3.5 out of 5 stars (above average)
I never expected to enjoy Predator: Badlands as much as I did. A standalone entry in the Predator film series, this installment ditches the horror genre for a surprisingly sweet buddy movie that still delivers all the action you could ask for in one of these on top of a great performance by Elle Fanning. Predator: Badlands stakes a new path for its weathered franchise to trek on with heart, levity and solid action sequences.
Predator Dek (Dimitrius Koloamantangi) is the runt of his planet’s litter. To gain his father’s approval and acceptance into the predator clan, he vows to hunt down the deadly Kalisk creature that even his own father fears. Upon arriving to the Kalisk’s planet, Dek discovers he isn’t quite adept enough to handle its terrain alone, begrudgingly taking on a legless android Thia (Elle Fanning) who claims she can guide him to his prey. As our unlikely heroes set off on their adventure, they’ll encounter creatures, environmental hazards, and something far more sinister on their path.
I never thought I’d use words like “sweet” or “lighthearted” to describe a Predator movie, but that’s exactly what went through my head watching Predator: Badlands. Director Dan Trachtenberg (who also helmed Prey and an animated Predator film, Killer of Killers, for Hulu and 10 Cloverfield Lane) brings a surprising lightness of tone to the proceedings and endearing dynamic between the leads without kiddifying it or skimping on the spectacle. Elle Fanning brings a deadpan yet vulnerable presence to Thia, Koloamantangi conveys Dek’s physicality and emotions well, and the visual effects are seamless.
This felt like the world’s most violent Pixar movie at times with its themes of friendship, family, and what it means to be a leader, but this is not a family outing. Green blood spurts, dismemberments, and talk of murder are regular occurrences here as in any Predator movie, but I appreciated the lighter touch, parallels between the leads, and successful melding of sci-fi, exciting action, and sweet buddy film. There’s a cute animal sidekick that may as well have “future plush toy” above his head, but the movie should satisfy longtime fans and newcomers alike.
While I wish Predator: Badlands had a horror element and a tad more time on a late story development, I’m very pleased with this new direction and hope it’s successful enough to continue with this team and characters, something the final scene kindly leaves the door open to do. Predator: Badlands lacks its franchise’s visceral horror, but delivers action-packed spectacle and a surprisingly sweet buddy dynamic that makes it stand apart from its forebearers. See it!
Rated PG-13 for Sequences of Strong Sci-Fi Violence