Movie Review - Predator: Badlands

I wouldn't say I'm exactly the deepest fan of the Predator franchise. I've seen the first movie a few times since it's a cable television favorite, even if it is cut to shreds, I enjoyed The Predator from a few years ago enough, and really liked Prey on Hulu. The idea of Predator: Badlands was certainly an intriguing one (the titular alien ends up on a planet where everything is trying to kill him, and he ends up the protagonist as he tries to hunt his prey), but the lackluster first trailer did dampen my expectations of the movie by a pretty sizable amount.

Now that I've seen the movie, I can concretely say that those fears were completely unfounded. Predator: Badlands is a much-needed shot in the arm theatrically for a franchise that has been languishing theatrically since, conservatively, Predator 2 in 1990. This feels like the movie Sony thought Ghostbusters: Afterlife was when it was attempting to reinvent a storied 1980s film for the modern era. It's quick, incisive, with surprising depth and love of the universe that was completely unexpected.

We are going to keep this relatively short because I don't want to give too much away for people who want to go in unspoiled (fans will probably really enjoy the way the third act unfolds, but it works best if you don't know what's coming) but this is a must-watch cinematic experience, something I did not think I would be saying at the start of the year about a Predator movie. The effects are great, the story hits home, and the themes manage to resonate, even when we spend the entire time with a Yautja who starts out a little one-dimensional. Go check out Predator: Badlands if you need something to do this weekend.

★★★★★