Building on the success of the crowd-pleasing Prey, Predator: Badlands finally puts the Predator front and center. Complete with a native language and a brutal tale of revenge, the results are impressive. It's a fresh direction for the franchise that balances gore with a surprising amount of heart.
"Director Dan Trachtenberg thankfully keeps the storyline simple with wall-to-wall action and exotic set pieces."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Production Details
| Director | Dan Trachtenberg |
| Lead Cast | Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi |
| Music | Sarah Schachner & Benjamin Wallfisch |
The Vision
Trachtenberg gives us a way in emotionally by including synthetics from Weyland-Yutani in the form of a dual performance from Elle Fanning. By centering the "monster" as the hero, the film transcends standard slasher tropes to offer a unique perspective on the Predator mythology that feels both innovative and grounded.
💡 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Star Wars Inspiration: Trachtenberg pitched the film as "Chewbacca and C-3PO: The Movie."
- Practical Talents: Elle Fanning used her double-jointed elbows to add an eerie, robotic quality to the androids.
- No Red Blood: All blood in the film is either green (Predator) or milky-white (android).
- The Duffer Brothers: Provided the voices for the ship's computer in a hidden cameo.
✅ Pros
- Innovative "monster as hero" perspective.
- Exceptional dual performance by Elle Fanning.
- Wall-to-wall action with exotic, creative set pieces.
❌ Cons
- Breakneck pace leaves very little room for deeper exposition.
Full Review
The mythology of the Predator continues in the enjoyable and action-packed Predator: Badlands. Building on the success of the crowd-pleasing Prey, this installment puts the Predator front and center, complete with its own native language and a brutal tale of revenge. The results are impressive.
Director Dan Trachtenberg thankfully keeps the storyline simple, delivering wall-to-wall action and exotic set pieces. He also provides an emotional "way in" by incorporating synthetics from Weyland-Yutani via a dual performance from Elle Fanning. This is a high-octane film that only briefly comes up for air, typically just to reset its inventive action sequences.
It is a delight to have such great creative minds steering iconic franchises like Predator and Alien again. It’s exciting to see these chapters unfold, especially with the inevitable crossover looming on the horizon. Predator: Badlands is a lot of fun—don't miss out. See it as soon as you get the chance.
🏆 Final Verdict
A crowning achievement for the Predator franchise that proves there is still plenty of life in the hunt. Brutal, heart-pounding, and visually stunning.
View original review on Letterboxd
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