We kicked things off in true “Grave Tone” fashion: laughing, riffing, and hyping up the fact that we’ve got another new release to dig into, this time it’s Predator: Badlands. Released on November 7, the movie gave us a lot to talk about, and frankly, it surprised us in the best way. We both agreed right away: it was really good. Actually, it was great.
Before we dove into the specifics, we tackled a lingering question: Is Predator horror?
Technically, it’s not exactly straightforward. Alien is undeniably horror. The suspense, the dread, the sheer intensity, it’s all baked in.
But Predator? The first one with Schwarzenegger was basically Rambo meets aliens, so more of a sci-fi action flick. Still, we landed on the idea that because Predator exists in the Alien universe, it’s horror-adjacent.
And you know what? Horror fans tend to love it regardless of how you categorize it.
We looked at the full Predator timeline and realized just how many films there are now. including Prey, Killer of Killers, and the latest, Badlands. That’s not even counting the AVP movies.
And yeah, some of the middle entries we skipped over (sorry, The Predator from 2018, you didn’t make the cut). But ever since Dan Trachtenberg took over in 2022 with Prey, it feels like the franchise has found its footing again. We’re here for it.
Dex: The Predator With a Heart (No, Seriously)
This movie shook things up in a way the franchise never has before: it gave us a Predator protagonist, and one with actual emotional depth.
The main character, Dex, isn’t just some faceless alien hunter. He’s the center of the story, and he feels things. You can see it on his face.
That’s because the team ditched the traditional animatronic setup and went with full CGI for his face, allowing the actor, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, to bring genuine emotion through performance capture. It worked.
Dex is a Yautja (the actual name for the species, for those who forgot), and he’s been exiled from his clan. This entire movie is about his journey for redemption, but it’s told in a way that’s way more personal than any Predator movie before.
We’re not just watching a creature hunt or be hunted. We’re watching someone, or something, struggle with identity, rejection, and finding community. For a franchise known mostly for explosions and cool weapons, that’s a huge shift.
What made it even more refreshing was the humor. Not forced, not cringe, just the right amount of levity, and it came from Dex himself and the other characters he interacts with. That felt so different.
Usually, the humor is shoehorned in via the human characters. But this time, because Dex is our main guy, the jokes are tied into his growth, his journey. That added another layer of charm.
The Death Planet and World-Building Gold
Let’s talk about the planet they’re on: Genna. Holy crap. This place is a death trap. Everything, and we mean everything, can kill you. The grass? Deadly. The bugs? Lethal. Even the trees are dangerous.
This whole setup served as a perfect metaphor for what Dex is going through: he’s not just navigating a hostile world; he’s navigating a society that wants him gone.
But from a visual and lore-building standpoint, this planet was amazing. The attention to detail made the setting feel alive and terrifying. It wasn’t just there for show.
The world actively fought back against the characters, and that upped the tension in every scene. It wasn’t just Dex trying to survive other Yautja or the creature he’s hunting; it was Dex versus nature on steroids.
This was also the most we’ve ever learned about Yautja society. In past movies, they show up, kill some people, maybe get killed themselves, and leave. That’s it.
Here, we actually got a glimpse into their world: their traditions, their laws, their hierarchies. Dex is an outcast, not because he’s weak but because he didn’t follow the rules. That nuance gave the entire story emotional weight.
Thea, Weyland-Yutani, and Alien Ties
One of the best things this film did was reinforce its place in the Alien universe without hitting us over the head with it. Thea, played by Elle Fanning, is a synthetic, and yes, she was created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.
That same shady company that’s behind all the chaos in the Alien franchise. Synthetics have always been a big part of those movies, but here, Thea felt different. She wasn’t just a tool. She had emotions, thoughts, and, dare we say it, a soul…
Thea and Dex end up forming an unlikely alliance. Their bond is weird, emotional, and surprisingly touching. We’re talking Predator here, and yet, there were moments where we genuinely felt moved by their friendship.
Even Bud, the little Kalisk creature Thea names, added some unexpected heart. This trio gave the movie a warmth that’s rare in sci-fi action films.
And by keeping Weyland-Yutani in the picture, the filmmakers grounded the story in something familiar. We can’t help but think they’re building toward something bigger.
With Alien: Earth streaming right now and more crossover material popping up (there’s even a Marvel prequel comic coming), we’re betting there’s a larger plan. Maybe something like AVP again, but, you know, actually good.
Subverted Endings, Cliffhangers, and What’s Next
We’d be lying if we said we weren’t thrown off by the ending. Just when you think it’s over, it isn’t. And then you think it’s over again, and it still isn’t.
We got at least three false endings before the credits finally rolled, and just when we were ready for a post-credit scene to make sense of it all, there was nothing.
Still, the message was clear: something bigger is coming. Whether that’s another movie, a crossover, or some surprise return of legacy characters (we’re looking at you, Danny Glover and Arnold), we’re ready.
The pieces are all on the board. The lore is there. The emotional hooks are in place. Now we just want to know where it’s all going.
We also loved that the movie wasn’t afraid to mix things up. It ditched the usual Earth-bound setting. It removed human characters entirely (a bold move).
And it leaned hard into the emotional beats of the story. That’s rare for a franchise like Predator, and it paid off.
Our Ratings and Final Thoughts
We finally did it. We created an official Grave Tone rating system: “Digs” As in, how much did you dig it? Out of ten little shovels.
Meaghan gave it a strong eight digs. Arthur hovered around seven and a half. So we’re calling it a 7.75 digs experience overall.
It was fun, different, emotional, and entertaining. Was it perfect? No. But it was easily one of the strongest entries in the franchise in years.
Between the character-driven story, world-building, humor, and creature design, Predator: Badlands made us feel things. That’s something we never thought we’d say about a Predator movie. But here we are.
So yeah. We’re rooting for Dex. We’re excited to see what Dan Trachtenberg does next. And we’re definitely keeping our eyes on the whole Predator-Alien universe thing that’s brewing. Because something’s happening. We can feel it.
And until then? Stay scared and stay tuned.