4K Digital Review – Predator: Badlands (2025)

      **Predator: Badlands, 2025.**

      **Directed by Dan Trachtenberg.**

      **Starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi.**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Predator: Badlands delivers another compelling addition to a franchise that has surprisingly managed to keep my interest through diverse storytelling. The digital version of the film includes a range of bonus features.

      I have always perceived the Predator species, now officially termed Yautja, as a somewhat simplistic subject for films; however, last summer's Predator: Killer of Killers shifted my opinion, as did last fall's Predator: Badlands. (Additionally, 2022's Prey also contributed to this change in perspective.)

      The involvement of various characters adds depth to this type of movie, and Badlands benefits from a crossover with the Alien franchise, enhancing the narrative.

      The story centers on Dek, a Yautja outcast whose warlord father desires his death at the hands of his brother, after Dek expresses a wish to hunt an apex predator called the Kalisk on the planet Genna. Defying their father, Dek's brother aids him, allowing Dek to embark on his quest.

      Upon arrival, Dek encounters Thia, a Weyland-Yutani android lacking her lower body. They form an unexpected alliance when Thia offers to assist Dek in tracking the Kalisk, as she needs to meet others from her corporation present on the planet.

      Their journey is further enriched by a small, friendly creature that Thia names Bud, who lends a helping hand. Meanwhile, Tessa, another Weyland-Yutani android and Thia’s “sister,” who has also suffered damages, is recovered by other androids who repair her.

      Naturally, the corporation seeks the Kalisk for its bio-weapons division, leading to confrontations between Dek and his group and the Weyland-Yutani team. While the storyline is somewhat predictable, Thia emerges as an entertaining character who complements Dek’s serious demeanor well, creating a lively narrative that hints at possibilities for a sequel.

      I'm curious if this film might connect with the streaming series Alien: Earth, which introduces other alien species that Weyland-Yutani is interested in, aside from the iconic Giger monster. While not every franchise needs to adopt a Marvel-like cinematic universe, it could be enjoyable for the broader Predator and Alien worlds to converge into a unified storyline spanning both television and film.

      As far as I know, the digital edition of Predator: Badlands includes the same extras as the physical 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray versions, featuring a collection of featurettes totaling around 23 minutes, a commentary track, and multiple deleted and pre-visualization scenes.

      Beginning with the featurettes:

      • **Embodying the Predator (5 minutes):** A brief exploration of the practical and digital methods utilized to animate the Predator in this contemporary context.

      • **Authentic Synthetics (6 minutes):** Elle Fanning portrays both androids, offering a comparison of the two characters.

      • **Building the Badlands (6 minutes):** An overview of how the planet Genna was conceptualized using real-world locations.

      • **Dek of the Yautja (6 minutes):** Director Dan Trachtenberg leads this discussion on the cultural evolution of the Predators. Effectively, they're akin to Klingons; as previously mentioned, additional characters are essential for a Predator film to thrive.

      Trachtenberg is accompanied by producer Ben Rosenblatt, director of photography Jeff Cutter, and stunt coordinator Jacob Tomuri for the commentary, which provides insightful discussions on the film’s production.

      Lastly, the deleted and pre-visualization scenes are accessible with and without commentary. There are six in total, offering a glimpse into the film's pre-production phase and illustrating the various cuts made for the final version.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★**

      **Brad Cook**