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Predator: Badlands Review
Image Credit: 20th Century Studios
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Directed By: Dan Trachtenberg
Written By: Patrick Aison and Dan Trachtenberg
Runtime: 107 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated PG-13
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi – Dek
Elle Fanning – Thia/Tessa
Mike Homik – Kwei
Rohinal Nayaran – Bud
Not long ago, the Predator franchise was on its deathbed, and filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg brought this veteran film series back from the very brink. Moreover, Trachtenberg’s finest storyline arises in Predator: Badlands, breaking new ground on a nearly 40-year-old film series that recently looked all but dead with the embarrassing sequel, The Predator.
Predator: Badlands takes the boldest step yet for the franchise, and likely its last undiscovered country: a story where a Predator creature is not only the point of view character, but the hero of the story. Such an idea has been attempted only in expanded universe materials for Predator, such as books, comics, and video games, but never previously in a motion picture.
Badlands sets the young Yautja [the now-official name of the Predator species] Dek (Schuster-Koloamatangi) as the narrative’s unlikely hero and the black sheep of his clan. Dek’s father resents the aspiring warrior for his diminutive size, the runt of the litter, so to speak. However, Dek’s kind, older brother, Kwei (Homik), still oversees Dek’s training, preparing his sibling for the clan’s ritualistic hunt.
Dek opts for the deadly, nigh-unkillable creature, the Kalisk, as his quarry, believing bringing back the Kalisk as his trophy will earn his rightful place at his father’s side. However, the Kalisk is a formidable foe, and it resides on the “death planet” Genna.
After a brutal and emotionally painful confrontation with his uncaring father, Kwei sends the wayward Dek, who crash-lands on Genna. It’s an unforgiving landscape, where even the plant life has evolved into vicious fauna. Soon, Dek finds an unlikely ally in the badly damaged, dismembered Weyland-Yutani synthetic, Thia (Fanning).
Thanks to her advanced translator technology, Thia speaks Dek’s language and communicates with him, and since Dek needs a guide on Genna, he accepts her as his “tool.” Together they form a weirdly charming duo, as Dek seeks his challenge, and Thia seeks a reunion with her sister synth, Tessa.
Unfortunately for Dek, other forces reside on Genna who seek the Kalisk, a creature who holds some shocking secrets. Thanks to his time with Thia, Dek learns the value of interpersonal bonds and grasps the lessons his brother sought to impress upon him.
Trachtenberg finally breaks new ground with the Predator franchise in Predator: Badlands in a way that genuinely works. Badlands unfolds like a classic, pulpy Dark Horse Comic fantasy adventure story, except it is set in space. The director effectively presents Dek as a stoic, yet sympathetic, outcast who embarks on a compelling journey of self-discovery.
The Predator badly needed a story like this that expands upon the Yautja lore and culture, but does so in a way that is consistent with the less mediocre franchise installments, and thankfully, ignores the dregs. Badlands finally showcases the Predators as fully realized characters who speak and express emotions and intriguing emotional facets.
The movie does not feature any nonsense about hybrids or collecting spinal fluid. The Yautja are a highly intelligent, advanced, cunning, and aggressive species of extraterrestrial warriors who worship strength and the hunt. They are dilettante hunters who simply desire to hunt the strongest creatures in the universe.
Tracthenberg expertly utilizes the existing lore to craft a story about an underdog hero who forms an unlikely friendship with a Weyland-Yutani android who develops her own unique identity. Fanning delivers one of her most charming performances, showing a more benevolent Weyland-Yutani synth, more in the mold of Bishop.
Fanning brings a charming curiosity and energy to Thia, while also portraying a darker, more serious presence as Thia’s counterpart, Tessa. Additionally, the longtime Alien franchise antagonist, Weyland-Yutani, aka “The Company,” makes its presence known during the plot, and it’s a sensible, organic narrative crossover with the companion franchise. Fans will also appreciate an appropriate return of a familiar sort of character, veteran Alien, and it’s incredibly well-written.
To Trachtenberg’s credit, he and co-writer Patrick Aison avoid constant nostalgia bait and callbacks, which can be the bane of legacy franchises — especially those that heavily rely on various callbacks and nostalgia to sell tickets. Trachtenberg and Aison use the existing franchise to craft new material in an exciting, refreshing way.
That’s not to say Predator: Badlands has no callbacks to the classics, but Trachtenberg ingeniously depicts the callbacks in epic fashion. He executes those moments with care and subtlety that the franchise has lacked for decades.
One plot element that might be too much for people involves Dek and some other creatures on Genna, who are not quite as vicious and aggressive as they initially appear. It takes the film into somewhat cutesier territory, which is not exactly the gruff, muscle-bound machismo of old.
However, even this subplot is well-written and features an impressive plot twist that works beautifully within the narrative’s framework. Dek’s newfound relationships enhance his overall journey.
Trachtenberg does deviate from the practical effects with the Yautja. It’s a very physical, mostly practical performance for Schuster-Koloamatangi, but the production utilizes CG animation and motion capture to render their faces. The production understandably opts for the CG route with Dek. He’s a more involved and well-rounded character than the Predator creatures of the past.
Dek’s characterization as the protagonist requires a more intricate visual performance, and he displays more micro-expressions and emotional reactions through his face beyond growling, anger, and laughter. The facial animation is a bit jarring at first, but it adjusts well as the plot progresses.
Composers Benjamin Wallfisch and Sarah Schachner, who previously collaborated with Trachtenberg on Prey, similarly avoid rehashing the best hits for Predator: Badlands. They craft a drum-heavy score that sounds appropriate for the Yautja warrior clans. The classic Alan Silvestri themes do not appear, but that’s fine, since Badlands does something different with its music, and hews to the story’s pulpy fantasy adventure roots.
After so many years, it finally looks like the Predator franchise has done something fresh, brand-new, and exciting. Dan Trachtenberg has accomplished the unthinkable. With his three movies, he’s restored the honor of the Predator franchise, and the hat trick Predator: Badlands puts his efforts over the top.
Where To Watch Predator: Badlands
Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7. Ticket details and showtime information are available at the film’s website.
