Predator: Badlands - Review

Synopsis:

"Predator: Badlands" is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator named Dek, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Review:

Give director Dan Trachtenberg credit: the guy knows how to make a “Predator” movie.

Fun fact: the original Predator, from 1987, was actually the first R-rated movie my parents ever let me watch (probably way too young, admittedly). To this day, it’s a lean, mean 80’s actioner, filled with bravura filmmaking by the great John McTiernan and an alien antagonist that is still legitimately intimidating. Near four decades on (!!!), it’s not hard to see why that single film would go on to spawn a franchise of sequels and spin-offs, some good (Predator 2, Predators, Prey), some bad (The Predator, Alien vs. Predator), and some outright horrific (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem). But that original movie is still, in my opinion, the one to beat — the gold standard that every subsequent sequel has dutifully been trying to live up to ever since.

Since his previous entry Prey was released in 2022 and garnered near-universal praise, Trachtenberg – who helmed the terrific 2016 claustrophobic thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane – has effectively been given the keys to the Predator franchise, guiding it through both an animated spinoff (Killer of Killers – quite good, if you haven’t seen it) and now Badlands. Like last year’s Alien: Romulus, Badlands is a “remix” of sorts, taking the elements from the series that fans know and love – the cat-and-mouse suspense; the rock-'em-sock-'em action; the savage kills – and throwing them into a more modern blender… albeit one that is now rated PG-13 and more than a little “Disney-fied.” (“Prey, “Badlands,” and “Romulus” are the first salvo of Disney’s push to reinvigorate the Alien/Predator franchises after having acquired the IP when they bought out 20^th Century Fox back in 2019).

In a lot of ways, that tonal softening represents the core tension of the movie for me. On the one hand, it’s hard not to be a little bit disappointed that the “hard-R grit” element of Predator has been sanded down here. Despite the film’s slick pacing, there’s a sense throughout Badlands that Trachtenberg is basically just coloring within the studio-approved lines, hitting the same familiar franchise beats in a slightly more family-friendly way while actively refraining from pushing the series into truly new territory.

On the other hand, it’s hard to complain too much when said beats are executed so darn well here. Shot for shot, Trachtenberg displays a really deft hand at maintaining both tension and narrative momentum in a way that’s genuinely compelling and (to my surprise) actually emotionally earnest. It also doesn’t hurt that his decision to make a Predator the protagonist of the film, versus its antagonist – a first for the franchise – does an effective-enough job, at least in the moment, of disguising some of the film’s familiarity and predictability. Watching Dek, brash, arrogant and brainwashed to his clan’s dogma, transform from a zealous acolyte into an independent, purpose-driven warrior is satisfying, and the film’s ending – which serves as a solid payoff to his arc and a clear setup for the inevitable sequel – hits in a way that is legitimately affecting.

Predator: Badlands isn’t quite the great Predator sequel that I’ve been hoping for – it’s still a bit too safe and smoothed-over for my taste – but it is a confident base-hit, one that affirms Trachtenberg as a talent to watch while also serving to keep the franchise pointed in a respectably upward direction. And despite my quibbles, I have to admit to still holding out hope that Trachtenberg can maybe (possibly?) be the one to finally deliver us the first truly great Predator sequel his next time up to bat.

Grade: B

Spiritual Overview

*SPOILERS*

A recurring theme throughout Badlands is the idea of “learned humility”: throughout the film, Dek and his companion Thia undergo specifically introspective journeys while in the pursuit of their mission, bending their own rigid instincts in order to survive and, in the process, effectively becoming humbled as they gradually realize that they cannot make it on their own. Dek, in particular, has a very clear emotional progression, going from self-reliant and stubborn to someone who is teachable, grounded, and open to receiving help. In essence, he realizes that true strength is found not in posturing or bravado, but in dependence and surrendered courage. It’s a spiritual truth that brought to mind James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

As believers, it can be SO tempting to want to “go it alone” and muscle our way through life on our terms. I know that at various points in my own walk, the desire has been strong to depend on my own strength — I’m sure that you all can relate, as well. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 says “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… for when I am weak, then I am strong.” It’s a nice reminder that despite our instinct toward self-reliance, we were not meant to live life alone… in fact, that self-sufficient impulse goes exactly AGAINST God’s specific design for us, because it often results in a slow drift towards pride and self-focus.

Bottom line: despite what our own inclinations or desires may scream at us, we will ALWAYS need God's strength more than our own.

What did you think - did "Predator: Badlands" land well for you, too? And what did you make of its themes of humility? Comment below.