#patrick aison

Prey

Movies watched in 2026

Predator: Badlands (2025, USA)

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Writer: Patrick Aison (based on a story by him and Dan Trachtenberg)

Mini-review:

Dek and Thia make for one of this year's best cinematic double acts in Predator Badlands!

File:Predator Badlands Poster.jpg What Is It? The 2025 American science fiction action movie Predator: Badlands. Predator: Badlands | Official Trailer Predator: Badlands | Final Trailer This is how Wikipedia describes this movie: Predator: Badlands is a 2025 American science fiction action film and the ninth installment in the Predator franchise. The film was directed by Dan…

Prey Teaser 

Set in the Predator universe, Prey takes place 300 years ago in the Comanche Nation. Naru, a warrior, “has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.” (20th Century Studios)

20th Century Studios’ Prey is directed by Dan Trachtenberg from a screenplay by Patrick Aison. The film stars Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, and Julian Black Antelope.

We live in a universe that saw 2022’s Prey released straight to Hulu (Disney+ in territories like Canada) while 2018's The Predator made it to theaters. I’m starting to think maybe this is the evil mirror-verse. Easily the best film in the franchise since the original, it offers everything you want: lots of action and plenty of the franchise’s trademark gore, interesting spins on material we’ve seen before, a memorable protagonist with a satisfying character arc and top-notch filmmaking.

In 1719, Naru (Ambert Midthunder), a young Commanche woman, wants to prove herself a capable hunter like her brother, Taabe (Dakota Beavers). During a search party, she encounters a creature unlike any other: it can effortlessly go toe-to-toe with a bear, turn invisible and wields impossibly sophisticated weapons. This Predator hunts for sport and humans are its preferred prey.

This is the story of the first encounter between humans and the Predator. More importantly, it’s the story of Naru showing everyone who doesn't believe in her wrong. Taabe doesn’t think she can do it and neither do the other men in her tribe, the French voyageurs invading their land, or the Predator. Having your protagonist dismissed by everyone when the audience can see their ingenuity, bravery, and skill at work is a sure way to make them someone you cheer for. You can’t wait to see her in action and believe me, you won’t be disappointed, particularly since the way Naru overcomes the many obstacles put in her path are not immediately obvious.

A human protagonist you’re eager to cheer for is nice and all, but what about the monster that’s been carrying the franchise? Once more, you’ll be pleased. This is not quite the same alien hunter we’ve seen before. Its goals are largely the same: to kill its prey and collect skins, skulls & other trophies, but this film is not set in the present day, which means the technology in everyone's arsenal is way different. Some gadgets will seem familiar, others wholly new. Call me sadistic, but the spaceman tech gets used on a lot of people to ghoulishly enjoyable results.

What makes this use of the “character” so good goes beyond new toys and gore. Director Dan Trachtenberg and his co-writer Patrick Aison know we’ve seen the Predator in 6 other movies and that much of the mystery surrounding it has disappeared. They play with your expectations, managing to surprise you even when you think you’ve seen it all already. The script also draws an interesting parallel between this merciless hunter and the film's human antagonists: the French voyageurs. Like the Predator, they're also invaders from a faraway land who are looking to come in and take what they want - beaver, buffalo skins, etc. - regardless of what the repercussions to the natives might be.

There are many elegant flourished courtesy of Dan Trachtenberg along the way. All of the Comanche people speak English while the Europeans speak French so there's no need for subtitles or a Hunt for Red October-style translation transition. The franchise is given its equivalent of Ellen Ripley in Naru without her being a copy in any way, the end-credit epilogue is cleverly done and non-intrusive, Midthunder gives an excellent performance and this Predator is given its own memorable personality. My only criticism is that the film has several dark scenes set at night. In the theater? It'd be no problem but at home, you'll have to make sure the lights are properly dimmed and the windows are covered.

If the Alien and Predator franchises have a real-life rivalry going on, the latter has officially pulled ahead since it now has more good movies than its competitor. Prey is so good it's a crime everyone will be seeing it at home. (August 19, 2022)

Prey

Predator: Badlands