‘Predator: Badlands’ Review: The Best ‘Predator’ Since the First

If you’re unfamiliar with the original Predator design, do a Google search for it. You’ll find early concepts that resemble a mix between a large cockroach and a flimsy Halloween decoration.

It’s important to remember this wasn’t just an idea that was scrapped. This suit was actually brought to the set of the 1987 film Predator in Mexico. Carl Weathers even tried sparring with it! Jean-Claude Van Damme wore the suit and attempted some stunts—which didn’t go very well.

The filmmakers realized they had a problem and temporarily stopped production to completely rethink the creature’s design. This led to the iconic look created by Stan Winston and his team. However, even that impressive first Predator suit had drawbacks. It was cumbersome, overheated, and the actor, Kevin Peter Hall, couldn’t see properly while inside it. The Predator’s cloaking device wasn’t just a cool special effect; it was a clever way to hide the suit’s limitations on screen. Like Steven Spielberg did with Jaws, they kept the creature hidden for as long as possible to build suspense and make it even more frightening.

Early in Predator: Badlands, I kept thinking about the classic Predator suit. The movie starts with its Predator character in the middle of an intense sword fight. This Predator is incredibly agile, jumping, spinning, and tumbling around a huge underground cave as it battles another Predator. Unlike what many expect, this Predator doesn’t use invisibility often – and not at all in this opening fight – because this particular warrior, named Dek, hasn’t yet earned his cloaking device from his clan.

This Predator isn’t just shown during the action; it is the main character of the film. The story focuses on its emotional journey. After the initial fight, the camera focuses on its face—that recognizable, toothy mouth—revealing a surprising range of feelings like anger, fear, pride, and confusion. The filmmakers likely used a mix of practical effects, like prosthetics and animatronics, and digital tools to create these images, but the result is incredibly realistic, making the Predator feel like a genuine, living being.

Technology has dramatically improved special effects since the original Predator was released over 35 years ago. However, many poorly made movies have still relied on impressive visuals. Predator: Badlands stands out because it uses these advancements to create a truly engaging story and compelling characters. It’s a Predator film uniquely focused on humanity, despite featuring no human characters on screen.

Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is seen as the smallest and weakest member of his Predator family, and most of the other Predators look down on him. The only one who supports him is his brother, Kwei (Mike Homik). Their father, a large and powerful Predator (also played by Schuster-Koloamatangi), believes Dek is too weak, and Predators have no tolerance for weakness.

So, here’s the setup: our hero, Dek, finds himself stranded on Genna, which is apparently the most dangerous planet in the galaxy. He’s on a mission to prove himself to his clan by taking down this legendary beast called the Kalisk. As a director, Dan Trachtenberg – you might know him from Badlands – really focuses on Dek’s preparation. We see him gathering all this high-tech gear – a plasma sword, an energy bow, the works – and trying to get his bearings in this incredibly hostile world. From afar, Genna looks beautiful, almost inviting. But get closer, and you quickly realize it’s a nightmare. We’re talking carnivorous plants, razor-sharp grass, and creatures that literally weaponize poison. It’s a truly unforgiving landscape.

I’m really enjoying how this movie starts – it feels like a fun, almost detective-style Predator story! What’s cool is that the director is showing us a lot of the Predator’s world and how they do things, stuff we usually didn’t get to see in the other films, because those movies focused more on the people being hunted. We get to know Genna, a Predator raised to be totally independent, and he ends up with some hilarious companions. Elle Fanning plays an android who’s relentlessly optimistic, and together, they slowly start to show him how good it is to have friends and family – even if he’s not thrilled about it at first!

The film cleverly reimagines the Predator concept in a way that feels both unexpected and natural. Despite its humor and heartwarming moments, it delivers the intense action fans expect from the franchise about the alien hunter. Badlands is often a raw and violent experience, featuring some of the most intense action scenes in the series. The smart script manages to reveal insights into the creature’s motivations, and broader ideas about survival. Even unique aspects of the Predator’s fighting style highlight the film’s themes of camaraderie and the power of working together.

