Beginning in 1987 with the action film led by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Predator franchise has had a few good movies and many poor ones. But beyond quality, one thing has remained consistent: the monster has almost always been the villain. Aiming to change that, director Dan Trachtenberg presents Predator: Badlands, a bombastic sci-fi adventure featuring the alien hunter as the protagonist for the very first time.
Cast out from his clan, a young Predator joins forces with an unlikely ally as they embark on a deadly journey through a foreign planet. The film stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning. They are joined by Reuben De Jong, Mike Homik and Rohinal Nayaran.
Predator: Badlands is the kind of movie that delivers on all its promises, practically perfectly. For a film about a “Yautja” on the hunt, this ticks every box. The action is tremendous, the visuals are stunning, the score is powerful, and the long history of the franchise is both honoured and built on in exciting ways.
As the beast at the centre of the story, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi delivers a fantastic physical performance. His character is also well-defined, and despite speaking through subtitles, audiences will easily understand his motivations. He is a badass in the right moments and offers some emotional depth when it benefits the narrative. Some may criticise this layered approach to the Predator, but if the series is to grow, the hero cannot be a mindless monster.
Joining the hunter is Elle Fanning in dual roles. Fueling the story’s character arcs, she is quite funny and endlessly likeable. Rounding out the main cast is the small alien named Bud, played by Rohinal Nayaran. If this film has one flaw, it is perhaps that this creature is a little too “cute” in its design. He fits the world fine enough, but also stands out on a planet filled with grotesque animals.
Predator: Badlands is the definition of a great time at the movies. Following the solid 2022 instalment “Prey”, this picture is a purely awesome science fiction adventure. With luck, a sequel will be on its way very, very soon.