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By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
What’s this? A Predator that is the protagonist? That’s right, for the first time ever, the Predator is the good guy in “Predator: Badlands.” But does it work? The answer is a resounding yes and will take audiences on a pulse-pounding journey that bounds from one violent encounter to another. This science fiction storyline is a credit to the long-standing franchise that will appease fans and newcomers alike.
The home planet of the Yautja, Yautja Prime, is a harsh world, and for a young runt like Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), it is especially dangerous. Clans do not tolerate weakness, so Dek must earn his place in the clan by killing the unkillable Kalisk, the most fearsome creature on Genna, aka Death Planet. With every organism designed to kill on this hellscape, Dek needs every ounce of help he can get, even if that help comes in the form of a synthetic without legs named Thia (Elle Fanning) and a cute little monkey-like beast. For Dek to prevail where all other predators have failed, he must find alignment with the planet and realize that hunting alone may not be the only option.
After bursting onto the horror scene in 2016 with “10 Cloverfield Lane,” director Dan Trachtenberg has been consumed with the “Predator” franchise, helming the streaming hits “Prey” in 2022 and the incredible animated movie “Predator: Killer of Killers” earlier this year. Taking his vision to the silver screen is a different animal, but he successfully adapts to the bigger stage, creating an entertaining, thrilling ride from start to finish. While this is set within the “Predator” universe, it is not a sequel, instead welcoming new fans as well as old.
Since the original “Predator” released to theaters in 1987, the vicious Yautja have always been depicted as the evil villain, so Trachtenberg’s decision to make him the protagonist is a bold one, but it works exceedingly well. By making this main character a smaller, less physically imposing creature, he gives him that underdog mentality with something to prove that always plays well to audiences. Dan doubles down by creating an in-depth character with backstory, building a culture of the Yautja species, showing their home planet, their traditions (not too dissimilar to Native Americans), and a fully developed language. The guttural dialect of this language is perfectly suited to this alien species. The set design of both planets is incredibly well done, depicting the Yautja home planet as this desolate, unforgiving landscape one would expect for that tough-as-nails type of being. The Death Planet is also exquisitely detailed and lush with creative species of varying abilities that make each a viable threat.
The expansive lore is complimented by a resonating score that captures the violent spirit of the film. With so few actors in this movie, Trachtenberg places a heavier emphasis on visual effects and CGI, which are technically sound. He even uses CGI for the main character’s face, having the actor perform via motion capture as opposed to relying on animatronics like prior films in the series. While there is typically a tradeoff of realism with the use of CGI, the action scenes are well-choreographed, making a statement early and often that excitement and entertainment are Trachtenberg’s primary goals. This is a director who singlehandedly revived this franchise, and he continues its upward trajectory.
Out of the few starring roles in this production, only Elle Fanning is not hidden by costume or CGI. Although she portrays a synthetic, made by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation (yes, the company from the “Alien” franchise), she’s programmed with more human traits and emotions, allowing her to be something more than robotic. In this way, she’s able to provide some comic relief while making her unlikely partnership with the main character believable, slowly unveiling her character’s hidden motivations along the way. Coupled with a unique duality to her characters, this another solid performance from the young actress.
In between the nonstop, intense action sequences lies a simple yet compelling story that expands on this universe in a significant way, providing viewers with something new to enjoy. Naysayers will grumble about the lack of horror compared to the other films of the franchise, and they wouldn’t be wrong, but “Predator: Badlands” is a sci-fi action romp that promises an exciting, fun time. This is a must-see in theaters for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
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