A Missed Premiere, But Worth the Wait

I was invited to an immersive 4DX premiere of Predator: Badlands on November 4 in LA, but a schedule conflict meant I caught the film a few days later. It turns out it was well worth the wait. Predator: Badlands is the ninth installment in the franchise, yet it feels fresh. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (who gave us Prey and the animated Predator: Killer of Killers), this film takes the series in exciting new directions, even making a Yautja (the Predator’s species) our hero. The result is a highly entertaining ride that balances savage sci-fi action with a dose of fun.

Story – A New Hunt with a Twist

Set in the future on a remote planet, the story follows Dek, a young Yautja outcast who crash lands on a hostile world and must prove himself worthy of the hunt. In a twist, Dek teams up with Thia, a marooned android (from Weyland-Yutani, of Alien fame… a corporation that always seems up to no good) to survive and take down a terrifying apex creature called the Kalisk. It’s a great concept that expands the Predator lore by exploring Yautja culture and even language.

Trachtenberg clearly knows how to deepen the franchise’s mythology. Badlands is set on the Predator homeworld and focuses on their clan society in a way no previous film has. We see Predator clan politics, honor codes, and even hear the Yautja language, which is a special treat for long time fans. The story is compelling overall, although the final act crams in a lot. The climax brings multiple showdowns (including a family face-off back on Yautja Prime) that get a little muddled, but ultimately it delivers a satisfying ending for Dek’s journey, while cheekily teasing more to come.

Tone – Surprisingly Funny Moments

One thing that caught me off guard: this movie is funny. Yes, a Predator film with humor! The banter between stone-cold Dek and Thia’s deadpan wit adds a light buddy comedy vibe in places. There’s even an adorable sidekick of sorts, a baby creature that Thia nicknames “Bud,” who tags along and provides some comic relief amid the carnage.

The original Predator (1987) had plenty of hilarious one-liners, and Badlands doesn’t disappoint there, finding comedy in the unlikely friendship between a lethal alien and a snarky synthetic. It’s a refreshing tonal balance. You’ll laugh one moment and grip your seat the next. Importantly, the humor doesn’t undermine the Predator’s badassery; it just makes the characters more relatable and the thrills more fun.

Action & Effects – No Skimping on the Spectacle

Visually, Badlands is top-notch. The CGI creatures and alien vistas are stunning. I didn’t spot any wonky effects or cheap greenscreen moments. With a hefty $105 million budget, the film’s graphics team brought their A-game for sure. The Kalisk (the big bad creature) and other alien fauna look fantastic and menacing. Action scenes are inventive and clear. One highlight is a mid-film sequence where Dek loses his high-tech gear and goes primitive. He crafts organic weapons from the environment to spring traps on enemies, a clever homage to Dutch’s mud-caked guerrilla tactics in the 1987 original. The set pieces escalate nicely, from stealthy Predator hunts to an all out climactic battle. Listen, I highly recommend seeing this film in theaters for the full picture and sound experience.

The sound design and 4DX-worthy thrills (roaring creatures, explosions, that iconic Predator clicking) are best enjoyed on a big screen with booming audio. This is a Predator movie that truly delivers on effects and sound, earning a full 5/5 in that department from me.

Direction & Lore – Trachtenberg in Top Form

Director Dan Trachtenberg has now proven three times that he understands what makes Predator tick. With Prey (2022) he took us to the past, with Killer of Killers (2025) he experimented in animation, and now with Badlands he pushes the lore forward.

Indeed, Badlands feels fresh because it doesn’t just rehash “Predator hunts humans.” It really flips the script. By making a Predator the protagonist, Trachtenberg turns “one of cinema’s most iconic brutes into a hero worth rooting for. Yet he doesn’t forget the roots. Badlands is packed with references and respect for the franchise history. The film draws influence from classic Westerns and survival films (think Mad Max 2 in an alien wilderness), giving it an adventurous, almost mythic tone at times. It’s Trachtenberg’s confident direction and love of the material that keep the movie cohesive even as it expands the universe. If I had to nitpick, the plot pacing in the last 20 minutes could have been tighter (hence a 4/5 for plot and cohesion), but overall his storytelling kept me fully engaged.

