If you were to combine the classic 1819 short story ***The Bremen Town Musicians*** by the Brothers Grimm with a Klingon warrior’s ritual and place it within the world of *Predator*, that's essentially what writer and director Dan Trachtenberg has created with **PREDATOR: BADLANDS**. It's hard to deny that Trachtenberg, who seems to be leading a revitalization of the *Predator* franchise beginning with his 2022 film **PREY** and continuing with this year’s animated action movie **PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS** [(which I previously reviewed here)](https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/film/predator-killer-of-killers/), has delivered a remarkable achievement for fans of the series. In just three years, Trachtenberg has cleared away over a decade’s worth of neglect from a franchise that appeared to be headed toward cinematic obscurity (a decline partly fueled by those unsuccessful attempts at mixing *Predator* with *Alien*, trying to replicate Universal Studios' formula of pitting Dracula against Frankenstein or the Wolf Man) and brought it back to a new audience. In **BADLANDS**, Trachtenberg immerses viewers in the warrior culture of a clan of Predators (referred to as Yautja), who adhere to a "only the strong deserve to live" philosophy. Caught within this code is Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), who, seeking recognition as a full member of his clan, escapes to a 'Killer Planet' to conquer an invincible creature and also seek vengeance for a devastating personal loss. He’s managing two goals at once. Finding himself outmatched and struggling to survive on the harsh planet, Dek accepts assistance from an unlikely source: a badly damaged synthetic android named Thia (Elle Fanning), who has some connection to the *Alien* universe (a detail that feels unnecessary at this point). Together they face dangers in their surroundings, with Dek displaying something we haven’t seen before from a Predator: setting aside his warrior pride to cooperate with others. Through this process, a helpful friendship develops between Dek, Thia and an indigenous creature, which provides some humor amidst what could otherwise be a bleak and relentless experience. Despite any concerns about the PG-13 rating given the violence depicted, it’s just as bloody and intense as previous *Predator* films. I understand why the film received that rating, but for those who worried Trachtenberg had toned down the action, I'm pleased to say that isn't the case. As a science fiction action movie, this is a welcome addition to the *Predator* franchise; however, I still question whether it’s wise to continue linking it with elements from the *Alien* franchise. The *Predator* series seems perfectly capable of succeeding on its own.

Source on TMDB