FILM REVIEW: PREDATOR – BADLANDS (12A) ESP RATING: 4/5

Despite potential fears that ‘dumbing down’ Predator from its more accustomed bloodier rating of ‘15’ to ‘12A’ would impact the series – it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Director Dan Trachtenberg follows up his highly-acclaimed direct-to-streaming entry with the Native American-set Prey, to provide something just as spectacular – in a completely different way.

This is without doubt looking to the future by giving the franchise a ‘broader’ appeal. And it works. In fact, enabling me to take my 11-year-old son, Joshua, to experience Predator for the first time to boot.

Cleverly it’s just as brutal as its recent 15 certificate-rated counterparts, but using sci-fi violence instead of ‘human blood’ due to its setting on an alien-infested hellish planet –without a human in sight. A quite ingenious strategy.

It also expands on Predator lore by being the first movie to give fans a fleshed-out vision of the iconic creatures, by revealing them to be known as the species, Yautja.

The script instantly makes a shocking impact as young hunter Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is exiled from his home world, due to him being considered the ‘runt of the clan’ by his brutal father – and Apex Predator – Njohrr (Reuben De Jong).

To prove his worth the outcast crash-lands on the hostile planet of Genna, with his goal to be the first of his kind to kill the legendary giant invulnerable monster called the Kalisk, and bring glory to his family by proving himself worthy of the ‘hunt’.

Immediately he is surrounded by an eclectic feast of ferocious beings – from tree-eaters to paralysing plants – and is aided by damaged synth Thia (Super 8’s Elle Fanning), who has been left without her legs after being ripped apart in a previous battle.

Being built by the iconic Weyland-Yutani Corporation, this rewardingly gives links to the Alien universe as Thia proves to be a useful tool for Dek in his quest for infamy – and along the way the duo become a trio by picking up a super-shelled critter pal, named Bud.

But alas, Thia has a ‘sister’ known as Tessa (also played by Fanning), who returns to the planet to try and rescue her – treating Dek as her aggressive captor – which adds an extra ‘ripple’ in the plotline.

This all unfolds into a well-developed story, which properly expands on a Predator character for the first time in history – putting the creature front and centre.

With terrific support from Fanning’s likeable Thia you actually end up caring – and rooting for – both of the two leading personalities, and with some great action sequences, makes this terrifically engaging fare.

Which leads to Trachtenberg continuing his impressive renaissance for the franchise after 2018’s woeful The Predator – and puts it in a very strong position moving forwards.

Pretty much like what ‘Romulus’ and ‘Earth’ have done for Alien recently.

It’s not just killer fare – it’s killer fare that has just become accessible for a new generation . . .

ESP Rating: 4/5

Gavin Miller

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Mike Homik & Reuben De Jon

Running Time: 1 Hr 47 Mins

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk