‘Predator: Badlands’ – Review
The hunt is well and truly on in Predator: Badlands, and director Dan Trachtenberg once again proves why he has become one of the most exciting voices in science fiction action filmmaking. Having revitalised the Predator Universe with the stripped-back ferocity of Prey and the high-concept mayhem of Predator: Killer of Killers, Trachtenberg now flips the script entirely. Predator: Badlands is a bold, unexpected, and wildly engaging new chapter that dares to reframe the iconic alien hunter not as the terror of the story…but as its underdog hero. And the result delivers a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat experience from beginning to end.
Cast out from its clan, an alien hunter and an unlikely ally embark on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
This time, the focus centres on Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young and untested Yautja who has grown up as the runt of his tribe. Looked down upon and cast aside in a culture built upon strength, dominance, and the brutal code of the hunt, Dek is the last Predator you’d ever expect to survive. But when he’s exiled to the lawless wild planet of Genna, Dek finds his purpose in the form of a monstrous and near-unkillable beast that he seeks to claim as his trophy. What unfolds is a ruthless and primal survival tale, part rite of passage, part revenge saga, and Trachtenberg packs it with momentum, stakes, and a surprising emotional edge.
But the surprises don’t stop there. Badlands brings the Weyland-Yutani Corporation crashing into the narrative, marking a clever connective thread between Predator mythology and broader sci-fi horror lore. Their influence comes embodied in Thia, a synthetic android portrayed with remarkable nuance and unpredictability by Elle Fanning. Thia is sleek, analytical, and just off-center enough to keep audiences guessing at her intentions. Her uneasy alliance with Dek forms the film’s core dynamic: a sharp, strange, unexpectedly compelling “odd-couple” duo forged in the crucible of survival.
As Dek, newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi delivers a performance full of raw intensity, vulnerability, and simmering fire. Far from the cold, calculating hunters we’ve seen before, Dek is a character defined by pain, frustration, and a desperate need to prove his worth—not just to others, but to himself. It’s a bold new emotional lens for the Predator species, and Schuster-Koloamatangi meets the challenge head-on.
Visually, Predator: Badlands is stunning. Trachtenberg’s attention to detail in developing Yautja culture is rich, layered, and deeply immersive. The world of Genna feels dangerous and alive, thanks to the groundbreaking efforts of WETA and Weta Digital. From brutal landscapes to bone-and-metal tribal architecture to the visceral combat choreography, every frame carries weight and texture. This is a universe with history, ritual, and consequence, and the film makes you feel it.
Predator: Badlands is a risky move that pays off in full. It’s fresh, fierce, original, and fully committed to redefining what a Predator story can be. For fans seeking adrenaline, invention, and a new chapter in sci-fi action mythology, Badlands hits the mark, and then some.
Image: 20th Century Studios
