While I was never really a Predator fan, I don’t believe I’d ever really say no to a movie dedicated to this franchise. Predator, like Alien, is just one of those monster movie franchises that many kids have grown up with, and like it or not, that’s what we had back then. I vaguely remember having a pretty good time with Prey, the last Predator movie in the franchise I watched. With Badlands, it’s one of the first from my recollection that I’ve watched that focuses on one of the Predator species itself.

Right off the start, without knowing anything about this movie, something felt just a teeny tiny bit off. Like, why am I hearing the famous sound effects of a lightsaber in a Star Wars franchise? I mean okay, I get it dude. How else is a badass blade that can cut through anything supposed to sound? But then immediately after, I see a hovercraft that again, reminds me awfully a lot of Star Wars. In a way, this movie’s universe felt like it was pitched originally to be for Star Wars, got rejected, and instead of it going to waste, it was rebranded to be used for Predator instead. But no harm, no foul so whatever.

The bigger issue is the generic coming-of-age story of a young Predator named Dek. I mean, can we get any seriously more generic than what was presented here? A young’n, in order to prove his worth to his clan, is supposed to venture out on his own to hunt and kill a beast for a trophy before he can be accepted as a grown adult? Let me take a guess….this “journey” our protagonist must go through will undoubtedly force him to come into contact with others, and this bond they forge together will somehow shape and change his perception towards the end to lean more towards the “good” side?

The movie moves at a very fast pace, and that somewhat leaves out time for more in-depth character study. But with Dek, it doesn’t seem like there’s much we need to learn about. He clearly has a chip on his shoulder, being labeled as the weakest amongst his clan, and well, that’s it. He’s out to prove that he’s not. Not much else needs to be said. The entire movie really does have some sort of Star Wars/Disney feel to it. I just can’t shake that thought from my mind. From pacing, dialogue, and fight scenes, it just oozes that feeling. It’s sort of like you can tell the directors and producers were just all huge Star Wars and Disney fanboys and girls. I would have thought the movie based on Predator would be darker and grittier, but there’s not one actual human in the movie. The PG-13 rating should have been a big red flag.

But oh well. I’d still never flat out not watch a Predator movie. I’m very likely to watch the next one. Badlands set the tone and I don’t think the sequel can be any worse than this one. I believe it can only improve. Whatever they friggin do, just please, for the love of the franchise and to keep the Predator reputation intact, please, please do not have anyone pet Dek on the head like a house pet, like what they did to Alien in the Earth television series. He can crack jokes, but that should be it.