Predator: Badlands is a thrilling and realistic appended movie to the sci-fi action genre, having an aggressive hunter vibe of the predator mythology and an intriguing narrative of outcasts, survival, and self-making. At once it makes you feel like you are in the world of Dek, a young, undermined Yautja outcast who hopes to demonstrate himself by hunting the mighty Kalisk on the dangerous planet Genna. The atmosphere of the film is unattractive and unclean, as the author focuses on the challenges that Dek faces when he has to confront environmental threats and the denial by his family members, thus making his search very personal and emotionally overwhelmed.
The story is brilliant with the well-developed characters and unexpected alliances. The improbable friendship of Dek with an abused android Thia and the enigmatic native animal Bud gives the story more depth and emotional appeal. The action scenes in this film are creative and in particular, the ingenuity of Dek in making organic weapons and setting up guerrilla attacks against the Weyland-Yutani team. On the visual level, the movie is rough and engaging, as the hostile world of Genna is brought to life vividly by the help of impressive cinematography and the bitter and violent battle scenes. The combination of the effects of practicality and the creation of the creature contributes to the fear of the Kalisk and other predators, which increases the level of danger.
The most touching aspect of this film was that Dek went through becoming an outcast and becoming a self-made warrior that changes the meaning of belonging to a clan. The motifs of denial, steadfastness, and establishing a personal way out are strong and familiar. His final moment, when he proclaims his independence and takes his own legacy was something that inspired me by his rebellion and maturation. Predator: Badlands is a fast, emotionally filled entry into the Predator thunderdome – a suspense of survival that will not leave quickly enough.
