So here’s the scoop on “Predator: Badlands.” It’s a new twist on those alien hunters we’re all familiar with. In this flick, Dek is at the center of the action—a younger Yautja trying to prove he’s not just a weakling and earn this cool invisibility thing called “the mantle,” which is like their secret weapon.

Things get spicy when his dad starts demanding results, but his older brother tries to back him up. Dad’s not having it and challenges bro to an epic duel. Dek ends up stuck on his brother’s ship, which flies off to this super dangerous planet where no one’s managed to take down this crazy creature called the Kalisk.

On this wild adventure, Dek teams up with some unusual pals—this little creature like a monkey with a shell and an android that’s missing legs but knows loads about their new surroundings. It’s gonna be a wild ride!

This film shifts things by focusing on the predator itself instead of humans for once. And what’s got folks really talking is how they matched up our hardcore alien hero with this quirky, always-cheerful android—which makes for some good laughs thanks to Elle Fanning’s comic chops.

The movie heads into weird territory by having our alien heroes go against Earth-based corporate androids. Yet, somehow, it manages to keep that Disney-esque vibe in check through it all. It’s packed with surprises you probably didn’t see coming!
Okay, so let’s break this down. The movie is part of this plan to create a universe featuring space monsters, you know, reconnecting with the whole *Alien* vibe but with a Disney twist. There’s this cute and funny alien creature that’s almost made to be a toy—it’s kind of adorable in a way you’d expect from kid-friendly flicks.

Instead of people running around, you’re mostly dealing with androids here. This change helps keep the American censorship folks from getting too worked up despite there being lots of action-packed scenes that, while intense, don’t splash blood everywhere.

This isn’t like that fierce throwback style we saw in *Prey*. Sure, you’ve still got Dan Trachtenberg directing and he’s awesome at crafting those epic battle moments with the scary alien hunter dude, but here things are more about big spectacle than nerve-wracking tension. Expect grand showdowns with massive creatures and insanely armed opponents who almost make previous films’ humans look easy.

Now about Dek—the main character—he’s not your regular warrior since he’s entirely CGI-like someone out of *Warcraft* or *Avatar*. He’s angry all the time which is understandable given his backstory but after a bit it just feels overdone. His action scenes should be thrilling; however, they fall flat because it’s all digital—no real stunts or cool animation style like what you’d see in fully animated films.

Interestingly enough, *Predator: Badlands* actually starts getting good when… well there’s more to it but you’ll have to watch to see how it turns out!
So, there’s this android chick who’s surprisingly more human than the guy in the story. She’s got her own set of “family” issues, just like him, and both of them kind of don’t fit in. Her “outcast” status isn’t about how she looks; it’s because there’s something funky in her programming—a bug that’s made her develop a unique personality that totally clashes with what this huge corporation, Weyland-Yutani from the Alien flicks, wants.

Meanwhile, another android—also played by Elle Fanning—is chasing after her and this dude Dek while dealing with another threat on their tail: the Kalisk. Eventually, they all come face-to-face. This leads to a pretty epic scene where the legless android takes control over separate lower limbs and ends up fighting as both torso and legs separately. It’s a wild mix of action and comedy that’s totally fresh and fun to watch!