Filmmaker and director Dan Trachtenberg has produced phenomenal “Predator” films in the last few years, such as “Prey” (my all-time favorite movie) and “Predator: Killer of Killers.” These films would ultimately lead to something bigger in the franchise: “Predator: Badlands.” As a fan of horror and sci-fi, I have been counting down the days until the release of this film.
Rather than taking place on Earth through a human perspective, “Predator: Badlands” introduces audiences to the faraway world of the Yautja. The Yautja, a rapacious four-tusked race, inhabit the Yuatja Prime planet. A youngling, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), seeks to prove to his ferocious father, Njohrr, that he is not a disappointment to the clan. In order to do so, Dek is determined to travel to the death planet, Ganna, where no Yautja has escaped alive. There, he must kill and behead the Kalisk.
One interesting aspect is the Yuatja culture. I view the Yuatja as a patriarchal race that is wholly structured around proving raw strength to the clan–they have to be the most feared creature in the solar system. As seen in previous “Predator” films, the Yautja must decapitate their enemy and bring back the skill to the clan. The skull is a symbol of bravery and power. Strength means everything among the Yautja; without it, you bring disgrace to the clan and are sentenced to decapitation.
A humble theme in this film is the importance of teamwork. Dek stumbles upon a broken synthetic, Thia (Elle Fanning). He is reluctant to help her at first, but Thia convinces him she can be used as a tool to hunt. Along their journey through the dangerous terrain, they stumble upon a cute creature that Thia names Bud. Little do they know this is a deadly baby Kalisk. When Dek realizes this, he is determined to protect Bud and save her mom, the grown Kalisk. The Yautja strictly hunt alone, as this proves their ability to kill the enemy with their own hands. Through this voyage, Dek challenges the ways of Yautja society. Teamwork means protecting the ones closest to you; thus, Dek learns what a true family means.
“Predator: Badlands” left me rooting for Dek, especially after all that he’s endured. Perhaps Dek will be the first one to reconstruct his society and the rest of the “Predator” franchise. I would rate this film five out of five Big Oles.
