‘Predator: Badlands’ – A brave new world

One of cinema’s most iconic monsters is the Predator, or as the new film Predator: Badlands calls them, the Yautja. They are an alien race of brutal hunters who travel to distant worlds, determined to assert their dominance. The creature is instantly recognisable and so is the formula of its films. The Predator stalks the protagonist, slowly reveals itself, and is ultimately outwitted by a human underdog in spectacular fashion.

Predator: Badlands flips the script, making you privy to the side of the hunter rather than the hunted. In doing so, Badlands does the unthinkable, and turns the perfect killer into a relatable character by the name of Dek. Eager to prove himself strong, he decides to take on the creature that even the strongest of his race fears.

A formidable foe to any human being, Dek remains the runt of the litter to his Yautja compatriots. Predator: Badlands maintains the core tenet of the series by having you root for an underdog. As Dek traverses the badlands, he’s beset on by all manner of foul flora and fauna. The planet itself seems out to make his mission as difficult as possible. Thankfully he finds a companion in the form of the upper half of an android named Thea played by Elle Fanning, whose knowledge of the environment comes in handy.

It’s at this point that Predator:Badlands may lose viewers. Why would a prideful hunter be open to a travelling companion, especially one that’s quite so verbal? It’s not just that she’s chattier than you’re average alien hunter, but her commentary is comparable to Eddie Murphy’s Donkey, with the cadence of a suburban soccer mom. As the movie continues, it moves further away from your idea of a typical predator film, introducing adorable animal companions and positioning the heroes against an evil witch in what feels more like your average Disney movie. On the surface, these elements are incongruous with the series, but are developed so well, and interwoven with the story, expanding the series to new heights while maintaining its savage soul.

Director Dan Trachtenberg’s care for the franchise is felt in every detail, resulting in each deviation being handled with care. Dek allows himself to see his companion as a tool, and slowly learns the benefits of empathy as a tactic. It translates the ethos of a warrior into the elements that make him a fully fledged character, one that’s easy to root for as the series careens into the future of the modern blockbuster. Time will tell if this uncharted territory is too much for the Predator, but as it stands, the series has never been so invigorating.

Rating: Big Screen Watch

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com