Exiled from his brutal clan, a young Predator joins forces with an unexpected ally to take on the deadliest creature in the galaxy.

In 2020, 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg was unofficially appointed the Kevin Feige-style puppeteer of the Predator franchise. His first two efforts to reinvent the saga, Prey and Killer of Killers were both met with critical praise, demonstrating that Predator doesn’t need Arnold or ‘Get to the choppa!’ to reach exhilarating heights.

Badlands is perhaps Trachtenberg’s most accomplished entry in the series yet. While it’s the first Predator with a 12A rating, it doesn’t shy away from the brutal, high-octane action the franchise is known for. Dek, the young Predator seeking to earn his cloak in Badlands, is soon accompanied by a less-cute equivalent to Baby Yoda. Yet, the film does manage to carve out its own identity, largely thanks to a scene-stealing performance from Elle Fanning.