Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Predator: Badlands" (Nov 10, 2025)

Host: Glen Weldon (NPR)
Guests: Ronald Young Jr. (Leaving the Theater), Chris Klimek (writer, pop culture critic)
Theme: A deep-dive into "Predator: Badlands," the latest film entry in the long-running Predator franchise, exploring its perspective, lore, visuals, and place in modern sci-fi cinema.

Episode Overview

"Predator: Badlands" represents a fresh take on the Predator franchise, shifting the narrative to the Predator's point of view. The film follows "Dec," an outcast Yautja (the Predator species), as he undergoes a dangerous trial on the hostile planet of Genna, aiming to prove his worth. The episode discusses the film’s execution, its significance in the wider Predator and Alien universes, and wider trends in genre filmmaking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Franchise Rebooted: New Perspectives

• Predator from Predator’s Viewpoint:

  • Unlike previous entries, "Badlands" centers on the Predator ("Dec") rather than human characters.
  • Ronald Young Jr.: “I think, again, if you think about the predators from the predators perspective, it would be an action adventure movie for them as opposed to a horror or a thriller in any other sense. When you’re looking from the human’s perspective.” [04:40]

• Elle Fanning’s Role:

  • Plays Thea, the top half of an abandoned robot. Later revealed as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic android—tying into the broader Alien lore.

2. Plot Simplicity and Accessibility

• Direct Storytelling:

  • The panel agreed the plot is straightforward and easy to follow, making the film accessible even to newcomers.
  • Glen Weldon: “Action set pieces on point. Humor that is based in behavior and attitude. Not quips, not pop culture references... solidly built plot wise. You both mentioned the plot. Nice efficiency.” [07:16]

• Franchise as Anthology:

  • Glen Weldon lauds the franchise’s willingness to try new settings and stories:
    • “We are plopping it down in various times and locations and letting it, you know, run free. I like that this is a franchise as kind of an extended anthology. I like that approach.” [08:10]

3. Visuals: Aesthetics vs. Digital Effects

• Digital Look—A Step Back?

  • Chris laments the shift from practical effects to digital environments:

    • “It did not replicate that practical effects aesthetic that we talked about being so key to Romulus’s success… what seemed to me to be, you know, digital jungles full of hostile creatures, very much like the Avatar movies.” [05:10]

  • Both Chris and Ronald found the film uncomfortably dark visually.

    • Chris: “It’s too dark. Yeah. I mean, I still like this movie. Again, I think the script is really good. I think Elle Fanning is wonderful... I just don’t like the way this movie looks.” [06:58]

4. Lore Building: Yautja and More

• Effectiveness of Expanded Lore:

  • The film formally names the Predators as "Yautja," introduces their language, society, and home planet.

  • Glen Weldon wonders if the new lore is meaningful or unnecessary:

    • “Is that stuff just for the Chrises of this world, or does it add something to the movie?” [11:16]

  • Ronald’s Take: Lore is fine for immersion but not essential for joy:

    • “I have found that I don’t necessarily care about the lore as much. I just care about what’s happening in front of me at the time.” [11:37]

5. Crossover & Shared Universe

• Alien Connections:

  • Elle Fanning’s character reveals the stealth crossover with the Alien universe (Weyland-Yutani).
  • The group discusses whether the increasing use of "synths" (androids) in both franchises is becoming excessive.

• On Shared Universes:

  • Ronald feels connected universes are less vital now, so long as individual entries are strong:
    • “If we think about now, what they’re doing is just making good things that each are good on their own... They don’t have to connect as long as they’re good.” [17:21]
  • Glenn: Studios should focus on making good movies, not just feeding nerd demands for interconnectedness. [17:48]

6. Themes and Subtext

• Chosen/Found Family:

  • Glen Weldon brings up the idea that this is a story about outcasts and chosen families:
    • “This is kind of a found family, chosen family story, right?... Predator has very fraught relationships with his dad. He forms instant, very strong, non romantic friendships with badass women. He lives to accessorize, right? I’m not saying Predator is queer now, but I’m not, not saying…” [09:16]

• Relationship with Technology/A.I.:

  • The synthetic android subplot mirrors modern anxieties and connections to technology and AI.

7. Franchise Longevity and Individual Entries

• Approachability:
  • Chris notes: “There is no Predator film, not even Predator 2 that requires you to have seen a prior Predator film to enjoy it. They’re all pretty self reliant.” [17:59]
• Anthology Format:
  • The hosts emphasize fans and new viewers alike can dive into "Predator: Badlands" with no homework.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Predator Perspective:

  • Ronald: “When you’re looking from the human’s perspective, [the franchise] is a horror or a thriller. From the Predator’s, it’s action-adventure.” [04:40]

• On Visual Style:

  • Chris: “It looks like, you know, that smeary, digital, underlit aesthetic.” [06:50]

• On Franchise Evolution:

  • Glen: “We are plopping it down in various times and locations... I like that this is a franchise as kind of an extended anthology.” [08:10]

• On Lore Expansion:

  • Ronald: “None of those [backstory] questions are important to me, but they were important to the plot, and I think that they held up well in the movie itself.” [12:04]

• On Connections vs. Standalone Films:

  • Ronald: “They don’t have to connect as long as they’re good. I think that is fine with me.” [17:26]

• On Fan Service:

  • Glen: “Studios need to stop listening to us nerds. Just make good movies for real.” [17:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:39] Panel introductions, setting up the film’s premise
• [03:45] Ronald's first impressions: positivity, comparisons to "Prey" and "Romulus"
• [04:57] Chris critiques visual effects and lack of practical aesthetics
• [07:07] Glen’s surprise enjoyment and breakdown of what works for the movie
• [09:02] Glen’s reflections on the director, Dan Trachtenberg, and franchise themes
• [11:16] Glen asks if expanded lore benefits the film; Ronald responds
• [12:41] Panel discusses the relevance and addition of Yautja species name
• [13:42] The significance of android “synth” proliferation across both franchises
• [16:39] Shared universes vs. individual strong entries
• [17:59] Chris on accessibility of the franchise for new viewers

Final Thoughts

The panel is largely positive on "Predator: Badlands" as an action-adventure film with a fresh viewpoint, accessible and self-contained. While there’s debate over the effectiveness of modern digital visuals and the necessity of expansive lore, all agree on the franchise’s revitalized energy, the pleasure of seeing new settings and characters, and the welcome shift away from obligatory cinematic universes. Ultimately, the film is recommended both for franchise fans and newcomers—to quote Glen, “Just make good movies for real.” [17:48]

(End of summary. All advertisements, program intros/outros, and non-content segments have been omitted.)