Easter Eggs & Franchise Nods

Long-time Predator aficionados will be grinning at the many Easter eggs. Remember the trophy room scene at the end of Predator 2 (1990) with all the skulls (including that famous Xenomorph head)? Badlands steps it up. Early in the film we see a Predator trophy wall loaded with exotic skulls. You need to look closely. They’re not just random aliens. Fans have spotted an Independence Day alien skull (confirmed as a Harvester from ID4 by the director) among the trophies. The one that stood out to me right away was the Tyrannosaurus rex skull proudly on display, implying these Predators have hunted on Earth’s prehistoric past (or at least taken a dino as a souvenir)!

It’s really awesome to see these thoughtful references in a film. The film also slyly references the broader Alien/Predator universe. For example, a climactic fight involves a power-loader style mech, clearly evoking Ripley’s showdown in Aliens. And if you watch closely, Dek’s final battle plan (using natural mud, traps and handmade weapons) mirrors Dutch’s iconic last stand in the 1987 original, bringing the homage full circle. All these references are woven in organically, so new viewers won’t miss out, but fans get that extra thrill of recognition.

On that note, if you haven't seen all the Predator films, don’t worry about it. You don’t need to know anything about The Predator to appreciate and enjoy this film experience!

Verdict – A Must See Big Screen Hunt

Overall, Predator: Badlands was a blast from start to finish. It’s the most fun I’ve had with a sci-fi film in a while. The film is highly entertaining, combining 5/5 entertainment value (I was never bored for a second) with strong craftsmanship. The plot may wobble slightly under the weight of its big ideas (hence a 4/5 for story cohesion), but it sticks the landing with a rousing finale. The visuals, creature effects, and sound get a 5/5 – absolutely top-tier. And while I won’t “rate” the Easter eggs, I will say they made my inner fanboy very happy.

As for my personal rating style – I’m giving Predator: Badlands 5 out of 5 “Jumbo Popcorn Buckets” 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 for pure entertainment. It’s that good. In other words, definitely make time to see this in cinemas.

Nostalgia Nation Movie Rating:

Entertainment: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 (absolute blast)

Plot & Cohesion: 🍿🍿🍿🍿 (engaging, with a few muddy bits toward the end)

Effects & Sound: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 (top-notch visuals and audio, must see in cinema)

Easter Eggs: N/A

Recommendation and total score: Predator: Badlands earns 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 from me.

It’s absolutely worth leaving the comfort of your home to experience on the big screen!

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Who doesn’t love a good vampire flick?

I was so excited to see Salem’s Lot, but I was sincerely frustrated when the reviews started rolling in for the movie. Critics were bashing the flick and because I was traveling on business I was late to seeing the movie. And for me to miss a Stephen King adaptation as soon as it’s released, well, that just doesn’t happen.

The good news is that I’ve finally had a chance to screen the film. And the even better news is that you get that fresh, 80s Dude take on a topic I consider myself to be a subject matter expert on— VAMPIRE FLICKS! …. Ninjas is the other one… honestly, we need a vampire ninja flick. I think I just came up with the idea for my next book!

By the way, can you write a vampire story any more— or zombie story for that matter— where the towns people are oblivious to vampire and zombie lore? I’m not entirely sure you can, unless it’s clear the story is a period piece, or somehow, everyone’s been mind-wiped.

This idea of the towns people in Salem’s Lot being somewhat oblivious to the idea of vampires works though, since it takes place in the 1970s and for me, it’s probable they would not know about vampires. The thing is, they seem to know much of the lore when it’s time to fight them. But hey, that’s a minor thing.

Old-School Scares Rule!