In a lot of ways, Predator: Badlands feels like the Predator series’ version of Terminator 2. It doesn’t reach quite the same epic scale or display the same bold filmmaking style, but it shares similar themes and structure. Specifically, it successfully transforms a mysterious and seemingly unstoppable enemy into a complex, relatable character, all while staying true to what made them so compelling originally.

It’s true – this is another sequel relying on familiar themes from a well-known franchise owned by a large company. However, within the constraints of that type of filmmaking, Predator: Badlands is surprisingly creative. It doesn’t simply repeat old ideas or bring back characters from the past for a cameo. Instead, it takes the fundamental concepts of the Predator universe and reimagines them in a fresh way.

Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands is his third installment in the Predator series, following the creative prequel Prey (2022) and this year’s animated collection, Killer of Killers. Though I haven’t met him, his work on this franchise suggests a deep childhood love for Predator – perhaps even more than the films always warranted – and a long period of considering what the series could become. I believe Predator: Badlands is the realization of that vision.

Additional Thoughts:

I loved Predator: Badlands so much that I immediately watched Trachtenberg’s Prey when I got home. It was clear he intentionally included a lot of connections between the two films – they even start with almost the same shot, moving from inside a tent or cave out into the wild, and have similar title sequences. I’m really looking forward to seeing someone break down all the similarities in a YouTube video.

Okay, so I went into Predator: Badlands completely unaware it was rated PG-13, and honestly, I didn’t even know people were debating that rating online. But seriously, anyone skipping this movie because they thought it wouldn’t be wild enough for a Predator flick is getting played! It’s super violent, and some of it is genuinely gruesome. I mean, there’s a scene where the Predator lets this alien creature run right into his blade, splitting it in half, then lifts up its guts like a trophy. PG-13, seriously?! It’s actually a pretty clever way to work around the MPAA’s weird rules about how much blood you can show. There’s tons of guts and gore, but it’s all alien colors – green, purple, milky white – because everyone getting sliced and diced isn’t human. Creatures are getting torn apart, heads are rolling, and stuff is ripped from the inside out… but no red blood. So, yeah, they found a loophole. PG-13 it is!

RATING: 8/10

Horror Movie Sequels That Successfully Reinvented a Franchise

Aliens (1986)

Ridley Scott’s Alien is a landmark sci-fi horror film, making a successful sequel a huge challenge. How could any follow-up measure up to the terrifying atmosphere of the 1979 original? James Cameron’s Aliens solved the problem by changing the genre. Instead of slow-building dread and isolation, the 1986 film delivers high-energy action—trading chills for thrills. Both movies have dedicated fans; some prefer the original’s quiet, eerie, and atmospheric tone, while others enjoy the sequel’s explosive, action-packed energy—complete with space marines and massive weaponry!—but it’s clear the second film unlocked a whole new range of possibilities for the Alien franchise.

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

It’s unusual for a sequel to completely eclipse the original, but Mike Flanagan’s Ouija: Origin of Evil does just that – it’s so much better than the first Ouija film that the original is almost forgettable. Flanagan expertly fixes all the problems with the first movie, creating a genuinely scary and emotionally resonant haunted house story about family, with a strong gothic horror vibe. While the original Ouija was set in the present day, Origin of Evil is a period piece set in 1967, which greatly enhances the atmosphere and draws comparisons to the first two Conjuring movies.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

Gremlins is a beloved classic from the 1980s – a standout horror and creature feature that introduced many to the genre. Joe Dante’s original film brilliantly mixes dark comedy – like the surprisingly intense story about the protagonist’s father – with impressive practical effects, creating a thrilling and enjoyable experience. But the sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, doesn’t simply repeat the formula. Instead, it moves the action from a quiet suburb to the wild world of a corporate skyscraper, embracing over-the-top, satirical humor. The sequel amplifies the dark comedy of the first film, pushing it into delightfully absurd territory – and it’s incredibly effective, even satirizing the original to hilarious extremes.

