Predator: Badlands Review. Predator: Badlands is the third…

Predator: Badlands is the third franchise entry directed by Dan Trachtenberg, and it takes the series in an entirely new direction. For the first time, the film features a Predator — a Yautja — as the protagonist.

For franchise purists, that shift may feel like too much. But I’d argue Trachtenberg already proved he understands the Predator formula with 2022’s Prey. Now he’s breathing fresh life into the franchise with both the animated anthology Killer of Killers that released earlier this year on Hulu, and now, to greatest degree yet, with Badlands.

All too often in franchises, the titular creatures get minimal screen-time while the rest of the film is dedicated to characters we don’t care about. This time, Trachtenberg actually did it, y’all.

If you had reservations about following an alien lead who doesn’t speak English, I get it. But Trachtenberg wastes no time making Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) immediately sympathetic. In a society built around harsh survivalism, Dek is a runt, carrying a massive chip on his shoulder. Eager to prove himself on his first hunt — a rite of passage in Yautja culture — Dek travels to the planet Genna, “the death planet,” where every form of life is trying to kill you. Dek is determined to kill the most dangerous creature on the planet, the Kalisk, a feat no Yautja has completed. On his quest, he finds two unlikely allies in Thia (Elle Fanning), a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic missing her lower half, and a young native creature on the planet, “Bud,” who accompanies them.

This is where the film takes a moment to settle in. Seeing Predator culture up close — seeing the hunt from theirperspective — is incredible. But pairing a Yautja with an overly curious scientist synth and a cute creature companion takes a moment of recalibration. However, they’re not here as marketable sidekicks. They’re integral to Dek’s emotional and thematic journey.

Both Schuster-Koloamatangi and the effects team do outstanding work. The Predator design — already one of sci-fi’s most iconic — feels more expressive and character-driven than ever. Dek is relatable, while still unmistakably Yautja. Despite his alien features, he becomes the emotional center of the film — and, somewhat ironically, its most relatable character. That’s not a knock on Fanning or her roles, but simply a reflection of how the narrative is structured around Dek’s internal arc.

Meanwhile, Elle Fanning plays two separate synth units, Thia and Tessa, whose arcs cleverly mirror Dek’s in thoughtful, layered ways. But it’s Thia who truly shines — walking the line between childlike curiosity and that sly synthetic wit that’s been notorious throughout the Alien franchise.

Because the planet is so hostile, there are no humans — only synths. But don’t think that means the action softens. Every takedown is creative, brutal, and carries the same primal swagger the franchise was built on. Badlands knows how to be undeniably cool when it counts — and the Yautja chants woven into the soundtrack certainly bolster this.

Badlands explores ideas of family, community, and — most importantly — what actually defines true strength. In a culture defined by brutal Darwinism, Dek is forced to learn where his place is in a society that casts him out — whether strength is only measured in dominance, or if there’s something deeper.

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” — Romans 15:1

Conclusion

Predator: Badlands breaks the franchise mold in all the right ways, giving us a Predator story unlike anything before it. Trachtenberg has proven he not only understands the IP — its lore, its atmosphere, its mythic weight — but also how to make it simply a damn good time.

9/10

If you’d like to see where Badlands ranks amongst the rest of the Predator franchise, you can check out my ranking list here.