Words Aaron Potter

After his bold reinvention with 2022’s Prey and recent animated anthology Killer Of Killers, it’s fair to say director Dan Trachtenberg has become an authority on all things Predator. Now, he returns to expand the universe once more with a wild spin on the iconic action villain.

Predator: Badlands marks the seventh film in the franchise, but it’s the very first to put the titular alien-hunting badass front and centre. 

This time, the laser sights are locked on Dek, a young, less experienced member of the Yautja tribe, who’s tasked with proving his skills by hunting down the ultimate adversary on a dangerous remote planet after being rendered an outcast. Joining him is Elle Fanning’s Thia, a young female android created by Weyland-Yutani, who seemingly intends to help him complete his mission – though anyone familiar with the company knows their synthetics can’t always be trusted. Even more curious, Fanning pulls double duty  by playing a second, yet-to-be revealed role.

Like its predecessors, Badlands promises to be another glowing-blood-soaked action romp, but one that digs much deeper into the lore than ever before, with giant otherworldly creatures, multiple Predator variants, and subtle ties to the Alien franchise.

In other words: the most dangerous – and unpredictable – hunt is about to begin.

The Ultimate Hunter

Bio Mask

Arguably as iconic as the face beneath it, the Predator’s bio-mask is more than just protection. It enhances vision with infrared and telescopic modes, and even mimics the vocal patterns of any target it tracks.

Gauntlet

A cornerstone of any Predator’s arsenal controls cloaking, projects holographic maps, and conceals an array of deadly tools – from retractable blades to high-yield explosives. Designs may vary, but all share one brutal feature: a built-in self-destruct for when all other options fail.

Laser Sword

The latest – and potentially greatest – addition to the arsenal in Predator: Badlands is the laser-edged sword. Superheated at the user’s command, it slices through enemies with devastating ease, bringing a whole new level of carnage to the hunt.