“Predator: Badlands” is a 2025 American science fiction action film directed by Dan Trachtenberg. It is the sixth live-action film and the ninth installment in the Predator franchise. The film stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi; however, due to CGI and special effects, you might not even recognize some characters. There’s even a character that would make an excellent toy for the holiday season.
I have to say that, although I haven’t seen all nine installments of this franchise, I consider “Predator: Badlands” to be my favorite among those I’ve watched.
From the outset, this film does something that many viewers will appreciate. I did question the decision to make it more family-oriented, which led to a ‘PG-13’ rating instead of an ‘R.’ However, I should have learned to see the movie first before forming opinions. This decision makes sense on multiple levels, from improving the film’s quality to appealing to a younger audience at the box office. Despite much of the movie being captioned due to the Predator characters and others maintaining their original concepts, the captions are presented in an unobtrusive way that keeps the viewer focused on the screen, which is a positive for this film.
The visuals and storytelling, while simple, are powerful. There aren’t complex social constructs or a deep storyline, but the focus remains on valuable themes that are relevant in today’s world.
The film highlights how families can sometimes react negatively toward one another and how misunderstanding and hatred can exacerbate conflicts, even within families. It emphasizes the importance of good and right actions. We see that things are not always as they seem; once enemies get to know each other, they can unite and ultimately defeat a harmful ideology, forming a cohesive and loving family. This message is not only beautifully depicted but is also reinforced by the film’s spectacular visuals. I strongly recommend watching it on the largest screen possible with an excellent sound system. I actually saw it on a giant screen in 3D, and all its elements worked fantastically.
I also enjoyed the humor and excitement in this movie. While I expected the excitement—after all, it is part of the Predator series—I did not anticipate the humor or the clear moral themes that even younger viewers can understand. I’m not referring to very young children, but certainly preteens and early teens will grasp the messages alongside adults.
My wife and I attended a late showing, but the film held my interest very well and was incredibly enjoyable. While it doesn’t align closely with any specific religious belief, it touches on a universal principle found in most religions: treating others as you would like to be treated. Although this message seems simple, the film effectively explores its implications and the personal cost associated with following this principle, making for a thought-provoking experience.
Overall, this film is so well-crafted that I wanted to give it a perfect 10 out of 10 on my movie review scale. However, I find myself a little short of that, so I am giving “Predator: Badlands” a very honorable and enjoyable score of 9.5.
