Writer/director Dan Trachtenberg’s feature film debut, 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), not only helped reenergize the Cloverfield franchise, it established the filmmaker as one to watch. He’s since been handed the reigns to three different Predator-related projects and each one, unique in their construction and presentation from the other, has only expanded what cinematic audiences have experienced thus far while giving those who’ve explored the novels, comics, and games a theatrical version of what their imaginations have only carried. In 2025, his third Predator tale, subtitled Badlands, invited audiences to go on an action thrill ride that switched things up by putting us alongside not a Terran but a Yautja setting out on his traditional hunt to be made a full member of his clan delivering the goods once more. Now, Badlands is set to land at home with digital and physical editions that include feature-length audio commentary, six deleted/pre-visualization scenes, and four making-of featurettes that allow audiences to better understand the work put in to bring this adventure to life.
Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) of the Yautja is considered the smallest of his clan and, therefore, unworthy of the hunt. Despite the protest of his father who would rather see Dek killed than embarrass the clan, Dek travels to the planet Genna where Dek plans to hunt the rumored unkillable Kalisk (a beast even Dek’s father couldn’t defeat) in order to prove his worth and take his proper place among the clan. Except the journey to Genna doesn’t go as planned and Dek crashes, quickly separately him from his tools. Undeterred, Dek makes his way through Genna to seek for the Kalisk, traversing unknown terrain and battling fearsome flora and fauna along the way. Fortune seems to smile upon Dek when he comes upon a damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation android, Thia (Elle Fanning), who claims to know where to find the Kalisk; so the two form a pact, but trust is a luxury on Genna that may prove fatal.
The following home release review is based on a digital edition provided by 20th Century Home Entertainment. This being a digital release review, there’s no way to discuss the fidelity of the presentation or audio as that is dependent on your internet service provider, the method of accessing the film (iTunes vs. MoviesAnywhere, etc), and other factors.
Even though it’s only happened with two series so far, it feels fair to say that Trachtenberg is the one who should be brought in to revitalize a property, especially if it’s a genre or a property for which Trachtenberg has a strong vision for. 10 Cloverfield Land released eight years after Cloverfield (2008) and it immediately lit a fire under audiences for more. It helped that the film took the broader alien invasion concept and filtered it through a tight three-person bottle thriller with three performances able to manage the different tones necessary to make the entire conceit work. With Prey, Trachtenberg did it again by taking the general premise of the Predator films and setting it within 18th Century Comanche Land, took what we know, gave us a small set of characters to follow, and let the action unfold. With this one film, Trachtenberg found ways to connect it to the larger Predator lore via a nod to Predator 2 (1990) and then went even further in 2025’s Killer of Killers, an animated anthology film that tells audiences what happens to the winners of each Predator encounter. Rather than rehash things again, Badlands, written by Patrick Aison (Prey), puts audiences right with the Yautja and Dek, makes them the protagonist, and does so by immediately putting the character on its heels by not only setting it after a prey even its father couldn’t kill, but by also making Dek the runt of its clan, a condition that makes him immediately viewed as a weak link and, therefore, undeserving of both the hunt and life. Opting to give Dek a W-Y android is brilliant (because F those robots and their perpetual betrayals) as a means of injecting natural opportunities for Dek to engage with someone rather than remaining silent the whole film, but also provides a reasonable way for Dek to track down the Kalisk on a dangerous and vast planet. The second smart decision was removing the human element because, again, F the W-Y androids, but it also ensures that the audience doesn’t start siding with the companion instead of Dek. He’s our protagonist and the one we’re supposed to be rooting for. Granted, Fanning’s performance as Thia is so damn good that I nominated her for Best Supporting Actress when possible as she literally steals each scene she’s in, but the film never has us forget whose perspective is the center of the film and whose journey we’re on. This film is a riotously funny and thrilling adventure that once more demonstrates that the best way to invigorate a franchise is to take chances on different perspectives and not just provide the same version of a different story with a different lead.
