PREDATOR: BADLANDS (2025)

Directed By: Dan Trachtenberg 

Written By: Dan Aison 

Story by: Dan Trachtenberg and Dan Aison 

Based on characters created by: Jim Thomas & John Thomas 

Cinematography: Jeff Cutter

Editor: Stefan Grube and David Trachtenberg 

Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Ravi Narayen, Chris Terhune, Stefan Grube, Cameron Brown, Alison Wright, Michael Homik 

In the future, on a distant planet, a young predator, recently exiled from his native clan, finds an unlikely ally. Together, they soon embark on an extremely dangerous and thorny journey to ultimately find their most fierce and cruel enemy.


Watching this film it feels almost like a video game. As throughout there seems to be levels as it gets tougher and the enemies bigger.

The film is supposed to be live action, but there seems to be so much CGI and green screen. It might as well be animated like the last predator movie that was straight to streaming and took place at a different time periods.

While it’s nice that the film takes place on a planet and in other worlds where we get to see new species, aliens, challenges, and atmosphere is making it truly feel like a science fiction film it does seem to play the familiar beats where the predator is now the protagonist, whereas in the past, it has usually been the villain or an ally and now it has fully it has come full circle to be the character we are supposed to be rooting for

There are some human characters thrown in, even though they’re robots as it continues to be partially crossed over from the aliens universe with the Weyland-Yutani corporation causing all the problems.

As the android who the predator reluctantly bonds with her clan is seeking to destroy him and most of the planets, Denison and will stop at nothing to also retrieve her. Well, the predator is there to hunt big game to prove his worth as a warrior and earn his right of passage.

This is a film that is perfectly entertaining and good enough while you watch it though once you’re done, you will probably forget most of it so that it is disposable not completely. As it serves as another good sequel in the franchise that seems to promise more sequels in the future.. this is one of the better sequels as under the footage of Dan Trachtenberg the franchise well not entirely fresh is allowed to continue and be creative along the way

As I will be the first to admit when I saw the trailer for this film, I thought it was gonna be horrible just based on the young predators look though luckily as the film goes along, you pay less attention in it just feels more natural.

Elle Fanning playing two roles in the film is entertaining and really becomes the heart of the film both as the villain and as her good better half who is trying to aid the predator and become its friend.

If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll really like this film if not, it’s a good time waster filled with action even though strangely the first 20 minutes of what it’s supposed to be a sci-fi action film has a lot of dialogue and sometimes so that we get a backstory to go with the motivations of the story.

One could complain about the PG-13 rating, but it seems like it’s been like that since it’s alien versus predator days for the most part that it has become a little more lightened up I wouldn’t say exactly family friendly, but opened up more for teenage fans of the franchise or for those looking for more action and sci-fi elements that aren’t as gruesome, but just violent enough sort of like the VENOM franchise films.

maybe because of the dreadlocks, I’ve also always thought of the predators as kind of African-American with that toughness, but being able to show a little more nuance character and compassion than originally thought not to mention it always seems to be them versus the world literally or Sometimes they’re on the human side, but other times they’re just for themselves in their own not to mention it always seems like the humans who are usually Caucasian are either trying to control them take and use their inventions or just kill them as they are afraid of them taking over.

Even though they usually go against a diverse race of characters and in predator two or battling Danny Glover, mostly. Though they seem to come to an understanding with him just as they did with Shania Lathan, an alien versus predator the first film. at least that is my minority report for this film.

Grade: C+

GALVESTON (2018)

Directed By: Melanie Laurent 
Written by: Nic Pizzolatto 
Based On The Novel By: Nic Pizzolatto
Cinematography: Arnaud Potier 
Editor: Joseph Krings 

Cast: Ben Foster, Elle Fanning, Beau Bridges, Maria Valverde, Lili Reinhart, Jeffrey Grover, Christopher Amitrano

Debt collector Roy is a heavy-drinking criminal enforcer and mob hitman whose boss set him up in a double-cross scheme. After killing his would-be assassins, Roy discovers Rocky, a young woman being held captive, and reluctantly takes her with him on his escape. Determined to find safety and sanctuary in Galveston, Roy must find a way to stop his boss from pursuing them while trying to outrun the demons from his and Rocky’s pasts.


From the writer of TRUE DETECTIVE based on his novel. It’s just as down and dirty as the show. Only here no mysticism. It does show how certain things affect another. Though this is more a character study of the two leads. Only we seem more from their actions rather than from what they say. 

Melanie Laurent the french actress directs this movie. That is grimy yet has a golden sheen around it. Where it seems like the film takes great joy in not only seeing more sides of life.

Trying to give definition and be emphasized as being more real. Seeming to try and give the Film a street quality. Everything including the actions seems dirtier than needed. It definitely has a lived In quality, especially with a cast of unrecognizable actors. 

