If you’ve read my other Predator reviews you’ll see how I’ve moved from exasperation, to hope, to confidence. That confidence continues now, and it leaves me with a thought.
Every franchise should have a Dan Trachtenberg. Someone who understands the world and characters of the franchise, and is willing to push it in different directions without losing what made us enjoy it in the first place. Your mileage with how far a series can stretch may differ. But I don’t think there’s any denying that Trachtenberg has rescued the Yautja (yep, that’s their name, and you’ll hear it a lot!), from cinematic hell.
2018’s The Predator upsets me just thinking about it. To rise from that nadir, through Prey, Killer of Killers, and now Badlands, is quite an achievement. It’s still weird to think that one director has made three Predator films, and they’re all good!
For his third film, Trachtenberg answers several questions.
What if the Predator was the good guy?
What if they weren’t the smartest losers?
Can a Predator film be 12A?
The answers are – it can work, it’s nice to see, and when you don’t have humans it’s easy!
There is still a lot of violence in Badlands. It hasn’t been neutered at all. But when you take away red blood you’re able to get away with a lot. Makes me think of Carmageddon and Mortal Kombat back in the day. Green blood helps! So no worries there.
More importantly, this is an entertaining and even humorous tale of found family. Where those seen as less or different are able to make their own way and grow. No, it’s going to win any Oscars. But it’s different! We can see that Yautja culture in a different light. It’s not full of surprises in its broader storytelling, but there are plenty of details and aspects of lore to enjoy.
Badlands is braver in its concept than its content. But the concept is different and the content is entertaining. Now that the franchise has been opened to more possibilities who knows what we’ll see.
Be the first to comment