Predator: Badlands Review – Dan Trachtenberg Proves He’s the Right Person to Lead the Franchise

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It’s surprising the Predator movies have lasted as long as they have. The original, from 1987, is still considered a classic, and that’s a good reason to revisit the series. But for over twenty years, none of the sequels lived up to the original in terms of reviews or box office success. While the Predator story continued in comics and novels, you’d think Hollywood might have stopped making films after so many failures. Thankfully, they didn’t. Director Dan Trachtenberg revitalized the franchise with 2022’s Prey, proving there are still thrilling stories to tell in the Predator universe. Predator: Badlands continues this success, boldly expanding the scope of the series in exciting new ways.

The story of Predator: Badlands centers on Dek, a young Predator trying to prove himself within his clan on their home planet. Considered weak by his people, Dek travels to the dangerous planet Genna to hunt the Kalisk – a beast that has killed every Predator who’s ever faced it. Dek hopes to defeat the Kalisk, gain honor, and return home a hero. However, his hunt is complicated by the arrival of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a company known from the Alien universe, who have sent artificial beings to Genna to study its dangerous lifeforms.

Director Trachtenberg isn’t the first to move the Predator story beyond Earth – many remember the 2010 film Predators, though perhaps not fondly. However, Badlands demonstrates that he’s the first to truly understand how to revitalize the Predator franchise. The original Predator film successfully blended horror, action, and science fiction, and those elements are core to the series. But previous sequels struggled because they tried to balance all three at once. Trachtenberg is smartly shifting the focus with each film: Prey emphasized horror, while Predator: Killer of Killers was primarily action-focused. Predator: Badlands offers yet another inventive approach to this universe, taking cues from fantasy films and resulting in one of the year’s best movies.

Rating: 4/5

PROS CONS
Strong direction from Dan Trachtenberg. Predictable hero’s journey structure
Fresh fantasy-inspired take on the Predator formula. Less gritty environments due to heavy CGI.
Rich world-building and a deeper look at Yautja culture.
Inventive and varied action sequences.

Predator: Badlands Is a Classic Fantasy Journey

The new Predator movie is set on another planet, but its story feels a lot like a traditional fantasy tale. It follows Dek, an unlikely hero who must defeat a powerful creature. His journey to reach the Kalisk is full of dangers, and he needs to prove himself in smaller battles first. Along the way, he teams up with a scientist named Thia (Elle Fanning) and a charming local creature named Bud, forming surprising friendships that make him rethink his mission. If you swapped the Kalisk for a dragon and the scientists for elves, the movie could easily be a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. This shift in tone might surprise fans who prefer the franchise’s darker, more horrific side, but the fantasy elements actually benefit Predator: Badlands.

As a huge movie fan, I think what director Trachtenberg did with the new Predator film is really smart. He gave the character a clear arc, and really dove deep into the culture of the Yautja – the Predators themselves. It makes them way more interesting! Their whole thing with hunting, their traditions, and how they mix super-advanced tech with this almost tribal, primitive aesthetic? It’s captivating, honestly. It reminds me a lot of how Star Wars built up groups like the Mandalorians – really fleshed-out subcultures that fans connect with. And I think that’s key for the Predator franchise going forward. They can expand the universe and appeal to a wider audience without relying only on horror, which is a great move.

While the story in Predator: Badlands isn’t particularly surprising, and the lessons Dek learns aren’t groundbreaking, that’s okay – stories about found families are popular for a reason. What really makes this work is director Trachtenberg’s skill. Predator: Badlands is a genuinely fun and exciting movie, delivering the big action and impressive visuals you’d expect from a theatrical release.

ThePG-13 Action Doesn’t Harm Predator: Badlands

The latest Predator film, Badlands, is different because it earned a PG-13 rating, which worried some fans who thought it might soften the franchise’s intense violence. However, the movie is still quite graphic. Because the story focuses on synthetic beings and other creatures instead of humans, Badlands can be violent without breaking the rules set by the Motion Picture Association. While there are still scenes of brutal injuries like beheadings and amputations, the fact that the alien creatures don’t bleed red makes the violence more acceptable to the MPA.

Now that’s settled, Predator: Badlands further proves director Trachtenberg’s talent for action. Each fight is engaging, and Trachtenberg, who also wrote the script, consistently delivers unexpected and creative ways for Dek to eliminate his opponents and reach the Kalisk. The alien setting provides ample opportunity to showcase the Yautja’s ingenuity and the universe’s dangers through inventive traps, tools, and weapons. Ultimately, the movie is a non-stop adrenaline rush that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The setting of Predator: Badlands unfortunately detracts from the feel of earlier Predator movies. While the Yautja have often been created with digital effects, both the original film and Prey were set in jungles that felt authentic. The planet Genna, where Badlands takes place, looks obviously artificial. Despite the unusual creatures on Genna, director Trachtenberg does a commendable job with the digital environment – a skill he demonstrated previously with the fast-paced action in Killer of Killers. However, the lack of realism is noticeable, making Predator: Badlands not quite as impactful as Prey.

Predator: Badlands hits theaters on November 7th.

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2025-11-05 21:41