Movie Review: Predators Badlands

After Prey reignited interest in the Predator franchise with its grounded storytelling and raw intensity, Predator: Badlands takes things in a very different and surprisingly emotional direction. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the film dives deeper into the world of the Yautja by introducing us to a younger, more impulsive hunter named Dek. What follows is a coming-of-age journey through survival, self-discovery, and the brutal world of hunting, both literally and figuratively.

Unlike previous entries where humans are the hunted, Badlands shifts focus entirely to the Predator’s perspective. We follow Dek’s quest to prove his worth and survive the harsh planet Genna while forming an unlikely alliance with Thia, a damaged Weyland-Yutani synthetic. The film explores loyalty, morality, and identity in ways the franchise hasn’t before.

Visually, Badlands is stunning. The alien world of Genna is beautifully realized lush, hostile, and teeming with imaginative creatures. The cinematography and creature design are top-tier, and it’s clear Trachtenberg and his team paid close attention to world-building. The action sequences are thrilling, but they also carry an emotional core, especially through Dek’s bond with Thia and the creature Bud.

That said, there’s a tonal shift that might catch long-time fans off guard. The movie leans a little too light at times almost comical in moments that should’ve been intense. While I understand the intent to show a more youthful Predator and make Dek relatable, it occasionally feels like a teen adventure movie rather than the gritty, merciless Predator experience we’re used to. Still, it’s a bold move to humanize the Yautja, and it works more often than it doesn’t.

In the end, Predator: Badlands is a refreshing yet slightly uneven addition to the franchise. It’s a coming-of-age Predator movie something I didn’t know I needed but found myself enjoying anyway. The chemistry between Dek and Thia, along with the deeper look into Yautja culture, gives the film a heart beneath all the carnage.

I’m giving Predator: Badlands a 7/10. It’s a fresh, daring entry that expands the Predator mythos in unexpected ways, even if it loses a bit of its edge along the way.