Between 1987 and 2018, the Predator was seen on the big screen six times, but during this time no director was given the honor of portraying the alien trophy hunter more than once. This situation should only change in 2022: With “Prey,” Dan Trachtenberg not only made a strong entry in the cult sci-fi action franchise, it was also the beginning of a new era – because the “10 Cloverfield Lane” maker has clearly come to stay.
After Trachtenberg pitted a young Comanche in 18th century North America against the Predator in “Prey,” he followed up this June with the animated episodic film “Predator: Killer Of Killers” exclusively on Disney+ – in a way that was as varied as it was extremely entertaining. With “Predator: Badlands”, Trachtenberg is now presenting his third work in the series – and the question of whether he is suitable as the true architect of the “Predator” universe can now be clearly answered with yes!
Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Kolomatangi) gets ready for the hunt.
As a Yautja (that's the name of the extraterrestrial species that is usually simply referred to as Predator in the films) it really isn't easy. To be accepted into the clan, you have to prove your strength and go hunting. The young Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Kolomatangi), however, is viewed by his father as the weakest link in the family and is supposed to be eliminated by his own brother Kwei. But when Kwei stands in front of Dek to protect himself, the tide turns tragically – the father kills Kwei, and Dek's only option is to flee to the distant planet Genna.
Driven by anger, Dek wants to prove to his father that he too has the blood of a true hunter. His target: the legendary Kalisk – a mythical beast that lives on Genna and has already taken the lives of countless Yautja. On his dangerous odyssey, Dek meets the synthetic entity Thia (Elle Fanning), who was sent by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation for research purposes. After a fateful encounter with the Kalisk, Thia is now searching for the lower half of her body. The duo goes on an adventurous journey together…
Really nice adventure cinema
After the dramaturgical course has been set for Dek's hero's journey, Dan Trachtenberg impressively shows why he is the ideal director for the “Predator” franchise: He simply has this wonderfully nerdy desire to create stories. As soon as Dek lands on the planet Genna, “Predator: Badlands” almost turns into a CGI-soaked love letter to the fantastic cinema of special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen (“Sinbad's 7th Voyage”) in its exploration of the extraordinary flora and fauna.
There is a simple, merciless rule on Genna: eat or be eaten. Trachtenberg unleashes an almost childlike, unbridled joy in exploring this so-called “planet of death”, which is immediately infectious. It's a pleasure to dive side by side with the Predator into this dangerous world: exploding maggots, stinging plants, dragon-like flying beasts, bone bison, blade grass and countless other exotic life forms – sometimes tiny and devious, sometimes so gigantic that the ground shakes – populate the screen with an overwhelming wealth of ideas.
Giant dangers await the young Predator on Genna.
With “Predator: Badlands” Trachtenberg succeeds in staging a classic, but at the same time refreshingly vital, survival adventure that breathes new life into the spirit of the series – and it is precisely this energy that carries the film as it progresses. With the appearance of “Like A Complete Unknown” star Elle Fanning as the emotionally gifted android Thia, the story also receives another very charming touch: a lively battle of words full of humor and warmth develops between her and the Predator, which allows the once wordless hunter to mature as a character in a coherent way and become more tangible. After all, “Predator: Badlands” is the first film in the series that makes the Predator himself the protagonist – and sometimes with astonishing sensitivity.
Fortunately, the interplay between Dek's unwavering, purposeful vehemence and Thia's curious, babbling insouciance never seems forced. On the contrary: the android's disarming open-heartedness gives their relationship a touching grounding. It's therefore enthralling to watch the unlikely duo fight their way through a world that hides new, deadly dangers around every corner – and how, with the help of small gestures, such as offering food, the two of them get closer little by little and essentially become their own clan.
Not everything works
In the schematic final third, however, “Predator: Badlands” noticeably loses its spirit. The installation of Weyland-Yutani Corp., known from the “Alien” franchise. leads to the sci-fi actioner making increasingly predictable decisions, which the film is then too keen to sell as big twists. The generic action finale in a laboratory hangar delivers some coolly choreographed Predator fight sequences and brings back an iconic element with the legendary Power Loader from “Aliens: The Return” (including a Klopp sequence reminiscent of “Pacific Rim”). Nevertheless, the showdown is far too dark, which not only makes the CGI look muddy, but also makes Dan Trachtenberg's actually strong and imaginative action vision lose some of its power.
In addition, the inclusion of a monkey-like alien that clicks, rolls, spits and clucks cutely smells strongly of a marketing say. This means that “Predator” moves into regions where child-friendly merchandise could play a role – and it is precisely this attempt to provide a cute sidekick to a beastly warrior that now seems simply trite and lame, not least because of the popularity of productions like “The Mandalorian”.
Strong together: Thia (Elle Fanning) and Dek.
But is “Predator: Badlands” really the “Predator for the whole family”? No, you shouldn't put it that drastically, even if it is the first part of the series that received a PG-13 rating in the USA (i.e. rated for ages 13 and up), while all other parts received the harder R rating. Even in “Badlands,” heads are severed, extremities are thrown through the air, bodies explode or are pierced – only not by people, but by androids or creatures. However, green, white and orange blood may splatter in abundance when the Predator unpacks his plasma sword!
Conclusion: The Predator can also be a protagonist! Dan Trachtenberg proves for the third time that he is the right man for the future of the sci-fi franchise. “Predator: Badlands” works extremely well, especially as a classic survival adventure with a charming buddy dynamic. The last third noticeably slows down, but one thing is certain: Trachtenberg's “Alien Vs. Predator” is welcome!