A New Era Unleashed: The Emotional Depth of 'Predator: Badlands'
In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica embark on an exhilarating journey through the latest installment of the *Predator* franchise, which takes a bold leap by centering the narrative on a young Yautja warrior named Deck, brilliantly portrayed by Demetrius Schuster. The hosts discuss how this fresh perspective—following an alien hunter rather than the traditional human prey—creates an unexpected emotional investment, as viewers witness Deck's struggles within a brutal culture that demands strength and ruthlessness.
Listeners will be intrigued by the film's exploration of toxic masculinity through the lens of alien society, particularly in the chilling family dynamics that unfold. Chris and Jessica highlight the clever pairing of Deck with Elle Fanning’s character, Tia, a chatty robot with a missing set of legs, showcasing an inspired duality in Fanning's performances that adds depth to the narrative.
The episode dives into director Dan Trachtenberg's impressive handling of action and world-building, especially in the creation of the hostile planet Jenna, where survival becomes a formidable challenge even for a predator. The hosts appreciate the subtle nods to the broader *Alien* universe, noting how these references expand the mythology without overshadowing Deck's personal journey.
As they analyze the film's emotional core, Chris and Jessica commend the balance struck between Deck’s intimidating presence and his relatable vulnerabilities, enhanced by a score that beautifully complements his transformation from outcast to hero. With a solid score of 7.5 out of 10, this episode invites listeners to reflect on how the film not only reinvents the franchise but also sets the stage for exciting future stories within the *Predator* universe, promising a deeper exploration of Yautja culture and identity.
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
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Chris: The Predator franchise just pulled off
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something that seemed impossible. They've
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made us emotionally invest in the story of a
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young alien warrior who carries around a
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chatty robot backpack, and
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somehow it totally works.
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Jessica: That's such an unexpected direction for this
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series. Instead of humans running from
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predators, we're actually following the story
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of one of these hunters, and he's basically
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the underdog.
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Chris: You know what's fascinating about this take?
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They've built this entire brutal culture
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around the Yautja. That's what they're
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calling the predator species, where showing
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any weakness is literally a, uh,
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death sentence. I mean, this
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father figure nioher actually orders one son
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to kill another just because he thinks he's
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too weak. Mm.
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Jessica: That family dynamic really adds layers we've
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never seen before in these films. The way
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they explore toxic masculinity through an
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alien warrior culture is pretty bold.
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Chris: Well, what really sells it is how they've
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made Dec this young predator, someone we
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actually connect with. Here's this warrior
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from a species we've always seen as the
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ultimate hunters, and suddenly we're
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experiencing his vulnerability, his struggle
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to prove himself worthy.
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Jessica: The choice to pair him with Elle Fanning's
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character, Tia, uh, this talkative robot
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missing her legs. That's such an inspired
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decision. Like, who would have thought that
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would work, right?
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Chris: And what's really clever is how they use
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Fanning in dual roles. She plays both
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Thea, this warm and supportive presence,
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and Tessa, uh, her cold, calculating sister.
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It's like they're showing two different
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possible paths for artificial intelligence.
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Jessica: So what do you make of Dan Trachtenberg's
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direction after Prey? He
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seems to really understand how to reinvent
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this franchise.
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Chris: Oh, man. His handling of the action sequences
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is incredible. The opening fight
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between the brothers sets this perfect tone.
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It's visceral and violent, but there's real
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emotion behind it. And the way he uses
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technology throughout the film, especially in
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creating the hostile planet, Jenna is just
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next level.
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Jessica: Well, speaking of Jenna, the way they
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designed that world where even the plants
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want to kill you, it really sells why even a
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predator might need help to survive.
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Chris: And you know what's really smart? The subtle
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connections they're making to the larger
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universe. Like those Weyland Yutani
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references from the Alien franchise.
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They're building something bigger here
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without being obvious about it.
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Jessica: That's exactly what impressed me, how they're
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expanding the mythology while keeping the
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focus on Deck's personal journey.
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Chris: Um, um, can we talk about Demetrius Schuster,
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Kolo Matangi's performances? Deck,
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even under all that makeup, and effects. He
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manages to convey this incredible character
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arc. Like he starts as this
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desperate outcast trying to prove himself by
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hunting this supposedly unkillable beast
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called Kalisk. But he ends up on this journey
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of actual growth and change.
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Jessica: You know what's remarkable? They've managed
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to keep him deadly and intimidating while
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still making him sympathetic. That's not an
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easy balance to strike.
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Chris: The score really helps with that too. It
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switches between these epic action pieces and
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more intimate emotional themes. It's
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like the music is telling its own story about
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Dec's transformation from outcast to hero.
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Jessica: Well, with that solid 7 1/2 out of 10 rating,
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it seems like they've really found a way to
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please both critics and longtime fans.
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Chris: And that's what makes this such a successful
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reinvention. They're not just copying what
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worked before. They're taking these familiar
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elements, the hunting, the technology,
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the violence, and using them to tell a much
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more complex story about identity and
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belonging.
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Jessica: Mm, mhm. And they've opened up so many
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possibilities for future stories in this
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universe.
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Chris: You know what's really exciting? This could
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be the beginning of a whole new era for the
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franchise. They've shown us that there's so
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much more to explore in predator society than
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just hunting humans. Like,
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imagine the stories they could tell about
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other young Yautja or different clans, or
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even more about their technology and culture.
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Jessica: That's going to change how people watch the
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original films too, knowing all this
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background about their society and customs.
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Chris: Exactly. And that's really the mark of
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a successful franchise reinvention, isn't it?
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When you can look back at the earlier films
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and see them in a completely new light while
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also being excited about where things might
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go next.
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