With his third film set in the Predator universe, director Dan Trachtenberg has once again revived and revitalised the franchise, proving he just doesn’t miss. Predator: Badlands follows a Yautja outcast on the hunt for the ultimate prey, encountering an unlikely ally along his journey.
With both Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, Trachtenberg focused on creating unique adventures set in the same universe with two key focuses – building strong characters, and expanding the lore of what we know about the Yautja. In both of those projects he saw untapped potential and delivered in spades, so it’s no surprise that he’s gone three for three with Badlands. This film notably features more Predator action than we’ve ever seen, with a Yautja taking over as the protagonist for the first time and receiving over 90 minutes of valuable character development. Before getting into all the wild sci-fi content and incredible variety of action sequences, I need to talk about the content that impressed me the most – the characters.
This narrative plays out almost like a buddy-cop story, with Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and Thia (Elle Fanning) reluctantly joining forces to take out a common threat. From the opening sequence it really doesn’t stop moving; there’s not a second of downtime as it progresses from one set piece to the next, taking brief pauses for some relationship development before getting stuck back into it. While it’s in a constant state of motion, it’s not moving so fast that it can’t flesh out its protagonists, and boy is there some beautiful character work. Trachtenberg has done something incredible in giving Dek a personality, drive, inner conflict and genuine heart. He’s not just a masked bloodthirsty killer; the film opens with establishing his backstory and the inciting incident that sees him outcast from his clan. From there we get a fully fleshed-out arc with highs, lows and full-circle moments that make him a deeply engaging character to follow. Thia also has a strong arc of her own in which she experiences emotional growth and learns valuable lessons from those around her. This leading duo really complement each other; their respective journeys hinge on the presence of the other, resulting in a story that’s unexpectedly touching.
It’s not a Predator film without a splash of action, and there’s certainly no shortage of heart-pounding action sequences here. Taking place entirely on a foreign planet opens the floodgates for new alien species’ and environments, which Trachtenberg makes sure to capitalise on. From the bloodthirsty opening sequence to a rather comedic yet intense climax, there’s a good mix of fun, adventurous moments and all-out, ass-kicking fights. While there’s no single action sequence that’s unforgettable above all others, it’s the variety on offer that makes this Predator experience such a blast. That variety comes from utilising the skillsets of both Dek and Thia to create thrilling combat sequences unique to their respective arcs and learnings through the film. Without getting into spoiler territory, the climactic battle (and the lead-up to it) is particularly awesome not just for the brutal action, but for how it meaningfully encapsulates Dek’s arc throughout the film. It’s incredible from a pure action perspective, but the depth that the story gives the smaller moments doesn’t go unrecognised.
Performance-wise it could be easy to forget to mention Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as he’s very much hidden behind layers of visual effects, but the physicality he brings to the role can’t be taken for granted. He carries himself in a way that brings out the intimidating qualities of Dek but also his more vulnerable traits. Doing so from beneath prosthetics and CGI takes immense talent, and Koloamatangi has reflected that. The moments of heart and emotion expressed by Dek through the eyes and dialogue is a credit to the subtleties of Koloamatangi’s performance, making use of smaller character-focused moments to have a greater overall impact. In the co-lead role, Elle Fanning brings warmth to the film that no other performance really allows. She contributes to the comedy and the action, but it’s the heart and warmth she exhibits that really encapsulates her importance to the story’s success. Her chemistry alongside Kolomatangi grows as the film progresses, leading to a number of great character-focused scenes.
Even from a technical standpoint this is an impressive film. In re-teaming with Prey (2022) cinematographer Jeff Cutter, they’ve created a look that’s occasionally grand and otherworldly, but familiar enough to be tangible at a character level. Some of the CGI is a little heavy and noticeable, which isn’t great, but isn’t a huge blight on the film. The score composed by Benjamin Wallfisch and Sarah Schachner is a gripping mix of booming base, slow synth and aethereal beats, one that is indicative of its alien setting and enhances the tension and suspense of the film’s most intense moments.
In the end, Predator: Badlands is yet another drastic shift in the long-running franchise, fuelled by Dan Trachtenberg’s desire to extract the hidden potential that’s been untapped for decades. It’s an unlikely buddy-cop journey with fun adventure sequences, tense combat and plenty of brutal Yautja action that both pays homage to the franchise’s legacy and explores entirely new ideas. The film’s heart and emotion-geared character arcs bring a level of depth that’s not often seen in the franchise, so fans both new and old are sure to get a kick out of it. If nothing else, this adventure just gets me more excited for what’s to come in future instalments, as it’s clear Trachtenberg has more gripping stories to tell.
8.5/10
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