The “Predator” films have struggled a bit over the years to find their own identity. Certainly, there have been many consistent themes and elements that each entry in the series has explored, no matter how different each character and setting is. The films have always involved strong men and women learning to use their strength and cunning to outwit the Yautja and survive. This alien race is regularly described as being obsessed with the thrill of the hunt, and while not entirely trustworthy, they nonetheless abide by their own code of honor. The Yautja, or Predators as they are colloquially known, also use a seemingly endless variety of deadly weapons in order to maim, catch, and kill their prey.
But it’s hard to say what a “Predator” movie is or isn’t. This is largely because the original 1987 film is a hybrid film in its own right, mixing sci-fi horror, man-versus-nature survival, and bullet-and-explosion action. The latter, along with its director John McTiernan and star Arnold Schwarzenegger, led the film to its reputation as an ’80s action classic. Although the sequels always kept the series with a foothold in the action genre, their variety broadened and expanded the franchise with each installment. Director Dan Trachtenberg has seemingly made it his mission to push the franchise’s boundaries further with this month’s “Prey,” “Killer of Killers” and “Predator: Badlands,” the latter of which is the most extreme development yet. “Badlands” is a genuinely funny, heartwarming and even adorable film, something that might shock longtime fans of the films who only see them as immature action vehicles. “Badlands” proves that the true purpose of the “Predator” series is for each episode to carve its own path.
Action and heart don’t mix
The most common complaints from fans so far are that a PG-13, more adventure-focused “Predator” movie somehow betrays the franchise’s roots, as well as the idea that an action movie should be both violent and realistic. As for that first point, you only need to look a little closer at the “Predator” films to realize that the series has never been about a juvenile idea of ”tough guy,” but has instead sought to critique that archetype with each film. Every “Predator” movie involves a group that ends up having their guts figuratively (and literally) handed to them. Such posturing is distinct from genuine fortitude and courage, which the series regularly celebrates. These latter qualities are on full display in “Badlands,” as Yautja, Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) and the synthetic Weyland-Yutani, Thia (Elle Fanning), find the strength within themselves to follow their own paths. And while the film is admittedly light in terms of red blood and four-letter words, it doesn’t lack intensity.
This feeds into the idea that a true action movie must be R-rated, explicit, and generally moody or dour, a huge misconception. Some of the greatest action films of all time have been PG-13 (the “Mission: Impossible” and “Bourne” series, for starters), and the battles in “Badlands” are by no means neutralized. As for another misconception that action movies can’t be light-hearted or even heartwarming, there are plenty of examples to the contrary. The “Fast & Furious” and “Lethal Weapon” series are remarkably affectionate films. Damn, who is more wholesome than Jackie Chan, one of the greatest action legends of all time? In its combination of slimy monster action and ’80s sci-fi-tinged heart, “Badlands” feels like a less bloody “Turbo Kid,” proving the genre’s versatility.
Dan Trachtenberg realizes a franchise can’t be an endless series of retreads
None of the themes of “Badlands” are new to the series; they are just reconfigured. Where previous films feature the Yautja as antagonists, this film has one as the protagonist. Where other films typically involve a team of characters reduced to a single surviving warrior, “Badlands” sees Dek start out solo and then build a team around him. It’s a subversion that allows the film to feel distinctive and yet be integrated into the series as a whole. During a recent interview with IGN, the director clearly stated that his main reason for making “Badlands” was that it wasn’t just a repeat of the rest of the “Predator” series:
“[…] It really felt like, man, I don’t think people really need another version of this movie, this story, this structure the way it was. I really felt like it would be nice to have something refreshing and new in the franchise, but also in science fiction films in general. […] It’s going to be brutal, filled with spine-ripping, decapitations, and ripped-off limbs, and also have heart and make you feel things. This way it can be a complete meal. »
This last comparison is the most relevant. In truth, the last two decades of franchise and intellectual property proliferation have led audiences to expect little more than reheated leftovers, and it’s high time we started getting full meals in our genre series again. With that in mind, “Predator: Badlands” is a real treat.
