Summary
Highlights
The video introduces 'Predator Badlands' as a new film that shifts the perspective to a Yaoucha (Predator). Director Dan Tractenberg drew influences from various films and video games like 'Shane,' 'Drax the Destroyer,' 'The Book of Eli,' 'Mad Max 2,' 'Conan the Destroyer,' and 'Shadow of the Colossus.' The film aims to explore the Predator culture, which was previously only hinted at in expanded lore after the disliked 'Predator 2.' Filming began in New Zealand in August 2024 under the production name 'Backpack.'
The movie opens with a 20th Century Pictures logo ending with Yautja drums, similar to 'Alien 3.' An opening title crawl reads: 'Yaoucha or prey to none, friend to none, predator to all,' referencing 'Killer of Killers.' This quote, designated 0422/25, precedes the line from 'Killer of Killers' (0522/74), suggesting a progression in Yautja teachings. The deleted line 'Yaucha pray to none' was reanimated for the final cut. The film opens on 'Yau Prime' with Deck traversing a barren landscape, showing the planet's food chain and hinting at isolated Yautja clans, likely from desert regions, similar to the Feral Predator from 'Prey.' A large creature's skeleton in the sand is playfully suggested to be a 'Quatar.'
Deck rides a speeder bike, similar to Torres's in 'Killer of Killers,' with possible Star Wars nods. He enters a cave to face his brother, Qui, in a practice duel. Qui uses a cloaking device and plasma swords (similar to lightsabers and seen in Dark Horse comics). Deck, smaller and having never completed a successful hunt, is not a full clan member. The original plan for Deck to be blind was changed to emphasize him as the 'runt.' Qui advises Deck to use the environment, foreshadowing later plot points. Qui defeats Deck, but Deck's refusal to yield and shedding his cloak hints at his future survival on the Death Planet. This fight is the first time two Predators have a full conversation in their native language, developed by Britain Watkins, a protege of Paul Fromer (Avatar's Na'vi language creator). Watkins meticulously crafted the written and spoken 'Yautja' language, ensuring anatomical feasibility and incorporating family crests on weapons. Demetrius Shusta Kolamantangi, who plays Deck, learned the language and performed mocap without using facial parts that wouldn't appear on the Predator, requiring intense vocal and physical training.
Deck enters the trophy room and picks up a toy, revealing he saved Qui's life when they were younger, which explains Qui's loyalty. The trophy room includes a T-Rex skull, human skull, and an 'Independence Day' alien, hinting at possible crossovers. Qui gives Deck a shoulder cannon and helps him choose his prey. At 0:10:39, Earth is shown with Naru's image, a deliberate nod by Tractenberg. Deck chooses 'Genna,' the 'Death Planet,' home of the 'unkillable Callisk,' to prove his worth to his disapproving father, N'o. N'o, adorned with bones on his bike, embodies an accomplished hunter. Deck's act of slicing his hand as a sign of respect contrasts with Qui's subtle defiance. N'o, who marked Deck for death, orders Qui to kill him. Qui frees Deck and sends him to Genna, sacrificing himself to N'o, telling Deck to bring back the Callisk. This intense opening sequence establishes Deck as an underdog and helps the audience empathize with him, an intentional move by Tractenberg and the VFX team.
Deck crashes on Genna, ejecting from his ship, highlighting the planet's danger. He experiences grief and rage, demonstrating the VFX team's success in translating human emotions onto the alien face. The Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things creators) voice the ship's navigation system as a favor to Tractenberg. Deck, now alone, prepares for the hunt, laying out his arsenal (plasma bow, spear, grenades), realizing his shoulder cannon is gone. He encounters Genna's lethal creatures, losing his spear to the 'jungle itself' and barely escaping with his plasma sword. Genna, described as 'literally made of monsters,' features a 'Rock Biter' inspired creature, aligning with Deck's journey of overcoming challenges. The planet's name is likely a reference to the biblical 'Gehenna.' Deck, wounded, patches himself up 'Rambo-style' and displays a pragmatic personality, a contrast to typical Predators.
Deck encounters Thea, a Weyland-Yutani research synth, severed at the waist and stuck in a tree. Her eyes roll back to reveal the Weyland logo, a reference to 'Alien Romulus' and connecting the 'Alien' and 'Predator' universes. Thea, with vast knowledge of Genna, offers to lead Deck to the Callisk if he helps her find her legs. Despite his creed of hunting alone, he agrees, treating her as a 'tool.' Thea asks many fan-curiosity questions about Predators, and her mention of Weyland-Yutani not yet cracking sub-light speed subtly places 'Badlands' far in the future of the Alien/Predator timeline, without getting tangled in complex crossover narratives. Thea's programming for sensitivity to life forms is actually for exploitation, a Weyland-Yutani trait. They face acid-spitting 'Embra Anguises,' which Thea pacifies with berries, further demonstrating her knowledge.
