Predator: Badlands Movie Review: The Predator franchise rediscovers its soul in a thrilling story that’s both fierce and thoughtful

Predator review

‘Predator: Badlands,’ directed by Dan Trachtenberg, was released in theatres on 7th November and stars Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, and Michael Homick.

‘Predator: Badlands’ breathes new life into a long-running franchise that seemed to have lost its way. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film takes the bold step of shifting focus from humans to the Predators themselves. The change pays off. Instead of another survival thriller where armed soldiers face an unseen alien, this one lets the audience step inside the mask.

The result is both thrilling and unexpectedly emotional. The movie retains the grit, tension, and brutal energy of earlier entries but adds heart and scale. By grounding the story in character rather than carnage, Trachtenberg gives the series a reason to exist again—not as nostalgia, but as expansion.

The story follows Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young warrior who belongs to the proud yet divided Yuacht clan.

Banished for being weak, he narrowly survives an attack from his father and ends up on the planet Genna, where he must prove his worth by hunting a monster known as the Kalisk. What begins as a test of strength becomes a search for belonging.

His journey takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Thia (Elle Fanning), a two-bodied synthetic created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Her presence changes the rhythm of the film. Thia is logical yet oddly human, and her uneasy bond with Dek becomes the story’s emotional core. Together, they navigate the harsh badlands, facing rival hunters, unpredictable terrain, and their own conflicting codes of honour.

Weyland-Yutani’s inclusion links ‘Badlands’ to the broader sci-fi universe but is used sparingly. The corporation’s name appears not as an exposition tool but as quiet world-building. Through Thia, the film suggests that progress and profit still drive humanity’s presence among the stars. It’s a small but sharp reminder of how technology and survival often blur together. In contrast, Dek’s world is primal—built on ritual, loyalty, and legacy.

This clash between machine precision and tribal instinct gives ‘Badlands’ a strong thematic undercurrent. The Yuacht clan’s customs, weapons, and hierarchy are explored with care, adding a layer to the mythology without bogging the film down in lore. For the first time, the Predators feel like a complete civilization rather than faceless hunters in armour. Trachtenberg avoids overusing CGI, relying instead on strong framing. The tone remains tense but rarely grim.

Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi steps into the role of Dek and brings quiet intensity to the character, making the Predator feel vulnerable without losing his edge. Every grunt and hesitation carries meaning, turning a creature of instinct into a layered character.

Elle Fanning plays Thia and succeeds in giving the film its humor and warmth, balancing the synthetic’s logic with flashes of curiosity and care. She plays two roles in the film, the second being Tessa—a sharp, ambitious girl from the corporation. She gives both characters their own distinct flavour, making Tessa’s cunning stand out against Thia’s calm presence.

Supporting voices within the Yuacht clan add authority and menace. The ensemble never overplays the drama, keeping emotion subtle and tension sharp.

‘Predator: Badlands’ succeeds because it doesn’t try to outdo its predecessors in violence or spectacle. It redefines what the franchise can be. Dek’s journey is not about domination but discovery, and that makes it feel new. Trachtenberg treats the Predator not as a monster but as a being capable of doubt and empathy.

Hardcore fans of the franchise may miss the raw menace of earlier films, but this evolution keeps the series alive. The film closes on a hopeful note—not with a grand victory, but with the promise of understanding. ‘Predator: Badlands’ reminds audiences that reinvention is the only way a legend survives. It’s fierce, thoughtful, and quietly moving.