Movie Review: Elle Fanning's android steals the show in "Predator: Badlands"
Elle Fanning delivers one of the most unusual performances this year in Predator: Badlands. Her role as an android split between separate torso and legs creates a unique and memorable character. This ninth installment of the Predator franchise blends sci-fi action with a mix of slapstick humor and intense violence.
The film features a wildly imaginative fight scene where Fanning’s disjointed android parts battle foes, culminating in a moment where the torso crushes a skull and then high-fives the leg—celebrating in its own quirky way.
Director and co-writer Dan Trachtenberg pairs Fanning's android with a young Predator named Dek, portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Dek's character struggles with harsh family dynamics, facing rejection and violent threats from his own father, who calls him a “runt” and demands his execution.
“This is what is called ‘daddy issues.’”
Fanning spends much of the movie attached to Dek’s back, chatting away as they journey together. The film essentially becomes an unlikely buddy story marked by brutal combat and dark humor.
Summary
Predator: Badlands stands out for its inventive storytelling, anchored by Elle Fanning’s uniquely fragmented android performance and the tense, emotional arc of a young Predator confronting family betrayal.
Author's Summary
Elle Fanning's inventive portrayal of a disjointed android energized "Predator: Badlands," blending fierce action with unexpected humor and emotional depth.