Deck's homemade mask and weapons, including a razor grass whip, bison armor, and the acid lizard as a plasma caster, showcase his growth and adaptation. He expertly takes down synths, clearing a path for Thea, who also demonstrates her enhanced capabilities. Meanwhile, Tessa, still transmitting data, lies to Mother about Deck's death. Deck continues his fight, with the acid lizard becoming a true partner. Thea and her legs fight ferociously, with El Fanning's double-jointed elbows adding realism. Deck calls Thea by her name, and she calls him 'Deck of the Yautja,' signifying mutual respect and recognition, contrasting their abusive family dynamics. Deck reveals Bud is a young Callisk, and the final showdown begins. Deck rigs the area with exploding 'ball sacks,' which the lizard detonates, destroying many synths. Tessa appears in a power loader, similar to Ripley's, wielding Deck's plasma cannon. The acid lizard sacrifices itself to save Deck, emphasizing comradeship over trophies. Deck removes his mask, adhering to the Yautja code, and faces Tessa.
The Callisk joins the battlefield, a reference to 'Hard Target.' It attacks Tessa, and Deck freezes its arm, allowing the Callisk to rip apart the power loader. Bud saves Deck, and Thea helps Deck to his feet while the Callisk consumes Tessa, signifying its victory. The Callisk and Bud are reunited, and Deck and the Callisk touch foreheads, forming a new family. However, the Callisk freezes and shatters, revealing a half-frozen, half-digested Tessa, now resembling Nebula. Tessa confronts Thea about her betrayal, but Thea rejects their 'sisterhood,' and Deck kills Tessa with razor grass. Bud then rips off Tessa's head and spine, mirroring a classic Predator trophy move. Thea proclaims Deck 'Deck of the Yautja,' which he finally accepts. This marks the first time a Predator successfully survives a hunt in these films.
Returning to Yautja Prime, Deck confronts his father, N'o, presenting Tessa's head as a trophy. N'o, calling Deck and Qui a 'disgrace,' orders gods to attack, but Deck, using his new razor grass wristblades, defeats them, showing his growth. Deck and N'o duel, with Deck critically wounding his father. N'o uses his cloak, but Deck creates a sandstorm with the ship's thruster (a change from an earlier 'samurai standoff' version of the scene), revealing N'o's location and allowing Deck to stab him. Deck traps N'o in an energy barrier, rips off his helmet, and demands he yield. N'o acknowledges Deck's strength and offers him a place in the clan. Deck refuses, proclaiming his own new clan, and a pre-teen Bud bites off N'o's head. Deck takes N'o's cloak, and Thea declares him 'Deck of the Yautja,' which he now accepts. The film ends with a tease of a ship approaching, and Deck reveals it's his mother, setting up future adventures for the 'dynamic trio.'
The Yautja are a matriarchal society, meaning Deck's mother (who is likely the incoming ship's passenger) holds authority over his fate. The video discusses potential connections between 'Badlands' and 'Alien Earth,' suggesting the deadly creatures on Genna could be an inspiration for Weyland-Yutani's bioweapons research. The Callisk's designation (XX0552) implies other species were studied before the Xenomorph (XX121). 'Alien Earth' features synthesizoids with human consciousness, like Wendy, who can communicate with Xenomorphs. The video theorizes that Weyland-Yutani continued to develop synths with emotions, hoping to replicate Wendy's success in understanding and exploiting alien life. While Tessa fulfilled this, Thea's compassion for Deck and other creatures mirrors Wendy's path. The creatures of Genna could be the 'other alien nightmares' captured in 'Alien Earth.' While 'Badlands' and 'Alien Earth' were developed separately, Tractenberg left open possibilities for future connections, hinting at a potential 'Predator' and 'Alien' crossover.
Despite not leading to an immediate Alien vs. Predator movie, 'Badlands' is praised as another strong entry in Tractenberg's 'Predator' era, continuing the trend of refreshing the franchise set by 'Prey' and 'Killer of Killers.' Making a Predator the hero offers a new perspective on the 40-year-old franchise. While the inclusion of humor and a 'cute sidekick' (Bud) might divide audiences, it allows for new directions and broader appeal beyond the traditional horror/sci-fi genre. The film's humor is acknowledged as a risk, but the reviewer found it largely successful. Overall, 'Badlands' is considered a strong addition, with Tractenberg maintaining a perfect record for his Predator films, and anticipation for his future work is high.
Thea explains she and her sister, Tessa (also a synth), were separated by the Callisk. Thea believes Tessa is alive, but the film immediately cuts to Tessa's lifeless, mangled body, showcasing Weyland-Yutani's control (logo over her brain). The conversation between Deck and Thea reveals parallels in their journeys: both are seen as 'weak' by their superiors and want to prove themselves. Tessa's body is taken to a healing pod, where her status as part of Weyland-Yutani's 'bioweapons division' for capturing Xenomorphs is revealed, with the Callisk designated XX0552 (compared to Xenomorph XX121), hinting at expanded research beyond Xenomorphs. The AI 'Mother' (an upgraded Mother 600 from previous Alien films) notifies Tessa of her mission, her continued failure, and the presence of a Yautja. Tessa awakens, partially damaged, setting her apart from Thea.
Tessa and Deck are paralleled as both hunt the Callisk, and failure means death from their respective patriarchal figures. Deck and Thea encounter 'bone bison,' the Callisk's food. Deck, hungry, decides to hunt one in a field of razor grass. They are interrupted by 'Bud,' a seemingly cute monster. Tractenberg intended Bud to subvert expectations, like Rocket Raccoon and Groot, a cute facade for a 'gnarly' creature. Deck, inspired by Bud, attempts to hunt a bone bison 'Shadow of the Colossus' style. Thea warns of 'Luna bugs.' After a playful interaction, Bud and Deck take down a bone bison, with Deck performing a classic Predator spine-pull. They are then snatched by a 'Luna Bug,' a giant squid-like creature. Bud saves Deck, who then takes down the Luna Bug. Meanwhile, Tessa and her synth team find Deck's crash site and demonstrate Tessa's ruthless nature compared to Thea's kindness.
Thea, recounting her thrilling day, is offered food by Deck, showing his growing respect. She declines, being a synth, and suggests he share with Bud, who thanks Deck by spitting on him. Thea explains this is a sign of affection in Bud's clan, which later saves Deck's life. Deck, sensitive about his lack of a clan, confides in Thea about his brother Qui and N'o's murder, the 'Predator clicking sound' emphasizing his anger. They discuss their motivations, and Thea realizes Tessa is her 'sister,' highlighting Thea's programmed emotions and ability to form bonds, unlike other Weyland-Yutani synths. El Fanning, playing Thea, drew inspiration from David Johnson's performance as Annie in 'Romulus.' Thea's capacity for empathy makes her more 'human' than most synths. Tessa, however, is a 'company loyalist,' her damaged eye symbolizing her more robotic nature.
Tessa finds Deck's ship, discovering a Yautja toy and trophy room. Deck leaves Bud behind, reaffirming his 'hunt alone' mantra. At a waterfall, a common Predator hunting ground, they find a Callisk tooth. Thea's discussion about 'Alpha Wolves' protecting their pack subtly influences Deck, contrasting with his father's emphasis on individual strength. The scene's landscape, shot in New Zealand, mirrors 'Prey' and 'Lord of the Rings.' At the Callisk attack site, Thea finds her legs, and Deck, softening, jokes about her walking. However, Thea betrays Deck, having used him to get to Tessa, revealing the synths are coming. Deck, angered, prepares for a fight, luring the Callisk with fire and creating a dramatic explosion reveal. The Callisk, a massive creature inspired by Studio Ghibli, Shadow of the Colossus, and deep-sea creatures, is shown to be different from the 'Back Batter' in 'Killer of Killers.'
Deck and the Callisk roar a challenge. The Callisk's formidable ability to heal and regrow limbs, even its head, is quickly revealed. Notably, it doesn't bleed when severed, echoing the classic Predator line 'If it bleeds, we can kill it,' implying the Callisk is truly unkillable. Thea attempts to reattach her legs during the chaos. She assists Deck by firing a pulse rifle, using advanced M41A pulse rifle models with classic sound effects. Deck aims for the head, but the Callisk's scent saves him. Tessa then freezes both the Callisk and Deck, capturing them for the corporation. Deck awakens strapped to a table, meeting Tessa, who dismisses Thea's pleas for his release, calling him a 'broken tool.' Tessa's voice is subtly more robotic than Thea's, highlighting their differences in approach and emotion.
Actress El Fanning describes Thea as spunky and positive, while Tessa is guarded and methodical, fulfilling her programmed role for the company. Tessa reboots Thea, who is ecstatic to see her, recounting adventures with Deck. However, Tessa is only concerned with the mission, revealing the Callisk's regenerative properties. When Thea tries to protect Deck, Tessa coldly informs her that mother gave them emotions to exploit, not to bond. Tessa reveals she intentionally abandoned Thea, deeming her 'weak' and a liability to the mission, mirroring N'o's judgment of Deck. Mother calls Tessa away, and other synths box up Thea. A synth examines the Yautja toy, and it explodes, revealing how Deck saved his brother as a child. Thea releases Deck, who escapes the Weyland-Yutani base, falling down a waterfall like Dutch in the original 'Predator.' The company's slogan 'Building Better Worlds' (from 'Aliens') is seen, ironically highlighting their parasitic true motives.
Deck finds his wrecked ship and uses a first aid gun, an advanced version of the Feral Predator's from 'Prey' and similar to the Jungle Hunter's. Initially despairing, he remembers Thea's words about alpha wolves protecting their pack, realizing that caring for others is a strength. He embraces the name 'Wolf.' A montage shows Deck crafting new weapons from Genna's creatures: razor grass blades, exploding slugs, a Callisk tooth, and bison armor plates. He befriends an acid-spitting lizard by feeding it slimy berries, echoing Thea's earlier actions. This 'back to basics' preparation parallels Dutch and Naru. Deck returns to the Callisk's footprint and finds Bud, realizing Bud is a Callisk, subtly foreshadowed by Thea's earlier comment about bone bison being a Callisk's favorite food. The dynamic trio – Deck, Thea, and Bud – prepare to confront Weyland-Yutani.