Seeking his father's respect, and a place within his clan, a young Yautja named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) heads to one of the deadliest planets in the galaxy. Where, if he survives long enough, he will hunt a creature so deadly, it makes even the most seasoned Yautjas weak at the knees.
Taking the idea for the original Predator movie and flipping it on its head, it turns out, is actually a stroke of genius. Dan Trachtenberg has now delivered three cracking instalments in the franchise, reviving it in ways that few likely thought possible. Badlands is a bit of a back-to-basics Predator movie, akin to the Arnie starring original. A Yautja on a hunt in a foreign land, only this time we're following the lone hunter rather than being hunted by him. And he's the one in some "badass bush". You know, the kind Billy wouldn't wish on "a broke-dick dog". That said, much like Killer of Killers, it also goes deeper into the Yautja lore - including their language, which has been more than fleshed out - and Dek proves the perfect protagonist to lead us on this journey. A relative outsider, it's interesting to see through him how strict and unforgiving a way of life it is, as well as his need to belong.
What's even more interesting is seeing him grow beyond those traditions, as he learns to forge his own path. Something that makes him oddly relatable. It's a fairly standard arc for your more usual movie characters, but for a Yautja it's something very new. As is his friend Thia, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who ends up helping Dek. It gives the movie an almost buddy-comedy feel at times, as the pair navigate a planet where the only thing to look forward to seems to be a horrific death. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi is positively ferocious as Dek. He nails the physicality and the mannerisms, even bringing a slight insecurity that the young Yautja is clearly trying to mask. While Elle Fanning is a little quirky and upbeat as Thia. Surprisingly so, given where we find her. But this also makes her the perfect foil to the seemingly inflexible and unfeeling Dek. Something that is aided by the practical approach to their Star Wars inspired travel arrangements, which adds a little authenticity to both their struggle and their relationship.
It is through this unique route that Trachtenberg has brought the worlds of Alien and Predator together in a way that the AvP movies never managed, and without even a hint of a Xenomorph. Badlands sets the stage for a future conflict between the two alien species, but without making it a thing. No unnecessary promises are made, and nothing is set in stone. For now it's about one Predator's hunt getting in the way of a company expedition, or maybe it's the other way round. Either way, it's fun watching them annoy each other. The Yautja ignorance to Weyland-Yutani is particularly amusing. But even when the intergalactic corporation isn't annoying our young hunter, there's all kinds of colourful nasties for him to go after. All of which look incredible thanks to some stunning VFX. The same goes for the planet - with New Zealand making the perfect starting point - and the Yautjas themselves. Who, thanks to an impressive combination of practical and visual effects, are able to emote and move their faces in ways not previously possible.
It's strange then that some of those stunning visuals weren't applied to the Yautjas' vision. The legendary hunters aren't gifted with the greatest sight, and have always enhanced it with many vision modes built into their helmets. But Dek spends most of the movie without his helmet, and we never get to see if their vision has evolved in the years between this movie and those that came before it. Although to be fair, I doubt it's an issue that many of us are concerned with. No, the cause for concern regarding this particular Predator outing has always been... the age rating. Specifically, the fact that it's lower than usual. Thankfully however, it proves to be a non-issue, as Dek's hunt is as blood-soaked and brutal as it should be. It's just that none of the casualties are human. In fact, Dek's chosen target couldn't be further from us. A vicious beast with some crafty abilities, that Trachtenberg and fellow writer Patrick Aison have refreshingly developed beyond simply being a monster. That said, it's hardly surprising that Predators are afraid of this thing. Clearly Dek enjoys a challenge! And luckily for us, a challenge is exactly what he gets, a whole planet's worth, in fact.
Dan Trachtenberg delivers another epic instalment instalment in the Predator franchise. A Yautja and a synth, it turns out, make for a compelling team. While witnessing the hunt from the point of view of the hunter proves a winning approach. The question is; after that surprising ending, where will Trachtenberg take things from here?
8/10
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