Review - Predator: Badlands (2025)

       Hey guys, Chuck here. Predator: Badlands, the latest film in the Predator franchise, is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who returns to the series after his work on Prey, and stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. 

       The movie tells the story of Dex, a young runt among the Yautja (which is the official name of the Predator species), who is sent to a deadly planet, where he teams up with a legless Weyland-Yutani synthetic named Thia to hint down a dangerous beast and claim his place among his race. 

       As someone who's been hit-or-miss when it comes to these movies, as I personally enjoyed the original Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Predators with Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne, and Prey with Amber Midthunder, I gotta say that Predator: Badlands was pretty damn awesome. The performances by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi as Dex and Elle Fanning as both Thia and her twin synthetic Tessa were really good. The dialogue is minimal, with most of Dex's lines being in an alien language with English subtitles, but that allows the visual storytelling to take center stage. The action and violence is on point with the Predator franchise, and the overall terrain of the main planet featured in the movie is absolutely stunning and simultaneously terrifying. 

         Many have noted that the movie marks the first in the series to get a PG-13, but there is a reason. You see, Predator: Badlands isn't lacking in blood, as there is plenty of it. However, Predator: Badlands IS lacking in one specific type of blood: the red blood of humans, due to the fact that there are no humans in this movie. Only human-like synthetics, with white liquid, and various alien species, with blood colors like green and orange. Hence, why the movie was showcasing blood from said synthetics and alien species and still get away with a PG-13. 

        Now, what I most found fascinating about Predator: Badlands is the fact that it's the first film in the Predator franchise that includes the Weyland-Yutani corporation, which is commonly associated with the Alien franchise, as they've sent a battalion of synthetics to the planet featured in this movie. Now, whether this is an attempt to connect the two franchises together in the same universe, leading to another Alien vs. Predator type crossover, or more likely that another version of the Weyland-Yutani corporation exists in the Predator franchise independent of the one from the Alien franchise, honestly either way is plausible. But, it's still neat to see Weyland-Yutani show up in a Predator movie given the corporation's ties to Alien. 

        All in all, I had a blast with Predator: Badlands, and I definitely recommend checking this one out. While I saw in in the ScreenX format, it's not really necessary to watch it in any premium format to thoroughly enjoy it. But, see it in whatever format you want to. 

       Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you in the next review.