Much like Prey before it (and what a miracle it is that a physical edition got released as a streaming title), Badlands includes several supplemental materials to enhance the watch. There’s the obvious one: the feature-length commentary track with Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt (10 Cloverfield Lane; Star Wars: The Force Awakens), cinematographer Jeff Cutter (10 Cloverfield Lane; Prey), and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). This is the place to go for all the direct and insider details on the making of the film. Next is a set of four featurettes, each running roughly six minutes, which each offer a different look at the making of the film. “Embodying the Predator” drills into how the filmmaking team worked with Schuster-Koloamatangi (Red, White & Brass) and the Wētā FX team to do what’s never been done before: put us right with a Predator in a way that removes some mystique while maintaining everything we love about the formidable species. “Authentic Synthetics” turns the focus onto Fanning and the integration of practical, on-set tricks and FX work that went into not only creating Thia, but her twin “sister” Tessa. Much of this includes how the production made it possible for Fanning to travel on Schuster-Koloamatangi’s back when necessary, while also ensuring both actor’s safety. The final two featurettes, “Building the Badlands” and “Dek of the Yautja,” move away from the actors, their characters, and the team that helped create the final performances that entertain us so much and go a little wider, exploring the use of on-set locations in New Zealand to create both Genna and Yautja Prime through a mix of natural elements and VFX work, as well as the family dynamics that come into play (Dek with his brother and father and Thia with Tessa). For those interested in the creature creation, “Building the Badlands” is where you’re going to want to start. Finally, across nearly 30 minutes of materials (with optional commentary), get a look at six sequences from the film in their deleted or pre-visualization states, including an alternate first-meeting for Dek and Thia, the pre-viz of Dek and Thia experiencing the razor grass, and an extended sequence with the super power loader in the climax.
Perhaps because I’ve grown up on Arnold Schwarzenegger action thrillers and comedies, that, especially now, Predator (1987) wouldn’t be my favorite of the bunch, even if it did introduce and establish this franchise. At this point, it would be a tie between Badlands and Prey for the way that they introduce fresh elements within the expected structure. With Badlands in particular, that freshness isn’t just that we’re following Dek, but we’re off-world with formidable creatures only a Yautja (or member of a different clan) has a chance to triumph over. Dutch? Naru? Their time would likely be exceedingly short on Genna, but Dek not only has the will, he has the know-how to adapt the naturally occurring violent environment toward his advantage. All of this coalesces into an absolute thrill-ride that one wants to experience immediately after it’s over.
Predator: Badlands Special Features*:
- Audio Commentary: Watch the film with audio commentary by Director Dan Trachtenberg, Producer Ben Rosenblatt, Director of Photography Jeff Cutter and Stunt Coordinator Jacob Tomuri. (1:47:24)
- Embodying the Predator – Meet the talented team of designers, performers, and effects artists responsible for bringing one of cinema’s most terrifying creatures to life on screen in ways we’ve never seen before! (5:43)
- Authentic Synthetics – Get up close and personal with synths Thia and Tessa as star Elle Fanning walks us through the process of crafting two characters who may look the same but have evolved in surprisingly unique ways. (6:41)
- Building the Badlands – With razor sharp grass, killer trees, and terrifying animals, never has a planet been more deadly than Genna. Uncover how a team of artisans built this threatening landscape, transforming real locations into the dangerous environments seen on screen. (6:53)
- Dek of the Yautja – For the first time ever, director Dan Trachtenberg has given audiences an extended peek at Predator culture. Follow the evolution as filmmakers reveal the process behind developing the Yautja’s home world, spacecraft, and family dynamics. (6:11)
- Six (6) Deleted & Pre-Visualization Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary (27:42)
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Available on digital January 6th, 2026.
Available on Hulu and Disney+ February 12th, 2026.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD February 17th, 2026.
For more information, head to the official 20th Century Studios Predator: Badlands webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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