Even a robot needs a beastie bestie in ‘Predator: Badlands,’ enlivened by Elle Fanning

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Whether the creatures being hunted change – or even the settings, which now feel like digital landscapes – one thing remains constant in a “Predator” movie: it’s still about a being in a suit. This time around, that being is Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, a towering 7-foot-3 actor from New Zealand. Even behind the mechanical jaws of the Predator, you can see emotion in his eyes.

Despite being physically imposing, Dek in “Predator: Badlands” is portrayed as inexperienced and vulnerable. The film opens with him being defeated by his brother, much to the disappointment of their father, a powerful leader. Following a harsh and brutal lesson, marked by flowing green blood, Dek is exiled and driven by a desire for revenge.

He whispers, “Bring it home—for Kwei,” using a made-up language created just for the movie. The actual words spoken aren’t the main focus. Dek is on a quest to find the seemingly invincible Kalisk, hoping to prove himself as a hunter, and will likely have a difficult conversation with his father when he gets back.

Look, I’m a big movie fan, and I love a good action flick. But honestly, the Predators – or Yautja, if you want to get technical – just don’t carry a film on their own. They worked because of the contrast with Arnold in the original ‘Predator,’ making him seem almost talkative by comparison. And when they fought the Xenomorphs in ‘Alien vs. Predator’? They almost felt…tame. They need a strong human element to really shine, in my opinion.

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I recently chatted with Dan Trachtenberg, the director of ‘Predator: Badlands,’ and Britton Watkins, the brilliant mind behind the Yautja language you hear in the film. They walked me through the fascinating process of actually building an alien language for the Predators, and even shared some pointers for anyone ambitious enough to try and learn it themselves. It’s a surprisingly deep dive into world-building, and I was really impressed with the level of detail they put into making the Yautja feel truly alien and authentic.

Look, the main characters aren’t really the focus here. “Predator: Badlands” feels a bit awkward, like a funny sketch that goes on too long. Thankfully, things get way more interesting almost immediately! Once Dek arrives on Genna, a planet full of killer plants to hunt his Kalisk, he meets a broken-down, legless robot who totally steals the show. I honestly couldn’t believe Elle Fanning was in this – the same Elle Fanning who was so amazing in “A Complete Unknown” and “Sentimental Value”! It’s either a really strange career move, or she’s a secret geek who loves taking on unexpected roles, and I’m here for it.

Thia (Fanning) is carried on Dek’s back, much like C-3PO, and provides a constant, slightly dazed narration throughout the film, even pausing to question, “Is that chewing done with your fangs or your teeth?” The movie really takes off when another Fanning appears as Thia’s dangerous sister, Tessa, a “synthetic” designed for risky missions. This sets the stage for a new installment in the ongoing story of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a company plagued by constant misfortune when it comes to bioweapons – they’ve had so many failures, they’re practically begging for a takeover.

Like most sci-fi movies that criticize corporations, “Predator: Badlands” ultimately supports business interests. It heavily borrows from James Cameron’s 1986 film “Aliens,” featuring similar vehicles, cold, impersonal orders (“The Company is not pleased,” delivered by a robotic voice), and the massive power loader that allows a human to fight a large creature.

This film doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. Director Dan Trachtenberg delivers a solid, if somewhat unremarkable, experience – it feels like it’s made by someone who really likes the source material, but isn’t pushing boundaries. Don’t expect a lot of emotional depth from the main character. However, if the filmmakers can create a character as enjoyable as Thia, there’s still potential for future installments in this series.

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2025-11-13 00:31