‘Predator: Badlands’ traded horror for a science fantasy ‘Sword and Sorcery’ vibe, and we think it was the right call (Image Credit: Space.com)
Even watching the trailers, we knew Predator: Badlands was going to be a very different kind of Predator movie. From Weyland-Yutani having a major presence to a Grogu-like alien critter joining the adventure, we were happy to see director and co-writer Dan Trachtenberg taking the sci-fi franchise into new territory. But somehow, the end result was even bolder than we’d anticipated.
The filmmaker already cited classics like Conan the Barbarian and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior as influences, but it’s hard not to see tints of The Mandalorian, John Carter, and Riddick in there as well.
Spoilers for Predator: Badlands past this point. If you haven’t watched it, good news! It’s just landed on Hulu and Disney+. Go watch it and come back… We’ll wait.
A universe expanded
Earlier in 2025, Trachtenberg also dropped an extra gift in the form of Predator: Killer of Killers, the franchise’s first venture into animation. It was a brilliant anthology and the first sign that the filmmaker and Disney-owned 20th Century Studios were finally ready to escape the original’s shadow. Prey had already delivered the best possible refresh of that type of Predator story, so Killer of Killers tried something different; it took us on a bloody trip across history with a surprise fourth act that greatly expanded the Predator universe and teased a new set of exciting possibilities.
Predator: Badlands – despite being live-action and releasing in theaters versus Disney Plus – feels like a bigger gamble, and the sort of $100-million anomaly that shouldn’t exist at all.
Yautja Prime (the Predator homeworld) is explored for the first time in live-action since AvP: Requiem gave us a quick look at the planet, exploring their culture, gadgets, and traditions. How do they even maintain an interstellar civilization if all they do is go on space safaris? The final scene in the movie might have answered that in semi-comedic fashion, too.
Now rocking a fully realized Yautja language (developed by linguist Britton Watkins), the alien hunters are “humanized” and given depth through familiar struggles and emotions moviegoers could instantly relate to. They’re no longer killers who lack empathy or are just following a strict code of honor… well, at least not all of them. This is universe-building that couldn’t have happened within the realm of sci-fi horror.
Yautja being losers is directly addressed
While Badlands’ early beats are all about delivering the male-dominated power fantasy most of the previous lore and “expanded universe” have worked with, things take a far more fascinating turn the moment Weyland-Yutani and Thia/Tessa (Elle Fanning) enter the picture.
The Company and Yautja have met before, as the story is set in the farthest future of even the Alien series, but it appears MOTHER and the synths aren’t extremely interested in the spacefaring warriors; odd given their obsession with “perfect lifeforms” like Genna’s Kalisk and the Xenomorph.
It wasn’t a shock to see the post-The Predator movies completely do away with the idea of the Yautja seeking to dominate known space, but it’s still great to learn they’re doing their own thing still, seeking the thrill of the hunt until they die in battle (not unlike the Klingons of Star Trek).
Dek’s father is the embodiment of the ancient ways, leading Predators to kill the weak who might ‘dishonor’ the clans. The entire species seems to be a big death cult that has evolved to see value in self-defeat rather than growth. The hunters we’d seen before were meant to be losers; they might survive a hunt only to eventually die elsewhere, because that’s what they do.
By connecting with a synthetic that’s more human than many of the humans in Weyland-Yutani’s employ, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) chooses to be not just different, but better too. This is the sort of hero’s journey we associate with space operas and classic fantasy adventures like Willow. The pivot from a “sword-and-sorcery journey to slay a horrifying creature” to an unexpected alliance in the vein of Enemy Mine – a flick about friendship and defying one’s nature – lands with strength and conviction.
Recent sci-fi wins enabled Predator to grow
Could emotions and a convincing Yautja language be told through the tried-and-tested practical effects? The answer is no. Badlands wouldn’t work if Dek wasn’t a believable being with an expressive face; there’s only so much that can be done with a rubber suit and animatronic face. Instead, Weta Digital delivered digital work that was a direct evolution of the excellent, industry-shaking craft developed over many years with the Avatar and modern Planet of the Apes movies.
Again, this is the creatives and executives seeing Predator — both the movie series and the creature itself — as more than a one-note sci-fi action-horror star, destined for nothing but samey sequels and diminishing returns.
The technology developed for grander, crowd-pleasing behemoths is what ultimately allowed Predator: Badlands to resonate with more people than ever before, all while preserving its unique traits and mean violence.
We’re down to see more of Dek, Thia, and Bud on further adventures built on top of the heroic tales of old, but looking at the other recent wins like Killer of Killers, we’re glad it won’t make gory new entries a thing of the past either.
Predator: Badlands is now streaming on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (Internationally)
