The Hollywood Reporter’s review of Predator: Badlands has fans raising eyebrows, calling the film “a deft, disarmingly kindhearted franchise entry” and even declaring, “This Predator is queer and we should say it.”
A Kinder, Gentler Predator
According to THR critic Richard Lawson, the movie follows Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Yautja who’s bullied by his father for being too weak and sensitive (and gay?).
Instead of a brutal hunter, Dek learns lessons about “sensitivity” and “chosen family,” teaming up with a legless (handicapped?) android (Elle Fanning) and a cute alien sidekick on what Lawson calls a “YA-ish” sci-fi adventure.
Lawson praises director Dan Trachtenberg for turning the Predator series into something “gentler and cuddlier,” noting the film trades the old-school grit and fear for heart, humor, and even friendship.
“This Predator Is Queer and We Should Say It”
The critic goes further, writing, “This Predator is queer and we should say it.” He jokes that Dek might as well “audition for the school musical” or “move to New York City,” pointing to the movie’s lighter tone and identity-focused subtext.
For longtime fans who associate the Predator with primal fear and R-rated violence, this direction may feel like a complete tonal shift — one that clashes with the creature’s history as one of cinema’s most fearsome hunters.
‘PREDATOR: BADLANDS’ releases this weekend! pic.twitter.com/rW9IjVA9uB
— Geeks + Gamers (@GeeksGamersCom) November 5, 2025
From Killer to Comfort Character
Lawson admits Badlands softens the franchise “to endear rather than repulse,” even comparing parts of it to Pixar. While he finds it clever and well-made, the takeaway is clear: the Predator is no longer terrifying — he’s relatable (and lovable?).
It’s a far cry from what made Predator iconic in the first place. Fans who grew up with Schwarzenegger’s mud-soaked showdown might be wondering if Hollywood has truly gone soft. I think we already know the answer to that.
Predator: Badlands opens Thursday with previews and officially on Friday.
