Predator: Badlands - A Fast, but Good Hunt (pun intended)

 


Predator: Badlands surprised me. I wasn't expecting much going in, but there's a good amount that works with this film. The story follows an outcast Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) on a journey to find the ultimate adversary to hunt down and get him back in good graces with his clan. Along the way, Dek forms a relationship with an unlikely ally in synthetic person named Thia (Elle Fanning). Synthetics, or androids to use another term, are common in the Alien/Predator universe. Speaking of the shared universe, you don't have to know the details of all the Alien and Predator movies to enjoy Predator: Badlands. So what did I like about the film?

I was hesitant that a Predator would be the protagonist, but it's a nice change of pace. Dek has a clear motivation and is fleshed out pretty well as a character. Thia is a nice foil to Dek and she's the source of most of the humor. Predator: Badlands has some light and funny moments which thankfully don't take away from the overall tone or narrative. The planet that Dek travels to in search of his prey is visually interesting and provides various alien species for him to take on in some enjoyable action. This is appreciated in a sci-fi movie. There are clear references to previous Alien and Predator entries, but Predator: Badlands still feels like its own thing. What are some aspects about the movie that weren't as strong?

I didn't know beforehand, but Predator: Badlands is rated PG-13. Not a bad thing per se, but the type of violence/gore you'd expect from a Predator movie isn't present in Predator: Badlands. Creatures and synthetics get killed, but the brutality is pretty toned down. I imagine that PG-13 rating was decided as a way to bring in a wider audience. Predator: Badlands would have benefited from a longer runtime. Certain intriguing ideas stay fairly surface-level which is a shame. 

All in all, Predator: Badlands is a fun popcorn film. You'll like the action and sci-fi elements and feel pretty satisfied once the credits roll. This is rare in movies now, but you might even be left wanting more and wishing to see the characters in another entry.

Rating:


Green Light

This is a movie to watch in theaters

Predator: Badlands   107 minutes    PG-13    In theaters

My 2025 Top Movies: The Ballad of Wallis Island, F1 and Not Just a Goof


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