predator_badlands

Predator fanatic Dan Trachtenberg has released his theatrical follow-up to 2022's Prey. We meet Dek, the runt of the Yautja (predator monster) litter setting out on his singular mission to conquer an “unkillable” prey, earning his right of passage.

Trachtenberg is attempting to pour the Predator IP into the 2025 Hollywood mold. It loses its identity as a result. Predator is an alien monster villain who loves to kill and killing and hunting is really supposed to be its only thing: the opening titles say as much. That’s why it was so cool and compelling originally with Arnold. Why, then, are we humanizing this thing so much? Also, why all the jokes and the gags?

The Youtja’s wiggling rubbery prosthetic body suit is à propos of the unexpectedly human character arc - as if the only difference between him (?) and myself were the fangs and rubber tube dreadlocks. Don’t water down this cool-ass monster just to fit the Disney plot formula. He (??) meets the damaged “better half” synthetic android (she is kind and emotional compared to her cold and violent twin) played by Elle Fanning and a silly pug-faced monkey taking up the baby-Yoda role. With their help, Dek hunts the big bad monster. The climax-rising sequences show Dek putting on full forest-princess display: armored and armed with the bones, shells, plants and animals he encountered and learned of in previous encounters. The action sequences are pretty cool though.

Cliches build until the film actually ends with a

What he was really hunting for were the friendships he made along the way

It feels pretty cringey.

Despite the weird Marvelization of the tone and plot, it had its upsides. The combat and action sequences were interesting and fun, although the mechanics of the lightsaber sword are not new to viewers. The score was a surprising highlight as well. Since Trachtenberg is all-in on making Dek an underdog with human needs, weaknesses, and aspirations, we know how to buy in. Rooting for the younger Yautja is easy, even if it’s not what I wanted to do when I walked into the theater. I expected an anti-hero fight-fest but instead it felt like Trachtenberg watched too much of The Mandelorian.

Dek and his goofball squad are fun to watch if you let yourself warm up to it, and the visuals and action are good enough to make this not a waste of time. There’s definitely more Predator coming, and this gives us a taste of the tone to come.