Churning out human heroes has been a hallmark of the Predator franchise since its inaugural film in 1987. That film introduced us to Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch, followed by Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover), Royce (Adrien Brody), Quinn (Boyd Holbrook) and Prey's Naru (Amber Midthunder). Even its crossover films with Alien feature human fighters as main characters, something we've come to expect from Predator movies. The extraterrestrial monster has a reputation that precedes it as fearsome, imposing, warlike and ugly as hell.
With Predator: Badlands, the sci-fi thriller takes an unexpected and fresh narrative premise. The central hero character is a Predator whose clan considers him to be weak -- a liability, or "runt" as his father calls him -- and unworthy of existing. The Dan Trachtenberg-directed film, which arrives in theaters on Nov. 7, is entertaining from beginning to end, keeping the ferociousness and intelligence of Predator intact as this underdog story unfolds about Dek of the Yautja.
Before the title even appears on the screen, we see the craggy, dry landscape on the Yautja's home planet. A cloaked Predator enters a cave and is taunted and challenged by a larger, more formidable Predator. We learn that they are brothers: Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and Kwei (Michael Homick). They engage in a vicious fight that nearly kills the smaller, yet tenacious Dek. Because I experienced this through Dolby Cinema, the rumbling ride to the cave and clanking of the red-lasered blades added liveliness and intensity to the fast-paced fight sequence, helping to establish the tone for more action to come.
That said, the PG-13 rating becomes more apparent beyond the explanation that the movie doesn't have any human blood or feature violence toward humans. There's comedy, somewhat tender emotional sentiment and a little bit of Disneyfied cuteness sprinkled in that reminds me of Tinker Bell and the NeverBeast. (I won't spoil it for you.)
Elle Fanning as Thia and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dek in Predator: Badlands. 20th Century Studios
To truly earn his place in the clan, Dek must go on a solo hunt. His brother believes he can do it, but their father has other plans for the "weakest link." This puts Dek on a course to bring back a trophy from Genna, the "Death Planet," the most dangerous place in the galaxy. His mission? Find and slay the fabled Kalisk, an unkillable creature that no Yautja has survived.
His trip feels ill-fated from the start, and as soon as he lands, he's stripped of most of those famous Predator weapons; encounters local, terrifying lifeforms; and gets injured. Then he meets Thia (Elle Fanning), a chatty Weyland-Yutani robot who, like him, needs help. They form an alliance meant to secure Dek his trophy and title as an apex hunter, as well as Thia's reconstruction.
Fanning's portrayal of the corporate-built synthetic brings a certain levity to the film, and not just because she has such a casual attitude about missing the lower part of her body. While Schuster-Koloamatangi's Dek carries the seriousness of a warrior spirit with reserve, Thia's bubbly (yet knowledgeable) character breaks him out of his shell. You almost forget she's an android, and even Dek can crack a joke.
As the pair traverse Genna, the threats they face are more than the beasts native to the planet (luna bugs are not as delicate as they sound). We get to explore the planet's sights and sounds through cool close-ups of its foliage and freakish creatures, which are in sharp contrast to the technology that has invaded this environment. The Predator's kill skills get due screen time while Thia and Dek track the Kalisk, but this isn't 100% a gorefest. The two learn about each other and themselves, but the stakes rise when we learn that Weyland-Yutani is on its own mission, complicating things for Dek and Thia.
Dek doesn't hesitate to be destructive. 20th Century Studios
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