Predator: Badlands (2025) Film Review: A Solid, Story-Driven Predator Movie with Some Interesting Twists

Predator: Badlands is a refreshing entry in the franchise that does more than rely on action and spectacle. 

While it delivers the tension and combat expected of a Predator film, what stood out to me is that I genuinely enjoyed the plot beyond just the fighting scenes. The story has enough structure, character focus, and small twists to keep things engaging.

Plot summary

Predator: Badlands follows Dek, a young Predator navigating survival, identity, and the need to prove himself by hunting an apex predator within a dangerous and unfamiliar environment. 

Rather than focusing purely on humans being hunted, the film shifts perspective and gives more attention to Predator culture, hierarchy, and internal dynamics.

A key element in the story is the Kalisk, a powerful and feared creature that adds another layer of danger. Its presence expands the stakes and makes the world feel larger, moving the film beyond a simple hunter versus prey setup. It is a hunter looking for an even bigger hunter setup, so to speak. 

As the story unfolds, relationships and loyalties begin to matter more. One of the more interesting developments is the reveal that Dek’s buddy Bud is actually the child of the Kalisk. This adds an unexpected emotional dimension and gives the narrative more weight than a typical action driven storyline.

There are a few minor twists like this along the way. They are not overly complex, but they help keep the story engaging and reinforce the idea that the film is trying to offer more than just action sequences.

What works best

What I appreciated most about Predator: Badlands is that the film holds your attention even when there is no action on screen. The plot is structured in a way that keeps you interested, and the story continues to move forward through character decisions and developments.

A pleasant surprise is Elle Fanning, who takes on a dual role as Thia and Tessa. 

She plays both the more grounded and the darker twin convincingly, and it is nice to see her step into something different from her more polished public image, including her recent Coach advertisements. I love watching her on the big screen. 

The pacing is steady and controlled. The film knows when to build tension and when to move forward. The setting also plays a strong role. The badlands environment is not just visual. It shapes the story and reinforces the sense of danger and isolation.

The Predator elements remain strong, but what makes this film slightly different is that it is willing to explore more than just the hunt. By bringing in ideas of identity, lineage, and internal conflict, the film feels more rounded.

Conclusion and recommendation

Predator: Badlands is a solid and enjoyable addition to the franchise. It delivers the expected action, but also offers a storyline that is engaging enough to stand on its own. The inclusion of elements like the Kalisk, the small twists, and the character dynamics help the film feel more complete.

Most importantly, it is a film where the story matters. I found myself interested not just in the action, but in how everything was unfolding.

Rating: 4.2 out of 5

(All views are my own personal thoughts and reflections on movies and books that I read, on my blog Left Hand Column: Book and Film Reviews.) 

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