I walked into Predator: Badlands with very low expectations. Honestly, I thought this was going to be another franchise entry that exists to keep the brand alive. A safe, studio-mandated movie. Maybe loud, maybe flashy, but ultimately forgettable.
Instead, I walked out genuinely surprised.
Not just because it was “good for a Predator movie,” but because it felt confident in what it was trying to be. Predator: Badlands doesn’t just repeat the formula of humans being hunted in the jungle. It flips the perspective, reshapes the tone, and asks us to spend time with a Predator rather than fearing one from a distance. That alone makes it one of the most interesting entries in the franchise.
This is a movie that clearly understands the history of Predator, respects it, and still isn’t afraid to evolve it.
A Predator as the Protagonist – A Risk That Pays Off
The biggest change here is also the movie’s boldest decision: the story follows Dek, a young Yautja on his very first hunt.
For the first time in the franchise, the Predator isn’t a faceless slasher villain. He’s the main character. And surprisingly, that works.
Dek is introduced not as an unstoppable killing machine, but as an outsider within his own clan. He’s smaller, less respected, and clearly trying to prove something to his family, his culture, and himself. There’s a very familiar “runt of the litter” energy to him, and while that might sound strange applied to a Predator, it becomes the emotional backbone of the movie.
This shift in point of view immediately changes how the story feels. Instead of suspense coming from “when will the Predator strike?”, the tension comes from whether Dek will survive, adapt, and earn his place among his people.
It’s a risky move, especially for longtime fans who prefer their Predators mysterious and terrifying. But for me, it was refreshing. The franchise has spent decades showing us what Predators do. Badlands is more interested in showing us why they do it.
A Story About Proving Yourself
At its core, Predator: Badlands is a classic rite-of-passage story.
Dek is exiled and sent to the most dangerous planet in the galaxy, a place so hostile that no Yautja has ever returned alive. The mission is simple on paper: kill the deadliest creature on the planet and bring back proof. In reality, it’s almost a suicide mission.
What makes this work is how universal the theme is. Strip away the alien setting, and this is a story about being underestimated, about family expectations, and about the pressure to live up to a legacy you didn’t choose.
The film does a solid job of grounding its larger-than-life action in small character details. Early moments like why Dek is missing a fang or how his clan treats him come back later in meaningful ways. Nothing feels wasted. The movie sets things up patiently and then lets them pay off naturally.
It’s simple storytelling, but it’s done with confidence and clarity.
Thea – The Heart of the Movie
As much as this is Dek’s story, Predator: Badlands would not work nearly as well without Thea, played by Elle Fanning.
Thea is a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who ends up forming an unlikely partnership with Dek. On paper, this pairing sounds odd. In practice, it’s the emotional core of the film.
Elle Fanning brings warmth, humor, and personality to a role that could have easily been flat or overly robotic. Thea is talkative, curious, and oddly wholesome for a character in a Predator movie. She contrasts beautifully with Dek’s seriousness and rigid belief in “the Predator way.”
What I appreciated most is that their relationship actually changes both of them. Dek initially treats Thea as nothing more than a tool, something that makes his solo hunt acceptable within his cultural rules. Over time, that mindset shifts. They listen to each other. They learn from each other. And it feels earned.
Their dynamic reminded me a bit of a classic sci-fi duo, two very different beings forced to rely on one another in a hostile world. It’s funny at times, surprisingly tender at others, and never feels like it’s there just for cheap laughs.
Worldbuilding Done Right
One of the film’s biggest strengths is its worldbuilding.
We get just enough of the Predator home world to understand the culture without being drowned in exposition. The rules, the traditions, and the hierarchy are communicated visually and through small interactions rather than long speeches.
Then we’re dropped onto the “deadliest planet in the galaxy,” and the movie absolutely commits to that idea.
Everything here wants to kill you. Not just the creatures, but the environment itself. Razor grass, aggressive plant life, unpredictable terrain it all feels dangerous. Watching Dek struggle against the planet before even facing its apex predator is one of the most satisfying parts of the film.
