🎬 Predator: Badlands

Here’s a full review for Predator: Badlands — what works, what doesn’t, and whether it’s worth your time.

✅ What Works

• Fresh perspective: The film shifts focus away from humans and instead puts the alien hunters (the Yautja) at the centre, with Dimitrius Schuster‑Koloamatangi as Dek – a young, outcast Predator seeking recognition. Roger Ebert+2UPI+2
• Strong supporting performance: Elle Fanning plays Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic (half of her body missing) who becomes Dek’s unlikely ally. Their dynamic is one of the film’s highlights. Roger Ebert+1
• World-building & visuals: The planet Genna is depicted as hostile and richly detailed — dangerous flora, aggressive bugs, and a sense of a world that fights back. UPI+1
• Genre evolution: By reframing the Predator mythos, the film offers something a bit different for long-time fans rather than just more of the same. Time Out Worldwide+1

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❌ What Doesn’t Fully Land

• Pacing & familiarity: The ‘outcast goes on a quest to prove himself’ arc is classic, and for some it may feel too familiar, especially in the first act. Roger Ebert
• Tone shift: While the film retains brutal action and gore, some reviewers note that the lighter moments (e.g., banter between Dek and Thia) may clash with the more savage Predator DNA. Time Out Worldwide+1
• Expectations vs. reality: Some fans expected human confrontations or crossover elements; the absence of humans may challenge those expectations. ComicBookMovie.com

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🧠 Themes & Highlights

• Identity & belonging: Dek’s journey is about proving himself in a society that rejects weakness. Thia’s arc is about survival, purpose and redefining what it means to be a synthetic. Roger Ebert
• Survival in a hostile world: Genna itself is a character — everything wants to kill you, which creates constant tension beyond just predator-versus-prey. UPI
• Buddy-movie-with-teeth: The unlikely alliance between Predator and android gives the film a fresh emotional core amid the violence. Roger Ebert

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🎯 Final Verdict

If you’re a fan of the franchise and open to a reinvention of its core ideas, Predator: Badlands is a compelling ride. It may not be perfect, but its ambition and world-building make it one of the more interesting entries in the series. On the other hand, if you’re expecting more of the human-hunted-by-Predator setup, this may feel like a sharp left turn.

Score: ~3.5 out of 5 stars (very good)

🔍 Who should watch

• ✅ Predator franchise fans wanting something new
• ✅ Sci-fi action lovers who enjoy world-building and creature design
• ❓ Viewers expecting human characters and typical Predator tropes may want to adjust expectations

ℹ️ Rating & Suitability

The film is rated PG-13 for “sequences of strong sci-fi violence.” Common Sense Media+1
Despite the lighter rating, expect brutal creatures, gore, and intense action sequences.