s “Prey” and this year’s animated anthology “Predator: Killer of Killers”—“Badlands” confirms the filmmaker is an exceptional captain of the ship who is constantly finding new areas to explore without abandoning what has made the property so successful. “Predator: Badlands” is a raucously entertaining movie that truly understands how to fuel a cinematic experience with fun and wit.
Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is the runt of the litter in his Yautja clan (Yautja being the species of alien that has appeared in all “Predator” movies). He is tasked with going on a great hunt to prove his worth to a father who would literally prefer to see the diminutive Dek dead. The little Yautja chooses a deadly planet with some of the most dangerous game to get his father’s approval. Once there, Dek discovers he may have been a bit overzealous in his ambition. Luckily, he is soon assisted by Thia (Elle Fanning), a Weyland-Yutani synthetic android who is missing legs after her encounter with the very prey that Dek is hunting. Combined, they work together to navigate the incredibly treacherous world so Dek can get his trophy, and Thia can get her legs back, all while her fellow Weyland-Yutani crew is seeking out their own mission.
“Predator: Badlands” is a throwback to the pulp adventuring sci-fi tales of the ’50s and ‘60s, or even the ‘90s comic book tales of “Predator” found in Dark Horse Comics. It’s a “stranger in a strange land” premise punctuated by engaging sequences that also has deeper thematic elements of chosen family and identity. Trachtenberg has created his own patchwork Frankenstein’s monster but uses the Yautja as the foundation from which all these areas can be explored. It’s exciting and interesting, turning the usual antagonist into a sympathetic protagonist, and while it may not be wholly new, it never feels like a retread or stale revisit of these familiar tropes.
Every aspect of “Predator: Badlands” is firing on all cylinders across departments. Cinematographer Jeff Cutter and production designer Ra Vincent work with many others to craft some beautiful visuals that are uniquely alien but still feel grounded and tactile in a way that keeps audiences invested in the surroundings. The score by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch (which often incorporates the Yautja language into the music) is excellent, driving the adventure forward and helping to really sell the emotional cores of the characters and scenes. Speaking of the language, Britton Watkins deserves special recognition for impressively turning the various clicks and scratches from 40 years of movies and comics into an actual language. And the performances, particularly by Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi as they are on screen for the vast majority of the movie, do tremendous work of humanizing these otherworldly types into relatable, complicated, and engaging characters.
All this is laid at the feet of Dan Trachtenberg who superbly captains the ship, pulling excellence from all these various working parts to deliver something truly fun. “Predator: Badlands” is invigorating that few current films are; it feels like a lark, but not one without depth or consequences. The action is choreographed and captured well, creating pulse pounding moments that lead to giddy applause and cheers. The plot (which Trachtenberg worked on with screenwriter Aison) isn’t full of unforeseen twists, nor is it hard to figure out the direction of many narrative threads; but it’s surprisingly touching thanks to the character work and satisfying in ways that good storytelling should be with themes and payoffs and such.
“Predator: Badlands” is a thoroughly enjoyable film. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel and perhaps some people will roll their eyes at some of its tropes or obviousness. But that’s a cynical reaction to a movie that is incredibly charming if you let it be, complete with sequences that will have you clapping and laughing and cheering at the satisfaction of seeing these disparate parts come together in such a masterful way. I look forward to what Trachtenberg does next in the franchise as his three entries prove him to be an excellent steward for the “Predator” property. He’s someone who delivers not what you’re expecting, but even better—his films deliver what you never knew you needed.
4 / 5 Stars
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning, Ravi Narayan, Michael Homik, Cameron Brown