There’s a strong survival-story vibe here, almost like a sci-fi western. Learning how to work with the environment instead of fighting it becomes a key theme, and it’s handled in a way that feels both practical and symbolic.
If this movie does well, this planet alone feels like a corner of the Predator universe worth revisiting.
Action That Feels Creative and Brutal
Despite the PG-13 rating, Predator: Badlands is far more violent than I expected.
The clever workaround, of course, is alien blood. There’s plenty of gore, it’s just not red. And because of that, the action still feels intense, stylish, and at times downright beautiful.
One particular sequence stands out: Dek charging through a massive creature with Thea strapped to his back, alien blood exploding around them in vivid colors. It felt like a full-page comic book panel brought to life. That moment alone convinced me the filmmakers understood the visual language of Predator.
What I really loved is how creative the kills are. No two creatures are dispatched the same way. Dek constantly adapts, learning new weaknesses, using the environment, and adjusting his tactics. It keeps the action fresh and reinforces the idea that this hunt is a learning process, not just a power fantasy.
The final act delivers exactly what you want from a Predator movie. It takes its time getting there, but when it does, it fully earns the moment.
Humor Without Undermining the Predator
The humor in Badlands is another pleasant surprise.
This isn’t slapstick, and it’s never at the expense of the Predator’s dignity. Most of the comedy comes from situational moments or Thea’s personality clashing with Dek’s seriousness.
Importantly, the movie never laughs at Dek. He may find himself in awkward or unexpected situations, but he’s always portrayed as capable and formidable. That balance reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic action roles, funny when the situation calls for it, but never reduced to a joke.
It’s a tricky tone to pull off, and Badlands mostly nails it.
Visuals, Effects, and Direction
Visually, this is a strong film, especially considering its reported budget.
The creature designs are imaginative, the environments feel tangible, and the CGI, while noticeable in a few moments, generally holds up. The Predators without their masks are particularly impressive. Seeing facial movement, emotion, and eye contact makes a huge difference in connecting with these characters.
Dan Trachtenberg continues to prove that he understands how to stage action and tell clear visual stories. His direction is confident, efficient, and focused. He doesn’t overcomplicate things, and that works in the movie’s favor.
You can also feel his love for classic cinema and genre storytelling. There are moments that echo Spielberg-style framing and classic sci-fi imagery without feeling like a cheap imitation.
The PG-13 Debate
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the PG-13 rating.
Yes, this movie would probably hit harder as an R-rated film. The sense of danger isn’t quite as intense as when fragile human characters are involved. Watching synths and alien creatures get torn apart doesn’t carry the same emotional weight.
That said, the PG-13 rating doesn’t ruin the movie. If anything, it makes Predator: Badlands more accessible. It feels like a gateway Predator movie, something new fans can jump into without needing deep franchise knowledge or a tolerance for extreme gore.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing Trachtenberg return to R-rated territory next time. But as an experiment, this works better than I expected.
Franchise Connections and Future Potential
This is not an Alien vs. Predator movie, and it’s important to go in with the right expectations.
There are Weyland-Yutani synths, familiar technology, and subtle nods to the Alien universe, but no Xenomorphs. The crossover elements stay in the background, serving worldbuilding rather than spectacle.
The movie also sets up potential future stories very lightly, very quickly. There’s a clear sense that this is meant to be part of a larger plan rather than a one-off experiment.
And honestly? I’m on board.
By the time the credits rolled, I found myself wanting more. More of Dek. More of Thea. More stories told from unexpected angles within this universe.
Final Thoughts – A Surprising Win
Predator: Badlands isn’t perfect. It doesn’t quite reach the highs of Prey, and some fans will absolutely bounce off its more humanized take on the Yautja. But for me, it succeeds where it matters most.
It’s confident.
It’s creative.
And most importantly, it made me care.
I didn’t expect to connect emotionally with a Predator. I didn’t expect to walk out excited about the future of this franchise. And I definitely didn’t expect to be recommending this movie to friends before I even left the theater.
But here we are.
If you’re tired of lazy reboots and cynical franchise entries, Predator: Badlands is worth your time. Go in with an open mind, let the movie do its thing, and you might be as pleasantly surprised as I was.