The classic sci-fi thriller franchise of Predator has been on a generational run of quality these past few films since filmmaker, Dan Trachtenberg, got involved with it. Recent films within this franchise such as Prey and the animated Predator: Killer of Killers have perfected the combination of well-written and thrilling that is only rivaled by the original film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Predator: Badlands is no exception. This installment follows an underdog Predator named Dek as the protagonist, which is a rarity for this franchise, as he goes to the most dangerous planet in the universe in search of a hunt that would have him accepted into his clan, encountering a plethora of intergalactic dangers. For starters, this film encapsulates pretty much everything I love about sci-fi, from the creative visuals of the aliens, technology, and planets to the pulse-pounding soundtrack. The action was intense and the characters were surprisingly endearing. I never thought I’d find myself rooting for a Predator, but the character journey of self-discovery he goes on was as emotionally resonant as it was thrilling, only being bolstered by the allies he meets along the way. (Thia the synthetic android and Bud the alien companion had the best chemistry with our protagonist.) There are even extremely subtle references throughout the film that suggest that this film takes place in the same universe as a certain Alien xenomorph. Even if you’re not too familiar with the Predator franchise, anyone looking for a solid sci-fi adventure will definitely be satisfied with this. Score: 8/10
Noah Robinson 