Film Review: Predator Badlands

I knew this film wasn’t going to be like the other ones before it even started and that’s rarely a good sign.

We’re back in the world of Predator, this time once again under the direction of Dan Trachtenberg, who previously revived the franchise with Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers. Trachtenberg has already proven that there’s still life left in this long-running franchise, even after earlier entries drained it of originality. When he took over Prey, he stripped the story back to its roots and rediscovered that magic formula that made the first two films work so well.

The reason those earlier films succeeded was simple: we cared about the characters and at their core, the previous 2 films told a modern David and Goliath story. Sadly, Predator: Badlands abandons that idea.

This time, we follow an uninitiated predator from the Yautja clan named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), who wants to prove himself worthy of 'the cloak', that recognisable invisibility technology used by the seasoned predator hunters. To earn it, he travels to the hostile planet Genna to kill a near-mythical creature known as the Kalisk and bring back its head as a trophy. Once there, Dek discovers the task isn’t so simple. The planet itself is lethal and everything on it wants him dead. Things get even more complicated when the Weyland-Yutani Corporation (from the Alien universe) appears, having sent a team of synthetics to collect a sample from the same monster. It’s here that Dek meets Thia, a damaged synth played by Elle Fanning, who becomes his unlikely partner and guide.

The first sign that Badlands might struggle to reach the heights of Prey came before the opening credits. In the UK, the film carries a 12A rating, a clear warning that this would not be the brutal, blood-soaked Predator experience fans expect. Instead of people being torn apart or ambushed in the jungle, this time it’s mostly CGI creatures and Weyland-Yutani robots taking the hits.

To its credit, the film does something new by asking us to root for Dek, a predator. It’s a difficult premise to pull off, but the chemistry between Dek and Thia helps sell it. Trachtenberg tones down the Predator’s monstrous face design, focusing more on Dek’s expressive eyes and subtle emotions. That choice works surprisingly well, making him easier to connect with. The dialogue between the two characters is sharp, snarky and often funny, giving the story some much-needed warmth.

The action is relentless and visually impressive. Genna is a fascinating, dangerous world filled with nightmarish creatures so there is plenty of action to behold here. Unfortunately, the editing feels rushed in a few sequences, making it hard to follow who’s doing what once the fighting starts.

The real problem, however, lies with the villains. Rooting for a predator can work if the film gives us a truly menacing antagonist, but here, that never happens. The Kalisk and another baddie which I won't name, are both underdeveloped, lacking any real motivation. Without a strong opponent, the tension evaporates. Dek has all the motivation and reasons for what he needs to do, which makes him feel invincible and, with a soft villain, the stakes never reach the level they should.

That absence of danger undermines the otherwise solid world-building and strong action. I wanted this film to succeed, but what we get instead is a watered-down story that never finds its footing. Dek evolves emotionally, but he never faces a genuine challenge that tests his strength or resolve.

Released in the middle of awards season, Predator: Badlands will struggle to stand out among stronger, more daring films. It’s not a bad film, but it’s far from essential viewing. If this had dropped in the summer, it might have been a solid blockbuster. For now, though, your time and ticket money is better spent with Bugonia or One Battle After Another.