Perhaps the most unexpected element of Gary Dauberman's adaptation of Stephen King’s book is its commitment to traditional vampire lore. I really loved that Salem's Lot leans into the time-tested elements that’s made Dracula such a pop culture figure. Glowing crosses, an aversion to sunlight, and need for invitation, the familiar servant, and the mind control – it's all here in the film, presented with striking visual flair that makes these familiar tropes feel fresh again.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a vampire flick where the cross has real power. I mean, it doesn’t just make the vampires curl in anguish, but it also sends them flying across the room!

The Adult Characters Are Surprisingly... Flat

For a Stephen King adaptation, the adult character development is surprisingly thin. This may be partly due to the shorter run time, which I will get into in a moment. Lewis Pullman's Ben Mears, while competently portrayed, never quite achieves the depth we expect from a King protagonist. The same goes for most of the adult ensemble – they often feel more like chess pieces being moved around Jerusalem's Lot rather than fully realized characters with compelling inner lives. This is particularly noticeable in scenes where characters make decisions that seem driven more by plot necessity than authentic motivation.

This movie is about a writer who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot to find inspiration for his next book, but discovers that the town is being terrorized by a vampire. Apart from that, I have no insight on Ben’s character and his relationship with Salem’s Lot besides the fact he grew up there. Huge missed opportunity. The film— and let me be clear— the film clearly falls short on character development. This is not to say that the book fails at this, because it does not. But I’m talking about the film only here.

The Curious Case of Mark's Heroism

Admittedly, as I’ve grown older and far more critical of certain things I watched and read as a kid, I found myself having doubts in the character of Mark Petrie, played by Mark (Jordan Preston Carter), an 11-year-old horror enthusiast who becomes the unlikely hero of the story. While Carter delivers an solid performance, I’ve wondered over the years if King’ decision to place such heavy narrative weight on such young shoulders strains credibility in the story. The story asks us to accept that a child possesses not only the courage but the tactical awareness to face down ancient and powerful evil, often outshining his adult counterparts in both wisdom and bravery. When I was younger, I could accept it, but seeing it in live action in the film, I had a much harder time believing it. Now, I say this because the film took some liberties, and I suppose I felt that it could have taken a few liberties with Mark’s age. Having revisited Salem’s Lot the novel several years back, I’ve always wondered if Mark’s character would have been far more believable if he were a teen in high school.

Style Over Substance... And That's Not Always Bad

What Salem's Lot lacks in character depth, it makes up for in atmospheric dread and visual panache. Dauberman crafts really interesting sequences and visuals. The vampires' predatory eyes piercing through darkness, the glow of crucifixes, and the clever use of shadow and mist create a sense of menace that honors the genre's roots.

One of my favorite scenes was the morgue scene with the body of Marjorie Glick laying on the table. I loved how she sat straight up with the sheet over her, and the entire sequence was frighteningly fun!

The Pacing Problem

The film's rhythm feels oddly disjointed, rushing through character moments while sometimes failing to let its horror sequences breathe. At 113 minutes, I felt this sense that a longer runtime might have served the story better, allowing for both deeper character development and more sustained tension in its scarier moments. The daytime scenes often feel like hurried connective tissue rather than meaningful additions to the narrative.

Despite these unexpected quirks, Salem's Lot manages to deliver enough genuine scares and memorable imagery to satisfy my horror sweet tooth, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the best King adaptations— for me they happen to be Carrie, Stand By Me, Misery, and The Shawshank Redemption.

I really like this film, and I wish it didn’t prioritize horror aesthetics over narrative depth in a few scenes, but look, I still had a lot of fun watching the movie.

I will say, I really wish it was grainer. Is that weird? The film has atmosphere, but I kept thinking, wow, if this was a little grainy, like 80s movies were, it would elevate the atmospheric elements for sure!

Look, if you’re seeking old-school vampire thrills with modern production values, Salem's Lot offers plenty to sink your teeth into. However, if you’re hoping for the rich character work and deep community dynamics that typically distinguish King's best stories, you might find yourself wishing for more substance beneath the stylish surface.

In the end, Salem's Lot 2024 is absolutely worth watching, and I would even say it’s likely going to make it into my October “must-watch” list. This is a movie I can watch with my older kids (10-16 years).

