Predator, as a franchise, until 2022’s Prey, has more or less been the same story beats with a sprinkle of variety thrown in. Whether that be the addition of more than one of the titular creatures or a change of setting from jungle to city, the franchise has been in desperate need of new material. Enter Dan Trachtenberg. With Predator Badlands being his third directorial venture into the world of the Yautja, Badlands does something entirely original by not only taking us to the Yautja homeworld for the first time in live action, but centers the story around a young Yautja trying to prove his worth to his clan. Trachtenberg, in doing this, opens up this world and shows us characters and planets new, with a company, familiar to fans of the Alien franchise, thrown in the mix for some connective tissue.

Starring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as the Yautja Dek, and Elle Fanning in dual roles, Badlands has the feel of a team up movie as opposed to the standard stalker/ horror themes and genres most of the other films fall into. The decision to humanize the Yautja will no doubt be controversial to some of the more diehard fans of the franchise, as well as the first time PG-13 rating. I personally had no problem with it and felt it made the film more accessible to audiences wanting to get their start in this franchise, and for a younger audience overall to experience. Make no mistake, their is still violence to be had, beheadings and bodies being halved for example. The film is able to get away with it due to the fact that it is either an alien creature or a synthetic person the violence targets. Both Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Fanning give engaging and even humorous performances that add heart and weight to an extremely Sci-Fi movie to make it relatable and make us root for these characters.

Written by Dan Trachtenberg, and Patrick Aison, the same team behind 2022’s Prey and this years Killer Of Killers, as well as all three being Directed by Trachtenberg, this team is breathing new life into this franchise and I for one, cannot wait to see what they come up with next. Badlands is an engaging entry into this ever growing franchise, that doesn’t feel weighed down by what came before it, despite being it’s seventh entry. I would also like to give a shoutout to the score of this film. Composed by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch, the score is such a great companion piece to the film due to the fact that it seemingly adds the Yautja language, that has up to this point in film, not really been expanded upon or explored, is added into the score in the form of chanting or perhaps a battle cry. This could be misinterpreted, but the score very much feels like music to a hunt, which is fitting for this film. Overall, Predator Badlands is a welcome entry to this franchise, giving it several firsts, with all of them give the film a unique aesthetic as well as a fun time at the movies. Trachtenberg and team have really taken ownership of this franchise and expanded it in ways that make it feel fun and fresh and I can’t wait to see where they’ll take us next.

8.5/10.