Set on a harsh, remote world far from familiar battlefields, Predator: Badlands reimagines the franchise through an unexpected perspective, following Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Predator cast out from his own kind and left to survive on the fringes of a brutal landscape. His path collides with Thia (Elle Fanning), a sharp-witted and enigmatic character whose presence challenges everything Dek understands about strength, loyalty, and survival. As the two form an uneasy alliance amid hostile terrain and unseen dangers, the film steadily builds toward a confrontation that threatens not only their fragile bond but the very rules of the hunt itself. Now, Predator: Badlands has arrived on home entertainment.
Director Dan Trachtenberg returns to the Predator franchise and once again breathes new life into it. Trachtenberg first reinvigorated the series with Prey, which placed a Predator in 1700s North America—a true game changer for the franchise. He followed that with the animated Predator: Killer of Killers, which explored Predators across different eras on Earth. Personally, I felt the franchise had been on a downward spiral, and what Trachtenberg has done feels not only refreshing but necessary.
Trachtenberg once again pushes the series forward by flipping expectations. Instead of the Predator serving as the antagonist, this time it’s the protagonist. The film also offers a deeper look into Predator culture and society, expanding the lore in meaningful ways without overexplaining it.
New Zealand actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi plays Dek, a young Predator cast out and desperate to prove himself. Dimitrius delivers an impressive performance both emotionally and physically. Honestly, the sheer amount of movement and endurance required while wearing the Predator suit alone is impressive. I truly hope to see him in more films—he’s clearly built for strong action roles.
Elle Fanning plays Thia, a synthetic who partners with Dek. I’ve always been a fan of Fanning, who has consistently grown stronger with each role since her early days as a child actor. As Thia, she serves as Dek’s partner, advisor, and at times, comic relief. I don’t recall her taking on a role quite this physical before, but she absolutely rises to the challenge and nails it.
The film moves at a brisk pace, but knows when to slow down and let the audience breathe, which makes for a very enjoyable viewing experience.
The screenplay by Patrick Aison is another highlight. Aison, who also wrote Prey, returns to the franchise without trying to reinvent it. Predator: Badlands remains firmly rooted in the Predator/Alien universe, simply exploring a different side of that world—and it works.
The home release includes a solid lineup of bonus features. Deleted scenes and pre-visualization sequences are included, though most of the deleted material would have simply added length rather than depth. The pre-visualization footage is especially interesting, offering a glimpse at early CGI concepts used more like storyboards than finished effects, which makes perfect sense from a production standpoint.
Featurettes include Embodying the Predator, a conversation with the director, designers, and actors about bringing Dek to life. This was particularly fascinating, especially Trachtenberg’s early “screen test” footage for Dimitrius. Authentic Synthetics focuses on Thia and the challenges of portraying a synthetic character, while Building the Badlands explores the design of the film’s deadly alien world. Dek of the Yautja dives further into Predator culture and design. All of these were thoroughly enjoyable, though I’ve always been someone who appreciates going behind the scenes.
Also included is an audio commentary featuring Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter, and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri. Commentary tracks are always a favorite of mine, offering insight into how scenes came together and where creative decisions were made.
Overall, Predator: Badlands is a strong entry in the franchise. I genuinely hope the series remains in Trachtenberg’s hands, as I’ve enjoyed every direction he’s taken so far. I’d also love to see a return of Dek and Thia—their dynamic is compelling, and there’s clearly more story to tell.
Predator: Badlands is currently available on Digital Download and arrives on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD on February 17.
Dan Kleiner 
Newsdesk 
Anthony Andujar Jr.