If you watch it, I’d love to get your perspective. Drop back in here and let me know what you think of the movie.

Salem’s Lot can be viewed on HBO Max —

Let’s start with the show's art direction. It certainly deserves praise. The animation is fluid and stylish, creating a brooding atmosphere that captures the essence of Gotham really well. The character designs are striking and memorable. This was one of the strengths of Batman: The Animated Series. I was really impressed with the cartoon’s intro. I would seriously love to see a Batman black and white series!

When it comes to storytelling, "Caped Crusader" doesn't pull any punches with mature themes. The writers have crafted intricate plots that delve into the psychological depths of both heroes and villains, offering a nuanced exploration of morality in Gotham's gritty underworld. This approach results in some truly compelling episodes, and there were moments where I was caught off guard with the language as well as the violence. But for me, this never took away from the cadence and enjoyability of the series.

However, the show's approach to character representation has sparked debate among fans and left me curious as to why they chose to go the path they did with some of the key characters.

While diversity in media is important, some of the changes to established characters feel forced rather than organic to the story. For instance, the gender-swapped Penguin, which is what most people are ticked off about, while an interesting concept, doesn't quite hit the mark in terms of character development. It often feels like a surface-level change rather than a thoughtful reimagining of the classic villain.

When I saw that Penguin was no longer the short, rotund figure with a prominent, beak-like nose, I thought, hey, why didn’t they just create a different character descendent of the original Penguin? Maybe a niece with something to prove? That would have been so simple to do. Why don’t the editors and writers today get this?

But, I have to give praise where praise is due. My favorite character in the series was Harvey Dent (Two-Face). The writers wrote in the story of how Two Face became Two Face following the original DC comic book story line:

In the Batman universe, Harvey Dent's transformation into the villainous Two-Face is a tragic tale of corruption and chance. Once Gotham City's crusading District Attorney, Dent's life took a dark turn during a high-profile trial. While prosecuting mob boss Sal Maroni, Dent became the victim of a vicious attack when Maroni hurled acid at his face, leaving half of it horribly scarred.

This disfigurement shattered Dent's psyche, pushing him over the edge into madness. The trauma caused him to develop a split personality, reinventing himself as the criminal mastermind Two-Face. His once-strong moral compass became warped, leading him to make critical decisions based on the flip of a coin - a chilling reflection of how chance had altered his life. Two-Face emerged as one of Gotham's most unpredictable and dangerous villains, his actions as random as they were ruthless.

On the other hand, characters like Clayface and Nocturna showcase the potential for creative adaptations. These lesser-known villains receive intriguing updates and made each episode interesting and enjoyable to watch. For me, I was caught up in each episode because it was difficult for me to predict what was going to happen. And that’s a very good thing.

One area where the show stumbles is in its portrayal of Batman himself. At times, the Caped Crusader feels sidelined in his own series, with supporting characters often taking center stage. While it's refreshing to see characters like Barbara Gordon and Renee Montoya receive substantial screen time, the balance occasionally feels off.

The voice acting is a mixed bag. While some performances stand out, others fall flat, particularly the voice of Batman, which lacks the gravitas fans have come to expect from the character. The very talented Hamish Linklater is the voice of Batman, but for some reason, I kept thinking of the voice of Sterling Archer, voiced by H. Jon Benjamin.

BOTTOM-LINE:

"Batman: Caped Crusader" is a bold, visually stunning take on the Batman universe that will appeal to fans seeking a more mature animated series. Its complex storytelling and atmospheric art direction are definite high points. However, some of the creative choices regarding character alterations may divide audiences. The show would perhaps benefit from introducing new, diverse characters rather than significantly altering established ones.

Despite its flaws, "Caped Crusader" offers an intriguing addition to the Batman canon. It may not reach the heights of classics like "Batman: The Animated Series," but it provides enough fresh ideas and cool visuals to warrant a watch for dedicated Batman fans and newcomers alike.

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