Hey everyone and welcome back to a brand new review! After discussing the animated anthology, Predator: Killer of Killers in my last review, for this one, I am going to be talking about Dan Trachtenberg’s other entry in the franchise that came out this year, this being the big budget theatrical one. As mentioned in that review, I am a big fan of this franchise and getting two different kinds of movies in the same year seemed like a dream come true. What most had me interested in this one, was that it would be the first Predator movie, where the title creature is our protagonist and it would be a completely off world adventure. That, for me is brimming with potential and each new trailer just got me more hyped! So, now that it has come out, was this hunt worth the effort? Let’s jump right in and see if this entry has more in common with a hunter or its prey!
We follow one Yautja named Dek, who is considered by his family to be the runt of the litter as he yearns to prove himself as a skilled hunter to his father, Njohrr. After an unfortunate tragedy that leads to him getting stranded on a deadly planet known as Genna, he goes on a journey to hunt down a monster known as the Kalisk, known for being an unkillable beast. While there, he ends up running into an unlikely companion in the form of a damaged Weyland-Yutani (yes THAT Weyland-Yutani) android named Thia, who can help him navigate this treacherous terrain. Together, they go off on a hunt that will change the course of their lives forever.
The idea of doing a movie from a Predator’s perspective is one with a lot of promise, but it can be a risk, given how we are dealing with a main character who doesn’t speak a human language and we’re confined to mostly one planet with few characters present in the story. However, this helps keeping things focused with Trachtenberg and writer, Patrick Aison, being able to utilize the elements they have to craft a very fun and exciting journey. They construct this story almost like it is a video game where we go from one entertaining set piece to the other, with a protagonist having to survive in this open world environment with the resources available and an ally who serves to give important information. It’s like the best game I wish I had the ability to play and that is a compliment. I found Dek’s journey to be an investing one to watch with the beginning doing an excellent job in setting up all of the necessary information and character arcs in a way that manages to get one hooked with some surprisingly emotional comradery between Dek and his brother. Once things are off to the races the film is just a blast from start to finish with a visually stunning alien world providing some creative obstacles for our duo, with Trachtenberg never losing sight of the character arcs and story progression, being able to build upon them and create some truly worthwhile pay offs.
I also appreciated how the movie is able to take the idea of the Predator culture and use it as a springboard for a story about outsiders finding their place in the world, and what it means to come from a family that doesn’t view you as such. I found Dek and Thia’s form of bonding through this to add another layer of emotional investment that makes me care when there isn’t crazy sci fi shenanigans going down and it serves as a solid exploration into what it means to find found family and stop a cycle a toxic masculinity (let’s just say Dek’s dad ain’t winning father of the year any time soon). All of this is interwoven into the story very well and all the while we have some very well placed comedy that provides great laughs and plays into fun that can be had with an alien as our main character and how wacky a deadly alien world can be. Pacing wise, while I do think the climax does run a bit overlong and could’ve been tightened, the movie still is able to be entertaining while having the proper development needed to make it work. Plus, I just love seeing the ways in which Trachtenberg expands upon this world, having fun in presenting stuff we’ve never seen in the franchise previously.
When it comes to bringing this world to life, Trachtenberg and co. put in a lot of effort into making it feel fully realized and populating it with an abundance of neat looking creatures and environments for our MC to face. The designs of the various monsters Dek faces are very unique and memorable, having the proceedings avoiding repetition and it is entertaining in seeing how the duo strategizes in taking on certain obstacles and how as the movie goes on Dek goes from being reckless in how he handles things, to becoming a true strategist. The action sequences are a ton of fun as they never get boring and are able to have a great sense of build up to them, making the times where things just go hog wild all the more satisfying. We get to see everything from sword fights to beast battles to a moment that goes full on Aliens in the finale and it is all very well done in regards to staging and editing. It is fun seeing how the environment is used as we see our heroes having to fight it or use it to their advantage to take down their opponents.
Plus, despite this being a PG-13 Predator movie, that doesn’t mean the film lacks any violence as it just means more can be done when the ones being taken down are androids and/or alien creatures. There’s one stand out scene involving Thia’s android parts that is especially creative in regards to how it takes advantage of a limited scope and utilizes some very playful fight choreography. The CGI on here is fantastic with everything looking convincing and Dek himself being a very expressive individual where one can tell what he is feeling and the mix of practical and digital on him and other elements blend together very nicely. Also need to mention the score from Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch who go in their own direction rather than try to copy Alan Silvestri’s iconic composition and for the better. Right from the get go it has the feel of an alien tribe’s native music with how it uses the Yautja language and it comes off like a more aggressive riff on some Hans Zimmer’s work on Dune, while still sounding unique on it own terms. Also matches well with the excitement presented when the time is right.
As mentioned, the film does a really effective job in being able to make one care about Dek’s journey and that is in no small part thanks to Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi’s terrific performance, mostly covered by an impressive mix of digital motion capture and a practical suit to bring the titular Predator to life. He is able to convey Dek’s rage at the situation he is placed in as well as his tough exterior that is known of the species with his voice conveying the needed command. However, he is also able to bring a subtle sensitivity to the moments of intimacy where Dek actually bothers to reflect on whether this lifestyle his clan lives is what he wants. Dek’s stubbornness and pride ends up not only being a very amusing source of comedy, with him providing some sarcastic quips that end up providing some laughs, but it does the job of serving as a way for him to hide his deeper insecurities. His arc is a worthwhile one that makes this movie work beyond just a fun thrill ride and there’s a moment in the film where he fully becomes his own that had me so hyped in the way it took franchise iconography and flipped it on its head.
When it comes to Thia (played wonderfully with kooky energy by Elle Fanning), she makes for a highly entertaining foil, which is impressive as she could’ve easily been a character who ended up being annoying with her fast talking way of speaking and smart alec personality. However, she is written in a way that makes her not only very funny, but also quite endearing, essentially serving as both an aid to Dek as far as info., but also his personal therapist, questioning his need to partake in something that will likely not make him any happier. Some have stated that their dynamic has a “Shrek and Donkey” vibe to it and I’d say that that is a very accurate description. I also found her to be a sympathetic character in her own right, having a hopeful view of the world that doesn’t end up being met at times unfortunately and the parallels between them end up making their dynamic I found myself genuinely invested in. They even run into an adorable comic relief in the form of an alien creature known as Bud (Rohinal Narayan) who ends up being a scene stealer (great gag involving him imitating Dek’s every move) as well as adding another layer of depth to the story in a way that I did not expect. Fanning also gets the chance to do a dual performance as Thia’s sister, Tessa, a more cold hearted and serious android who is on a mission to find her twin. She pulls off both part seamlessly as I bought her as both of these very different personalities.
Overall, the Predator franchise has gone 2/2 as far as movies go this year, as I had a blast with Predator: Badlands and found it to be a breath of fresh air for this franchise. Aside from some pacing quibbles, the film is able to provide a simple yet engaging story that has a surprising amount of heart to it, well developed themes, a lot of creative and exciting action, great craftsmanship as far as visuals, and a pair of characters worth following. If one is not a fan of the more light hearted vibe or are against the PG-13, then maybe this won’t do much for you, but I think fans who like the idea will have a good time and I think those not well versed in the franchise may end up liking it even more as just a great, well made sci fi adventure that functions as terrific popcorn entertainment. Trachtenberg has proven himself to be a worthy “architect” for this franchise and I hope for however long he continues making these that they end up being of similar quality to what he has deliver thus far. After many years of the franchise being in a tough place artistically, it is so nice as a fan to see it getting the time to shine and I for one and am all for whatever hunt comes next!
Rating: A
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