Predator fans have long dreamed of a film told entirely from the Yautja hunter’s perspective. With Predator: Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg (Prey) finally delivers on that promise, giving us a deep dive into Predator culture, language, and lore. However, this ambitious sci-fi adventure is held back by a surprising tonal shift: it’s rated PG-13, and at times, it feels like a Disney movie.
The film follows “Deck,” a young Predator who is an outcast and a “runt” within his clan. To earn his cloak and respect, he must embark on a solo hunt on a hostile alien planet to kill a legendary beast. What follows is a visually stunning journey that starts strong but slowly dilutes its gritty potential with buddy-cop tropes, cute sidekicks, and “power of friendship” themes that feel alien to the franchise.
“This was my dream film—a Predator movie from the Predator’s perspective. And for the first half, it works. But then it gets family-friendly, cartoony, and loses the gritty edge that defines the series.”
It’s a good movie that could have been legendary if it had just committed to an R-rating.
A Hunter’s Journey
The strongest aspect of Badlands is its world-building. Seeing the Predator home world, understanding their social hierarchy, and watching Deck use his wits and engineering skills to survive is fantastic. The film does a great job of showing why Deck is different—he’s smaller, weaker, but smarter. He crafts his own weapons and armor from the bones of his kills, which is a brilliant touch.
The alien planet he hunts on is a visual treat, filled with imaginative fauna like “glass grass” and stunning rocky cliffs, especially in IMAX. The creature designs, particularly the “basilisk” he is hunting, are top-notch, and the practical effects on the Predator himself are excellent (mostly).
The Disneyfication of Predator
Where the film stumbles is in its second half. Deck, the ruthless hunter, ends up teaming up with an unlikely ally—a human synthetic named Tessa (Elle Fanning)—and a cute, small alien creature. The dynamic quickly shifts from survival horror to a buddy-cop adventure. There are jokes, bonding moments, and even “sad puppy dog eyes” from the Predator that attempt to pull at your heartstrings.
While the message of “found family” is sweet, it feels out of place in a franchise known for spine-ripping and visceral combat. The PG-13 rating means the violence is sanitized; most enemies are synthetics or non-human creatures with non-red blood, robbing the kills of their impact.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| PG-13 Rating: The lack of gore and grit significantly reduces the intensity. | PG-13 Rating: The lack of gore and grit holds back the intensity significantly. |
| World Building: The lore, culture, and alien environments are creative and immersive. | Tonal Whiplash: Shifts from serious sci-fi to a “buddy cop” comedy with cute sidekicks. |
| Visuals & Sound: Stunning cinematography and incredible sound design (see it in IMAX). | “Disney” Moments: Forced emotional beats and humor that feel out of place. |
| Deck’s Character: A compelling protagonist who uses intelligence over brute strength. | The Mask Design: Deck’s self-made mask looks a bit “dumb” compared to the classic look. |
Predator: Badlands: This is a solid entry in the franchise that takes bold risks by focusing entirely on the alien hunter. The first half is everything a fan could want. However, the decision to soften the edges for a wider audience prevents it from reaching the heights of the original Predator or even Prey. It’s a fun, visually spectacular sci-fi adventure, but if you’re looking for the hardcore, R-rated action the series is famous for, you might leave feeling like the hunt was a little too easy. – Asmodeus
