“Predator: Badlands” Takes Franchise To Exciting New Directions

Over the last couple weeks, I have been revisiting the movies in the main “Predator” franchise. I have previously checked out both “Prey” and “Predator: Killer or Killers” (straight to Hulu releases) and decided to skip the “Alien vs. Predator” movies. So, now, let’s get into the latest entry “Predator: Badlands,” which marks the first time in years that the series would be back on the big screen!

In the latest entry of the series, cast out from its clan, an alien hunter and an unlikely ally embark on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

After watching the trailers for “Predator: Badlands,” I could tell that this was going to be slightly different than the previous installments. Most die hard fans of the series could be hesitant about “Badlands” being slapped with a PG-13 rating. But, honestly, this new “Predator” movie is a rather entertaining, action-packed installment of this on-going franchise.

“Predator: Badlands” is probably the most ambitious movie in the franchise and that includes the recent installments that went straight to Hulu (“Prey” and “Killer of Killers”). The latest installment makes a bold move by making the Predator alien species the main protagonist, which is different and that also helps build onto the franchise’s world and lore. The movie’s story also delivers a good amount of action and, believe it or not, a bit of heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh idea of telling the story from the point of view of the Predator (actually called the Yautja). This new direction is really unique and different, which is something the series needed to stay relevant and fresh. In this movie, we actually get a more intimate look into the Yautja culture and a deeper look into their warrior code, which is actually pretty awesome if you are a fan of the series!

The main character, Dek, starts an unlikely friendship with Thia, who’s a Weyland-Yutani

synthetic, (hmm an “Alien” connection) and their friendship that they develop together actually adds a lot of emotional depth to this latest entry. Thia also serves as the movie’s comic relief, and for the most part, the Thia character can be humorous. Their bond actually makes these characters relatable and makes their character arcs more immersive since Dek is looking to prove himself to his clan while Thia is just simply trying to find her place.

Before checking the movie out, I was a bit hesitant about how the PG-13 rating would affect the violent action that the series is mainly known for. And, honestly, despite the different rating, the action that the movie delivers is really intense and a little brutal. While some of the action may not get as insane as the previous entries, it’s pretty close.

From the very start of the movie, the action is almost non-stop, especially once Dek goes to the planet Genna, a.k.a. The “Death Planet”. The opening sequence involves Dek’s father attempting to force Kwei (Dek’s brother) to kill him as a display of strength. As Kwei helps Dek escape to the planet Genna, his father ends up killing Kwei (a surprisingly emotional and brutal moment), which also starts Dek’s motivation for revenge.

The action that takes place on Genna can get a little tense as practically everything on this planet, including razor sharp grass and exploding slug-like aliens, can easily kill Dek. All of the action leads up to a thrilling third act that takes place on the Weyland-Yutani base and the entire act is extremely action-packed and thrilling. 

Overall, “Predator: Badlands” is an exciting new chapter of the franchise that does a decent job broadening the franchise’s appeal. The latest entry of the “Predator” franchise is also visually amazing! Now, some die-hard fans of the series will likely miss the darker tone of the previous movies. But, make sure to give “Predator: Badlands” a chance!

Also, before I wrap the review up, here’s a quick fun fact: The reason why “Badlands” ended up being rated PG-13 is because the sci-fi violence that we see throughout the movie avoids human characters and their red blood. So, by focusing the violence on the aliens and synthetics (both of which don’t have red blood), the filmmakers were able to create a violent “Predator” movie within the PG-13 rating constraints.

Make sure to check out my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook for some fun little tidbits about the movie and to see what else I will be checking out in future editions! And here is a rundown of what I have planned for the 11/26 edition: “The Running Man” (new release); “Now You See Me 3” (new release); “Hampstead” (final film for my In Memory of Diane Keaton slate); “Doctor Dolittle 1-2” (Family Movie Night); “Man of the House/Honey I Shrunk the Kids” (Family Movie Night). I’m also in the middle of planning the holiday reviews for December so make sure to stay tuned on Facebook for future updates!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDL3Zjdz514

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• There is not one human character throughout the film.

• It's confirmed that Thia and Tessa are part of Weyland's Bio-Weapons Division, the same division that made capturing and experimenting Xenomorphs its top priority. However, it looks as though harnessing the regenerative properties of the Kalisk has become another goal for the department.

• A Harvester skull from Independence Day (1996) is seen on the Predator's trophy wall in the teaser.

• Dek is the first named Predator as well as the first Predator to be a protagonist.

• Director Dan Trachtenberg says he's also working on another "secret Predator movie that will come out before the theatrical" release (i.e. Badlands), implying that it will be direct to video and perhaps animated. This ended up being Predator: Killer of Killers (2025).

• A tie-in prequel comic book, set shortly before the events of Predator: Badlands, written by Ethan Sacks and illustrated by Elvin Ching, with a cover by Juan Ferreyra, will be published on November 12, 2025, by Marvel Comics

• Before the final battle, Dek is shown preparing various pieces of armor and weapons, mirroring the same preparation montage included in 2022's Prey with Amber Midthunder's Naru, which in turn was a nod to Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch in the very first Predator movie, preparing various weapons and traps to take on the Predator hunting him in the jungle.

• The film opens with an entry from the Yautja Codex, a strict code of honor held by every clan of the warrior race. While this new entry confirms that "Yautja are friend and prey to none", the animated anthology Killer of Killers was the first Predator project to open with a Codex entry of its own: "Go forth among the stars and seek only the strongest prey. They shall be your trophy. Become the killer of killers."

• The film uses the term Yautja to refer to the Predator species and Yautja Prime to refer to the Predator home planet. These terms were introduced in the franchise's expanded universe, first appearing in the 1994 novel Aliens vs. Predator: Prey authored by S.D. Perry and Steve Perry, which itself was a spin-off of the Aliens vs. Predator comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics.

• Dek's design has been criticised by some fans due to the human-like hairline that the predator has and the shaven look on the sides. Typically a Predator's dreadlocks come out of "sockets" in their skulls, also the "dreadlocks" are not actual hair but a fleshy or smooth appendage that has even shown to be able to bleed in some media.

• This is the the first mainline Predator film to be PG-13. Producer Ben Rosenblatt explained that the goal is to deliver intense, gruesome action against monsters and androids within the PG-13 constraints, aiming for a rating that feels like an R-rated film.