Predator: Badlands Review

Some movies in a franchise deviate from the very characteristics that define it. Sometimes, this deviation brings unexpectedly good results. A classic example is how Christopher Nolan gave his own spin to the Joker in The Dark Knight. Initially some diehard Batman fans were not too pleased. However, it now stands as the best movie in the franchise and, in many ways, a Hollywood pathbreaker.

Now, a new Predator movie is upon us. But this time, the Predator is a runt and a good guy - quite uncharacteristic of the franchise. It all depends on your perspective. This 20th Century Fox production feels more like a Disney picture, following the familiar "it all ends well" trajectory. Director Dan Trachtenberg has put his own humorous treatment to the franchise. If you are okay with that, you will definitely enjoy the movie.

Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a runt Predator from Yautja Prime, is on a mission to kill Kalisk - an unkillable apex predator on the deadly planet Genna. It is his chance to prove to his father, Njohrr, that he is not too weak to survive. After crash-landing on Genna, Dek meets Thia (Elle Fanning), a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic (robot with extreme human capabilities and emotions) who lost her lower half while trying to capture Kalisk. Thia agrees to help Dek track the creature in exchange for his help reuniting her with her missing legs. A local creature named Bud (Rohinal Nayaran) later joins them. Meanwhile, Thia's twin synthetic sister, Tessa (also Elle Fanning), is on their trail, tasked with capturing both Dek and Kalisk for the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

That is the gist of things in a few lines - there is not much story-wise. But director Dan Trachtenberg has made the setup so enchanting and lively that you'll love whatever flashes on the screen. The movie opens with the ticker: "I'm not a friend, not an enemy. I'm Predator Badlands." This is the only element that feels thematically connected to the franchise. However, even this idea is abandoned just a few minutes into the film. The treatment is strikingly different from the recent Predator movies, and feels completely alien to the 1987 original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The first major difference is that there are no human characters - only synthetics, Predators, and the creatures of planet Genna. The second is the portrayal of the Predators themselves - Dek, his father, and his brother - all of whom display human-like traits. Personally, I liked these non-traditional touches. If you do, too, everything in this movie will feel golden. And you will feel that the movie does an incredibly good job of making you empathise with the predator Dek. For the first time, you will find that the predator has been fleshed out more than usual. He has dad issues and bro issues, navigates family dynamics, and struggles to prove himself in a culture that values the hunt above all else.

Thirdly, Genna is no less fascinating than Avatar's enchanting Pandora. The world of Genna is beautifully crafted - plants devour animals, some plants explode, and even the blades of grass are so stiff and sharp they can be used as weapons. In contrast, Yautja Prime is barren, resembling a dystopian Australian wasteland. There's no Earth in the movie - only a few synthetics from Earth roaming Genna.

So, what is happening in Genna? Plenty of mayhem - Predator vs Kalisk, Predator vs synthetics, synthetics vs Kalisk, and repeat. The kills are graphic but not gory - it is a bloodless massacre. Synthetics do not bleed, and Genna's creatures do not bleed red. Sometimes their wounds ooze green fluid or burst into fire, that is about it. But the action sequences and innovative fight choreography are nothing short of spectacular.

Speaking of spectacle, there is a standout sequence where Thia's upper body fights one group of synthetics while her lower half battles another. In one frame, she is fighting two opponents in two places. This choreography is picture-perfect and gratuitous.

Elle Fanning is outstanding, bringing real emotion and complexity to her dual roles as Thia and Tessa. The rest of the cast, buried under prosthetics, cannot emote as freely - but the CGI and motion capture are excellent. Then again, you cannot expect too much expression; have we ever seen a hooded Darth Vader emote?

There is little need to discuss the technical aspects - they are all top-notch. If I had to rank them, I would place the world-building through VFX and CGI at the top, followed by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch's evocative background score.

In the end, Predator: Badlands is a wholesome, heartfelt, humorous and action-packed addition to the franchise. It is filled with human emotions, character arcs, and humour that works. The odd-trio dynamic between Dek, Thia and Bud provides plenty of laughs. Even if you prefer your Predator films dark and serious, trust me - this one is entertaining, too. It brings a mix of fresh elements and pleasant surprises that truly deserve a theatrical watch.