Violence never looked so good! Following the success of the animated film Predator: Killer of Killers, Predator: Badlands arrives just in time for Thanksgiving and to shake up awards season. The latest from Dan Trachtenberg sees a hunter going for the ultimate kill to earn respect and avenge the death of a loved one.
The film wastes no time in getting to the violence. On Yautja Prime, it’s two brothers battling one another for honor and respect. The pacing was intentional, giving enough backstory to set the tone of the film without crossing the line into boredom. After a brief conversation, their father, the leader of the clan, arrives and is immediately disturbed by the sight of his youngest son, whom he deems weak. Defying his father’s direct order to kill his younger brother, Kwei (Michael Homick) locks him in his ship and sends him away to Genna – The Death Planet.
We opened with fighting amongst brothers, moved to fighting amongst family, and now we’re crashing onto a planet known for death and destruction? The opening 15-20 minutes are actual perfection. We eventually land a name for the younger brother, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), who now faces the impossible task of killing a Kalisk — a feat that’s never been done.
The film distinguishes itself from the rest in the Predator Universe with a handful of firsts. It’s the first film to focus on the Predator species, Yautja. For the first time, audiences get to follow the monster as the main protagonist. We’re taught the most about their culture and home planet. And I believe this is the first time they’ve introduced a Yautja with any level of weakness.
In a society where the weak are culled, setting the story around the “weakest link” was a great idea by Trachtenberg. This sets the stage for exploration and leaves fans chomping at the bit to learn what makes a Yautja “weak”. What I find most interesting is their belief in complete solitude (hunting, eating, doing everything “alone), and yet, they live together. This is one of the hurdles the protagonist Dek has to overcome when he’s seconds away from death.
Thia (Elle Fanning) is a synth owned by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Having just her upper body and trapped in a vulture’s nest, she sees an opportunity to change her fortunes when she finds a Yautja trapped in a field of poisonous plants. This is where Dek faces his first internal struggle: to live by the code of the Yautja or not live at all. Ultimately, he accepts her assistance and convinces himself that he’s still within code as a synth is a “tool” and not a person. Assigning him the name Dek, Thia makes the trek across Genna in tow and proves herself a useful friend… er, tool, in more ways than one.
The synergy between Dek and Thia made them both likable characters. They were united by the common goal of finding the Kalisk, even while pursuing deeply personal missions: Thia’s fight to reunite with Tessa, whom she considered a sister, and Dek’s continued effort to honor his late brother, Kwei. Dek would also accomplish what no Yautja has ever done (killing the Kalisk) and finally earn his cloak (which makes them invisible). Their quid pro quo gradually grows into a partnership, and as his intelligence grows, her confidence and hope go along with it.
The film was shot in New Zealand and boasts a load of talent that made this film flawless. Director of Photography Jeff Cutter and Production Designer Ra Vincent did a phenomenal job with the landscape. Costume Designer Ngila Dickson was responsible for outfitting Dek in “traditional” garb while also bringing something new. The creature design and visual effects were stunning by all accounts, and the fight scenes were incredible. It was everything a Predator movie should be.
Predator: Badlands gets a 10 out of 10. This is probably the easiest 10 I’ve ever given. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s deafening. Seeing this outside of IMAX would be criminal. October was roasted as a horrible month for film, claiming fans “simply didn’t show up” to the theatre. Well, if you needed a reason to go, Badlands is it. The only issue I had, and it’s very minor, dealt with Bud (I’ll leave it at that to stay spoiler-free). Outside of that, it’s violence, mayhem, and family drama at its finest.
Predator: Badlands premieres in theatres on Friday, Nov. 7.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Disney
Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi/Thriller
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hr 47 minutes
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: November 7, 2025
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