Predator Badlands 3D Movie Review

By Jacob Scarberry

3D

With the only previous Predator 3D release being the notoriously bad post-conversion of the 1987 classic (back in 2010), I was worried this one might follow suit. Fortunately, this new 3D presentation looks really nice — though it could’ve been a bit stronger in places.

Predator Badlands opens with a terrific shot from inside a cave looking out toward the horizon — the cavern’s edges stretch toward the viewer while the skyline fades into the distance, showing off impressive 3-D depth. That same sense of dimension continues throughout the movie.

There are several fun pop-out moments — debris flying toward the audience, weapons aimed straight at the viewer — that make you instinctively want to duck. Some nighttime scenes naturally flatten things a bit, but even then, there’s still a solid sense of depth. I only noticed a couple brief instances of ghosting, and only on the subtitles.

Overall, Predator Badlands has an impressive 3D presentation that’s absolutely worth watching in that format.

Final 3D Score: 7/10*

* Previously this score was 8/10. Upon further consideration the reviewer has changed his mind and lowered it to a 7.

Movie

The Predator franchise has had a rocky 30-plus-year run — starting with a fantastic first film and followed by sequels of wildly varying quality. But after the surprisingly good Prey in 2022, it feels like the series has finally found its footing again. Disney made the right move by keeping Prey director Dan Trachtenberg on board for Predator Badlands, because this movie is genuinely great.

The story follows Dek, the so-called “runt” of the Yautja tribe. Ordered by their father to be killed for being weak, Dek is spared by his brother Kwei, who lets him escape to another planet, Genna — only for their father to slaughter Kwei in the name of tradition. Determined to earn his way back home, Dek sets out to claim the impossible trophy known as the Kalisk. Genna, however, is far more dangerous than he expects.

While struggling to survive the planet’s brutal environment, Dek encounters a legless android named Thia, who reluctantly becomes his partner on this perilous quest. I won’t spoil what happens next, but let’s just say a surprisingly cute merchandising opportunity joins the mix — creating an unlikely but endearing little “family.”

I’m not gonna lie — I was genuinely surprised by how good this film was. Even after Prey, I didn’t expect Disney to actually deliver another solid Predator entry, but here we are. The performances are strong all around, with Elle Fanning doing a solid job as Thia (even if her slightly grating tone seems intentional for the character).

Jeff Cutter’s cinematography is fantastic — shot with older lenses that give the movie a cinematic flair and some stylish lens flares — while making New Zealand look otherworldly in the process. The score by Sarah Schachner and Benjamin Wallfisch is another standout, and the sound mixing deserves serious awards attention. The editing keeps the pacing tight with no unnecessary fluff.

Sure, the story is fairly predictable — the “young warrior rises up against the odds” formula — but it smartly flips expectations by making the Predator the hero instead of the villain. A few CGI elements don’t quite hold up, but there are also some truly impressive effects, especially the entirely computer-generated mandibles, which look fantastic.

Overall, Predator: Badlands is a strong, worthy addition to the franchise — entertaining, well-made, and hopefully just the beginning of a new era for Predator.

Final Movie Score: 8/10

Learn more about how we rate 3D content via the link below:

https://www.3dor2d.com/3d-or-2d-ratingssystem/

Official Website :

https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/predator-badlands