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street series always had a bit of a playful, over-the-top quality—perhaps because of all the fake blood! The original movie was a fairly direct and scary horror film, but the sequels became increasingly silly and strange. However, with the sixth film—Craven’s first return to the series in many years—he brought Freddy Krueger back to his truly terrifying self. He also added a clever, self-aware element that revitalized the franchise and even foreshadowed the style of his later film, Scream.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Matt Reeves’ 2008 film, Cloverfield, doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, in my opinion. While it was hugely popular when it came out, thanks to its clever marketing, it’s often overlooked when people talk about the best horror movies of the 2000s – despite launching a whole franchise. No one anticipated that the sequel, originally planned as a completely separate story, would move away from the shaky, realistic style that made the first film so memorable. 10 Cloverfield Lane opens up the franchise in a new direction, cleverly changing things up by shifting the action from a city under attack to a secluded, underground bunker in the countryside. Instead of the large-scale, explosive horror of the first movie, this one is a suspenseful, intimate thriller with fantastic performances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

It once seemed impossible to make a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 1980 horror film, The Shining. The movie felt unique and self-contained, existing almost outside of traditional cinema. However, 36 years after his original novel, Stephen King wrote Doctor Sleep, a true follow-up to The Shining, which was later adapted into a film by Mike Flanagan. Doctor Sleep centers on a grown-up Danny Torrance, haunted by his past, as he returns to the Overlook Hotel to confront a dangerous cult that preys on children with special abilities. While the original Shining was a slow-burn psychological horror, Doctor Sleep is a faster-paced supernatural thriller, offering a fresh perspective on the Torrance family’s story and appealing to fans of the franchise.

Prey (2022)

The Predator movies are known for their over-the-top action, sci-fi thrills, and horror elements. But Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey takes the series in a completely new direction, and it’s arguably one of the best Predator films yet. This prequel is set in the 1700s on the Great Plains and follows a young Comanche woman who’s trying to earn her place within her tribe while battling a deadly alien hunter. Instead of futuristic technology and weapons, Prey delivers a raw, primal fight between warriors, with a standout performance from Amber Midthunder. The film is incredibly engaging and cleverly reimagines the franchise, creating exciting possibilities for future installments (hopefully better than Predator: Badlands!).

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Like another film on this list (clearly Aliens), Terminator 2: Judgement Day takes the original, more horror-focused 1984 movie and transforms it into a big action sequel. This sequel redefines the story and sets the direction for all future Terminator films. Set eleven years after The Terminator, it portrays Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character (now a T-800) as a surprising protector, tasked with safeguarding young John Connor, who holds the key to the future. While still containing some horror elements, the film fully embraces its science fiction action roots, and is made particularly impactful by the unexpectedly touching relationship that develops between John and his serious, protective Terminator.

Bride of Chucky (1998)

The first three Child’s Play movies were designed to be genuinely scary and make audiences look at their childhood toys differently, with some dark humor mixed in. But the fourth film, Bride of Chucky, completely changed the tone. It shifted the series from a straight-up horror franchise to a self-aware, darkly comedic one. Bride of Chucky focuses on Chucky reconnecting with his old partner-in-crime, Tiffany Valentine, and trying to escape his doll body with the help of a magical amulet. While it’s still a horror movie, the scares aren’t very strong, and the human characters aren’t particularly memorable. The film’s strength lies in the entertaining and gruesome dynamic between Chucky and Tiffany, which set the stage for the series’ increasingly over-the-top and campy style.

Evil Dead II (1987)

While Army of Darkness is often considered the most impactful film in the Evil Dead series, Evil Dead II was truly foundational. It expanded the franchise beyond the original cabin setting and established the iconic character of Ash. Evil Dead II was the first to successfully mix different genres, building on the over-the-top style and violence of the first film to create a hilarious horror-comedy. Though later films have leaned more towards straight horror, Evil Dead II’s tonal shift allowed the series to grow and evolve beyond its original formula by brilliantly reimagining the first film.

2025-11-07 20:29