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There is not a question of if we need more films in the “Predator” franchise. Instead the question is “why don’t we already have hundreds of them?” The series which debuted in 1987 seemed like a response for the 80’s to have their own Alien series, and this was long before the two creatures ever met. And while 1986 already delivered “Aliens,” John McTiernan’s “Predator” was a hit all on its own due to its ultra masculine often silly portrayal of the ultimate beast that was prey to none. Time has been pretty kind to the Predator since then even with some misfires, because even with lore about the Yautja the premise is simple for any of these films; have the Predator kill everyone. This can take you far, but no matter how easy something is in the wrong hands it can all explode. Disney the last studio you’d think of when thinking of an alien species with braids mass murdering soldiers now holds the keys to the spaceship. And while this could have worried some what none of us expected was Dan Trachtenberg. A man who seems to love the Predator more than he does his own family. Joking aside Trachtenberg’s appreciation and respect for the series goes beyond sending the creature on a rampage. Instead Trachtenberg sees a bigger picture that while we may not know the secrets yet it certainly involves some very fun solo outings. Very few of us could have expected 2022’s “Prey” (disrespectfully dumped on Hulu) that created a remarkable hero in Amber Midthunder’s Naru as well as the Predator creature himself fighting off some colonizers. Even on top of that this years “Predator: Killer of Killers” (also disrespectfully dumped on Hulu) delivered three separate animated sequences throwing the creature across time to meet some of history’s deadliest warriors. It is all exciting adventures that builds on the lore but more importantly sees this franchise beyond just a monster killing people. Trachtenberg takes the simple and builds on it for the sake of respect. So perhaps that is why PREDATOR: BADLANDS takes the most ambitious turn. Not only does it allow us to spend time with the monster as our protagonist (for the first time ever), it also (an surprisingly) gives the Predator a charming story of found family and eco-friendly relationships. On top of that it is a rip roaring adventure that finally answers the question of what a live action Banjoo-Kazooie film would look like. So yea, Trachtenberg certainly has some surprises up his sleeve and continues to prove that the Predator is prey to none, but Trachtenberg himself is the real alpha.

Apparently the Predator has name. Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) a young member of the Yautja species also happens to be the runt of the litter. For his older brother this means training him to be stronger but for Dek’s father this means he is worthless and needs to be killed. Early on Trachtenberg knows he has to win us over in wanting to spend time with the Predator, sure it is easy to watch him maniacally slaughter people to pieces but to make us want to acre whether he lives or dies is something he uses a traditional Shakespearean set up for. After a sacrifice that saves Dek’s life, the creature finds himself on the remote and dangerous jungle planet of Genna where his life is saved once again this time by a talkative yet physically damaged synthetic named Thia (Elle Fanning). A product of the Wyland-Yutani Corporation (to Alien fans delight) Thia and her team of synthetics were sent to the planet to capture the top of the food chain species known as the Kalisks. For Dek this means aligning with Thia solely to find the Kalisk, kill it and return to his home planet with the beast where only then will his father see his true worth. The big issue at hand, Genna is as dangerous of a planet as it gets and Dek is a mere fish out of water, the even bigger issue at hand? Thia won’t stop talking to him.

PREDATOR: BADLANDS now owned by the same company who controls “Star Wars” seems to be taking a fun old school page out of its galactic book. There is no denying that the moment Dek straps Thia’s half body to his back that it the images of C-3PO on Luke’s back comes to mind. It also helps that Fanning is an absolute delight channeling an energy that is both overbearing (like C-3PO) while also being an adorable still naïve creation that has great curiosity of the world outside her binary programming. Sure she knows more analytical details about the planet to keep Dek from becoming monster dinner, but she also feels a connection to Dek’s inability to express emotions on losing out on a proper family. Thia herself is also trying to find her way back home to Tessa a synthetic (played by Fanning in double duty) who is identical to herself. She doesn’t know exactly what Tessa is to her making it all the more heartwarming when Dek himself shares with her the meaning of the word “sister.” To make this even more endearing this is all somehow happening in a freaking Predator movie. Trachtenberg with a script from Patrick Alison dives head on in its found family themes especially when a third (and adorable) critter is added that would have driven stuffed animal sales up the roof a few years back. But still this film is heavily lifted buy the duo of Fanning and Schuster-Koloamatangi who both carry themselves and their performances as two physical roles that greatly need the other. There is a cut out there somewhere in Trachtenberg’s office where we get to see the entire film removed of CGI and makeup and its all the more exciting to think about as you watch these performers put themselves through a wringer of physicality. On top of that there is also  most likely in that version a better color grading as BADLANDS falls victim to the nighttime lighting of modern days studio films where even squinting doesn’t help keep some things in focus.

As their adventure deepens and their admiration for one another strengthen BADLANDS finds itself channeling more into its respectable PG-13 rating that allows for a heartwarming if at times watered down version of eco-friendly living and the cost of capitalist destruction of natural resources. When the Star Wars comparisons grow even larger so does some of its more cookie cutter attitude. After all this is a film where for every monster blood that is shed Fanning’s Thia responds with a quick one liner that is thankfully more charming than anything this side of Marvel but still lets you know the kids are safe to see this movie.

Even with some of its safety rail treatment BADLANDS still shows great signs of fresh life and more proof that Trachtenberg has hit a rare threepeat with a franchise that frankly could come and go as it pleases with little attention. And still while “Prey” may have been the film to skyrocket to a deeper understanding of this straight forward series, PREDATOR: BADLANDS is the continuation that not only should we be paying attention we should be counting the seconds to the next adventure. The Predator himself may have always seen himself as the alpha but BADLANDS continues to prove that this is a series quickly growing to the top of the food chain.

B+

PREDATOR: BADLANDS IS NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE