So, there’s this alien named Dek who’s really itching to prove he’s not some young weakling like his older brother thinks. Their species, the Yautjas, are these super-dangerous hunters thanks to a cool invisibility gadget called the “mantle.” But things get messy when their dad demands dominance and wants a showdown with Dek’s older brother. When his bro isn’t on board with dad’s extreme plans, Dad is not having it. He challenges the older brother to a duel—yep, a fight to the death.

While all this family drama goes down, Dek ends up stuck on a spaceship headed for “the most dangerous planet” out there. This place is known for housing the legendary Kalisk, which no one from Dek’s kind has ever managed to take down because of its insane healing powers. As he navigates this treacherous terrain, Dek picks up two surprising sidekicks: one is a tiny creature kind of like a monkey but in armor and the other is an android who can’t walk but knows a ton about their wild surroundings.

Now let’s talk about *Predator: Badlands*. It’s trying to give new life to these alien hunter movies by making one of the aliens the main character instead of focusing on humans like usual. But what really stands out is his weirdly wonderful team-up with that cheerful legless android. They’re like an oddball duo full of unlikely chemistry, thanks mostly to some awesome acting from Elle Fanning who nails her comedic role. The movie’s got its contradictions though—it’s got this whole antihero versus Earth corporation robot angle but feels strangely Disney-esque despite that rough setup.

crew of mismatched allies. Up until then, it’s mostly about the alien’s solo adventures, which can get a bit monotonous. But when the gang is all together, things shift up a gear with more dynamic interactions and unexpected teamwork.

The film does try to tie in some familiar vibes from other Alien stories but gives them a playful twist that feels like something you’d see on lunchboxes and shelves as toys. The attempts to make it kid-friendly also ease off the intense parts by swapping real gore for more android-centric action sequences, which keeps everything looking less gruesome.

Overall, Predator: Badlands leans heavily into big spectacle over suspense, with lots of elaborate traps and monstrous foes. The focus has moved from gritty survival to action-filled skirmishes. It’s not so much about what made Predator initially thrilling but more about showcasing cool CGI moves and flashy fights.

Dek, our digital lead, is constantly boiling over with rage due to his past troubles. Although he’s got every right to be mad as hell, watching him grind away at it for too long without a break wears out its welcome rather fast. It doesn’t hit hard emotionally or dazzle visually in quite the same way either fully live-action or animated stuff often does.

It’s only when Dek teams up with this weird bunch of companions that we see sparks of creativity come alive—and that’s where Predator: Badlands finds its stride amidst all its paradoxes.
Okay, so there’s this android who’s surprisingly more human and deep than the guy she teams up with. She’s got her own set of “family” issues and feels like an outsider too. But for her, it’s because of some funky glitch in her programming that makes her different from what the big bad corporation, Weyland-Yutani, wants. They’re from the Alien movies, if you know them. Anyway, there’s another android on her tail—also played by Elle Fanning—chasing after both her and Dek along with this group called Kalisk.

The movie really shines during a crazy scene where a legless android somehow takes control of separate legs. It’s wild! This android manages to fight by moving around in two parts: torso and separate legs. It’s action-packed but also kinda funny because it mixes fighting and slapstick comedy in a totally fresh way.