Anthony’s Watch – Predator: Badlands

Predator: Badlands is one of the more unique takes on the franchise, opting to focus on the young Yautja, Dek, as its protagonist rather than making the Yautja Predators the antagonists, as the franchise typically portrays. The film marks the third project from director Dan Trachtenberg, following the critical successes of Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, two films that have breathed new life into a franchise many assumed was beyond saving. With this film, Trachtenberg takes the series in a drastically new direction, one that only makes sense now that much of the foundation has been laid by the previous installments, while simultaneously avoiding the kind of exposition-heavy lore dumps that have frustrated fans of the sister franchise, Alien.

It’s almost impossible to talk about this series without mentioning the two Alien properties that arrived earlier this year, Alien: Romulus and Alien: Earth. While Predator and Alien are now inexorably linked, it’s clear that these franchises are currently building upon their own continuities before daring to formally cross over again. Predator: Badlands feels genuinely distinct from either of the two Alien ventures this year, choosing to explore what this franchise is capable of rather than rehashing or expanding upon prior storytelling devices. Because all of these films and shows exist in a shared universe, it’s natural to theorize about how they connect, but unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the standalone entries in these franchises remain truly standalone and don’t require additional viewing for full appreciation.

While Predator: Badlands is by no means a formal crossover with Alien, it does prominently feature the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a staple of that franchise. Ever since these two series first intersected, their connection has been a major talking point for fans. Thankfully, the Weyland-Yutani inclusion here isn’t just an Easter egg or a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, it’s actually a significant part of the movie. Elle Fanning pulls double duty as both Thia and Tessa, two Weyland-Yutani synthetics assigned to explore the planet Genna, where Dek lands. Without spoiling the plot, the inclusion of Weyland-Yutani feels authentic to their roots in the Alien franchise, adding considerable depth to the film.

As for the performances, much of the movie takes place on an alien world, with only a handful of human actors appearing without heavy prosthetics. Because of this, Elle Fanning carries much of the dialogue and screen presence. The decision to have her portray two very different characters is a stroke of genius that highlights her impressive range. She also does a fantastic job acting opposite CGI creatures and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who is always under extensive prosthetics as Dek.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi delivers one of the year’s most distinctive performances as Dek. Due to the character’s Yautja origins, the actor never speaks any lines that aren’t subtitled, yet he infuses Dek with an impressive amount of pathos, making the character’s development resonate beautifully. With the Predators typically portrayed as silent and efficient killers, it’s fascinating to see Schuster-Koloamatangi bring a member of this species to life in such a unique and relatable way.

Because of the film’s direction and setting, much of what appears on screen is computer-generated. While not every visual effect is flawless, it’s remarkable how much the movie achieves with a budget roughly one-third the size of a modern superhero blockbuster. Ultimately, this is a story about aliens fighting other aliens, creatures that are somewhat familiar yet entirely otherworldly. Watching this film requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, but when combined with some genuinely strong visuals, it results in a movie that makes excellent use of its budget.

When it comes to tone, this is where more hardcore fans may take issue. Yes, the original Predator films were action-heavy but still bordered on horror. Predator: Badlands is decidedly a science-fiction action/adventure film that sheds nearly all of its horror elements. That said, fans who prefer the darker tone of the originals might also object to the film’s use of comedy. The first Predator had its fair share of classic ’80s action-hero humor, but the comedy here feels more Marvel-esque in its delivery and timing. Whether this tonal shift is a step too far will ultimately depend on individual taste, but judging by online reactions, the majority of fans seem supportive of the change.

The real highlight of this film is its story and how Trachtenberg presents the Predator lore. As mentioned earlier, the film explores the history of the Yautja but doesn’t linger on it, instead choosing to tell a character-driven story above all else. At its core, this is an exploration of Dek’s relationship with his culture and what it means to him as he forms a bond with Elle Fanning’s Thia on a planet where everything is out to kill him. This is Predator like you’ve never seen it before, yet it remains honest about the fact that Dek is just one character among a species of hunters, his story doesn’t need to redefine the franchise to matter.