Predator: Badlands
released 2025
www.ink2quill.com

“Predator: Badlands” is an action, adventure, scifi sequel produced by John Davis, Lawrence Gordon, Stefan Grube, Brent O’Connor, Ben Rosenblatt, Marc Toberoff and Richard Cowan. It was directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, Jim Thomas and John Thomas. It stars Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Ravi Narayan, Michael Homik, Stefan Grube, Reuben de Jong, Cameron Brown, Alison Wright, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer. There are so many more talented people whose hard work helped make this film happen.

Predator: Badlands IMDb webpage

“Predator: Badlands” is the Scifi, adventure film about the young Yautja named Dek, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who is the outcast, unwanted, 2nd son, slated to be killed for it by his father. For those who haven’t seen any of the previous 9 films, the Yautja are a hunting species of alien whose whole culture revolves around the act of hunting and being up to scratch with the tribe, so to speak. The first film called “Predator” was a very good idea and is worth the watch, even after so many years. In the story Dek’s brother Kwei, played by Michael Homik with the voice of Stefan Grube, does his best to help his little brother and eventually gives his life for him.

The theme of the ‘second son’ or more precisely ‘the scapegoat’ is so well known to stories and in real life. With royal families or when large inheritances are involved you especially notice this dynamic. In most of those cases the whole family will turn against the scapegoated person which is really sad. As a side note, the famous fantasy author George R.R. Martin shows this theme brilliantly in his Song Of Ice And Fire series with several characters like Tyrion Lannister, who is the scapegoat of his family.

After his brother’s murder Dek sets out to kill a beast reported to be invincible, a beast called the Kalisk, on the planet Genna. With such a hunt he hopes to be accepted as a great hunter in his tribe. Along the way he meets a busted android named Thia, played by Elle Fanning, who helps him and becomes his friend. As in so many good stories they grow as a result of their relationship and are far more effective together than by themselves. In my opinion, their relationship dynamic is what makes the film so good. I love the idea of 2 misfits joining forces and becoming greater together, by cooperating. As a side note too, Elle Fanning did such a good acting job. She really brought her character to life. She is a great talent.

Let me start by saying that there is a lot wrong with this film. The story is simple with flaws in the script but I still think it’s a great film for young people. The world building, sets, customs and all that are spectacular and the franchise are enough to pull people in and make it a good Scifi film for the end of year. I liked the gender dynamics with the characters too. It wasn’t a male bashing, silly cliched film that had everyone rolling their eyes and walking away. We need more of those kinds of films. What I took away from this film that I really enjoyed, like I said, was the character dynamics and how both Thea and Dek become better by together and the fact that they are both kind of misfits. The writers definitely got some things right, and those are the things that matter, and that is why I liked it. Also, hats off to Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi who played Dek with all the make-up and costumes on. What another great performance.

So, will this film be on Mystery Science Theater 3000 anytime soon? Maybe. But I’d watch it again and enjoy it some more.

“Predator: Badlands” is worth going to the movies for.

John Ink2Quill

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