(ESP-ENG) Predator: Badlands | A story of revenge and honor - Movie Review!
Hello friends, good vibes to all.
One of the most successful film franchises of all time has been Predator, which has consistently captivated fans with each new installment. Badlands is the seventh film in the series, following last year's Alien vs. Predator and, earlier in 2022, Predator: Prey, which explored the origins of these creatures. Expectations for this new film were high because the story delves deeply into the Predator culture and how they operate within their societies, or clans, as they are called in the film.
So, as I was saying, this new storyline centers on Dek, a young predator who was forced to leave his clan and planet because he was considered too weak by others, including his father. The weak are abandoned because they are deemed unfit to belong. To redeem himself and regain his honor, Dek decides to hunt the most fearsome and invincible creature, Kalisk, on one of the most hostile planets in the universe. His journey takes a surprising turn when he encounters Thia (Ellie Fanning), a synthetic humanoid belonging to a corporation (Weyland-Yutan), the same one behind Alien. Together, and after a long period of building mutual trust, they embark on the quest to hunt this beast.
What's so cool about this new installment in the saga is that it's the first time the Yautja have been given the spotlight, and that's incredibly appealing because they were always portrayed as the villains. I think the movie is spectacular, probably one of the best in recent years. It's packed with action, great scenes, and of course, amazing visual effects. The Predator, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is phenomenal; the movements, the fight choreography, every sequence he's involved in is top-notch. I think this department is almost always top-notch, so there's not much more to say beyond how incredible everything looks.
The story itself is also good because it's not an empty plot. Dek has a motivation; everything he does is driven by something, and he won't rest until he achieves his goal. As I said, it's a matter of honor. All the backstory involving his father, his brother, and what happens on his planet prepares him for everything he's going to face. If we add Thia to this, who, despite being synthetic, has a conscience, personality, and free will that will help shape Dek's rough personality, the result is a predator capable of anything but with a certain capacity to analyze and empathize more with his surroundings. And yes, there will be situations where we see that these predators aren't just brute force, but that beneath that shell, there can be certain emotions.
As for the acting, well, in this type of film, it's not really something you're going to focus on, but I did like Ellie Fanning's performance and her dual role—yes, she plays two characters. I think she brings a lot of freshness and charisma to the film; with her, the plot isn't as dark. It's not that it's heavy, but Ellie definitely softens things a bit. There are even some funny, almost comical moments. Ultimately, we have another installment in this saga that, at least for me, met all expectations. It's a very good film that has everything: tension, good effects, a good plot, and an ending that leaves the possibility of a sequel open. It's under two hours long. I've included the trailer below. Needless to say, I highly recommend it; it's well worth watching.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos vemos en la próxima!
Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!
Coming here, I thought I'd read another highly critical review, but I was surprised! :)
I'm not a fan of the "new" Predators, but I'm far from criticizing them. Especially since, apart from the first installment, each subsequent one has been disappointing. The best example of this is that Predator 1 is aging like fine wine – supposedly a simple, "brainless" action movie, but it's surprisingly well-thought-out!
Prey, etc., didn't impress me, but I don't have many reasons to criticize. Certainly less than I do with all the films released after the first installment. I'll see Badlands when it's available on streaming. Thanks to you, I'll sit down to watch it with a calmer heart, knowing I'm not wasting my time. Cheers :).
Your reply is upvoted by @topcomment; a manual curation service that rewards meaningful and engaging comments.
More Info - Support us! - Reports - Discord Channel
I've been curious about the recent attempts to reboot and franchise the Predator. Alien has been abysmal for a while now, and the Predator side of things has been relatively dead in the water, though the recent title was surprisingly good. And this seems like it goes the extra mile.