Predator Badlands Thrills with First 15 Minutes of Footage

(Trailer for ‘Predator: Badlands courtesy of the 20th Century Studios)

Forget the usual humans-as-prey storyline. Instead, we’re zooming off to a barren desert planet called Kalisk, where an outcast Predator named Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) gets dropped off for failing to live up to the Predator clan’s brutal expectations. The trailer for Predator Badlands gives us a first glimpse of Dek’s grim predicament—from sibling rivalries to daddy issues.

There is enough emotion to almost make you forget you’re watching a franchise built on invisible aliens disemboweling people. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of gore and badassery. But here’s the twist that caught everyone off guard. Elle Fanning joins the fray as Thia, an endearingly broke n android whom Dek rescues and straps to his back like a galactic Yoda.

Thia, with only half a body and a stitched-up face, delivers all the emotional weight through both her android wisdom and her total lack of FOMO since she literally can’t walk away from this mess. This is where Badlands separates itself from the pack. No screaming humans. No “get to the chopper!” Instead, it’s raw, interspecies drama. Fanning’s character, Thia, plays a significant role in shaping the heart of the film, which is a surprising culmination of unlikely friendships, redemption arcs, and, yes, straight-up badass monster action.

If Prey hinted that Predator films could have more emotional depth, Badlands dives headfirst into that idea. And Trachtenberg isn’t cutting corners. Filmed in New Zealand with practical effects (no tennis ball acting here, thank you very muc h), the visuals are just as textured as the storytelling promises to be.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a fan of practical effects, complex family dynamics, or enjoy watching alien monsters duke it out in epic fashion, Predator Badlands has you covered. For longtime fans, it’s a new perspective on a world we know and love. For new audiences, it’s the kind of engaging sci-fi spectacle that might turn them into fans overnight. Circle November 7 on your calendar, folks. Because Predator just officially became the underdog everyone loves to root for—even if this time, he’s carrying an android strapped to his back.