Ben Foster usually is great in whatever he is in and gives another great performance. He Keeps you mesmerized as you watch him. At times, you feel you have him figured out only to surprise you but he always feels natural. Even when he makes decisions that leading characters rarely do. 

The film is never happy, it seems like it’s trying to bathe itself In Dirt and unhappiness.

Letting you know nothing will be easy. The world the film creates is cruel with no victories, even so, the tragedy you know will eventually come. Still feels like a gut punch.

A pulp story told through two characters who are thrown together by chance and it seems each step to the way they dig themselves deeper while trying. To keep a low profile. Through this time they bond and grow closer. They have a relationship even if it is not romantic. They form A bond and kind of family. 

Even as throughout you can feel this Inching towards tragedy and it is rare anything happy or nice happens 

This is the first truly adult role Elle Fanning has played. As she always seems to work keeping busy. Here she plays a younger character. She feels real and lived in. It never feels like she is coasting and for such a character who hasn’t had a hard life seems a little innocent and happy go lucky. 

The film is strong even if at times it does feel like it is trying too hard. 

Grade: B-

20TH CENTRUY WOMEN (2016)

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Written & Directed By: Mike Mills
Cinematography By: Sean Porter
Editor: Leslie Jones 


Cast: Annette Bening, Lucas Jade Zumann, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, Alison Elliott, Alia Shawkat 


The story of a teenage boy, his mother, and two other women who help raise him among the love and freedom of Southern California of 1979. The film is semi-autobiographical, according to Michael Mills. The main cast members are based on one or multiple influences upon Mills from his childhood. Annette Bening’s character in particular is based partly on his mother, but with the emphasis on Bening’s particular spin on her character.

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TEEN SPIRIT (2019)

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Written & Directed By: Max Minghella
Cinematography: Autumn Durald
Editor: Cam McLauchlin 


Cast: Elle Fanning, Agnieszka Grochowska, Archie Madekwe, Zlatko Buric, Millie Brady, Vivian Oparah, Rebecca Hall 


Violet is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition. Driven by a pop-fueled soundtrack, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story.

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THE BEGUILED (2017)



Written & Directed By: Sofia Coopola
Based On The Novel By: Thomas Cullinan
Based On the Screenplay by: Grimes Grice & Albert Maltz
Cinematography By: Philippe Le Sourd
Editor: Sarah Flack
Music By: Phoenix 


Cast: Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Oona Laurence, Angourie Rice 

Three years into the senseless American Civil War, in 1864, the dilapidated mansion of Miss Martha Farnsworth’s Seminary for Young Ladies is still running, occupied by the matriarch, a teacher and five students in Spanish moss-draped Virginia. However, when a young student stumbles upon Corporal John McBurney, a wounded Union deserter on the verge of death, the already frail balance of things will be disrupted, as the hesitant headmistress decides to take him in to heal from his injury. Little by little, as the unwelcome guest arouses an uneasy sexual excitation among the women of the secluded boarding school, it is not before long that they will find themselves competing for the alluring man’s favour. Undoubtedly, this handsome devil is a manipulator, nevertheless, will the ladies stay forever beguiled by his charm?

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THE NEON DEMON (2016)


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Directed & Story By: Nicolas Winding Refn
Written By: Nicolas Winding Refn, Polly Stenham & Mary Laws
Cinematography By: Natasha Braier
Editor: Matthew Newman
Music By: Cliff Martinez 


Cast: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Karl Glusman, Abbey Lee, Bella Heathcote, Desmond Harrington, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Alessandro Nivola, Jamie Clayton


*Please note that some trivia and facts have been republished from imdb among other sources In this review

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HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES (2018)


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Directed By: John Cameron Mitchell
Written By: John Cameron Mitchell & Philippa Goslett
Based on the Short Story Written By: Neil Gaiman
Cinematography By: Frank G. DeMarco
Editor: Brian A. Kates 


Cast: Alex Sharp, Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, Matt Lucas, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tom Brooke, Stephanie Hazel 


Suburban London in the late 70s. Under the spell of the Sex Pistols, every teenager in the country wants to be a punk, including our hopeless hero Enn. Hearing the local punk Queen Boadicea is throwing a party, Enn crashes the fun and discovers every horny boy’s dream; gorgeous foreign exchange students. When he meets the enigmatic Zan, it’s lust at first sight. But these girls have come a lot further than America. They are, in fact, aliens from another galaxy, sent to Earth to prepare for a mysterious rite of passage. When the dark secret behind the rite is revealed, our galaxy-crossed lover Enn must turn to Boadicea and her punk followers for help in order to save the alien he loves from certain death. The punks take on the aliens on the streets of London, and neither Enn nor Zan’s universe will ever be the same again.


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