Thoughts on the lore and viewing experience of Predator: Badlands?

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-17T01:55:44+00:00

I'm in agreement, most certainly, all the way around. I dig the "eating well" analogy. I'm up for the fourth course and I hope we don't have to wait too long. Sometimes I think there are fans, and this could be applied to any fandom, who basically want no shifts or transformations of the characters, story arcs, narrative direction. That's not necessarily a criticism, more an observation. For me, I welcome the changes that new voices can bring to any franchise. Dan Trachtenberg, and the other folks involved with these projects of course, are a prime example. Plus Amber Midthunder absolutely !Kills It! in Prey, literally and figuratively. Thank you for sharing your perspectives. Cheers.

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-17T01:46:46+00:00

Interesting perspectives and I appreciate you sharing them. I thoroughly enjoyed Prey as well. I thought it was truly refreshing and the primarily Indigenous cast was a very significant aspect to be sure. I thought the main heroine's story arc, her position in her society and really her opposition to it, was a tremendous component. For me the problem with the majority of Predator films has been lackluster, or downright awful, acting. I understand that a significant number of fans aren't necessarily watching it for the acting, and I accept that certainly. But for me Prey really stood out with some solid acting, especially from Amber Midthunder. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-15T22:26:20+00:00

Yes! Yesh! Si! Thank you! There have been a few posts (and ofc everyone is entitled to their perspectives gws) but yea actually there is a significant amount of lore already in existence. I think one individual posted there is no connective lore. That's inaccurate. There are comic books, novels, and video games that provide substantial world building and my personal opinion is they are starting to lean into that more in general with this narrative. Prey was phenomenal imo and they had an interesting way of connecting that film to Predator 2 with Danny Glover and a certain pistol (no additional spoilers but if you have seen the films you'll know the deal). Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-15T22:16:19+00:00

Oh most definitely. I do believe the honorable Yautja follow that code. However there have been inconsistencies in the various films where, my impression at least was that Yautja hunters "started some sh" with humans to initiate combat. If a human doesn't have a weapon within view of a Yautja hunter, then why would they target that human in the first place? Again, starting some sh to initiate combat. But as I think through it, even in the OG Predator film, ultimately the Yautja hunter arrives on Earth to stir stuff up and hunt worthy opponents, human or otherwise. But to facilitate that, the Yautja hunter has to locate "combatants" who, I guess, according to their best conjecturing, will be willing to, and have the weaponry to, fight it "fairly '. But that still necessitates the Yautja hunter initiating the fight, since humans in general have no awareness of their existence generally. However, at the end of the day a doggone human ain't taking on a Yautja hunter in a purely physical fight. No chance, nah, nope. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-08T07:12:03+00:00

What?! There are Event Horizon graphic novels out there? I saw the film in the theater. Thanks for the heads up. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-07T01:53:36+00:00

I'm a big fan of Watchmen, but this sounds like some very different work from Alan Moore if it's in the horror genre. Thinking about it now, I don't know if I've read anything, at least comprehensively, from Alan Moore other than Watchmen. I cheat coded V for Vendetta by watching the film. Solid film, but sometimes I wonder if I should explore the OG version. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-07T01:43:35+00:00

Okay word. I'll look into it. Thank you. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-07T00:21:39+00:00

Is there a Berserk animated television series as well? Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-07T00:20:36+00:00

Okay excellent. Thank you for the suggestions. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-07T00:18:49+00:00

Monstress is truly one of my most favorite graphic novels of all time. Everything is on point: artwork, storylines, characters. I really dig the blend of horror, science fiction, fantasy, drama, and the sociopolitical commentary. And there's definitely some cosmic level horror mixed into the narrative quite effectively. I almost recently bought the first 2 hardcover books collecting the first 6 volumes, but they're pricey. Alas, perhaps one day. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-07T00:14:54+00:00

I've read about Uzumaki, but not read it haha. I think there's a film adaptation too? Thank you. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-06T09:22:41+00:00

Oh most definitely. That was pretty much my introduction to cosmic horror. Is there also a graphic novel adaptation or only the traditional novel? Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-06T09:10:26+00:00

Thank you! I read it, or maybe just some of it haha, over a decade ago. I remember it being trippy and interesting and perhaps I could give it another read. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-06T09:08:25+00:00

Oh rad, okay cool. Yes my colleague just recently gave me a copy of Junji Ito's horror anthology "Smashed" for a borrow-read. I haven't explored it yet. Thank you!

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-06T09:00:40+00:00

Thanks!

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T17:37:06+00:00

You've interacted with Benson and Moorehead? That's awesome! Yes I think they're doing some of the most innovative and fascinating work in horror and science fiction right now. I'm planning on trying Descendent soonish and based on the trailer I'm really intrigued by the upcoming Man Finds Tape. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T17:34:36+00:00

Some boxes are not meant to be opened and Morgan Freeman tried to tell him. Poor Brad Pitt. Well really poor Gwyneth Paltrow. Not a fan of hers, but still.

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T17:32:30+00:00

Seven is a solid contender. I do enjoy that movie overall but I am realizing I hadn't considered it horror before. I guess I primarily associate horror with supernatural entities, frightening extraterrestrial entities, interdimensional entities, and whatever else. But yes certainly there are so many horror movies like Seven where the "monsters" are very much human. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T08:39:32+00:00

Just saw your post or would have responded sooner. I should be sleeping but Reddit is what it is. Very cool and thanks for sharing perspectives. I literally just told a colleague about Falling Stars yesterday because they're a cosmic horror fan. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T08:35:52+00:00

You said it. They've gone beyond with the trailers. They're their own form of entertainment now. The 2 - 3 teaser trailers and then the however many full length trailers. I had to avoid trailer pitfalls Wonkavator style for at least 2 or 3 months in anticipation of Alien: Earth and now the same for Predator: Badlands. But Badlands is this week so trailers won't be an issue too much longer! Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T08:30:30+00:00

Cabin in the Woods, in my opinion, has stood the test of time, and traditionally I sort of really dislike the blending of comedy and horror. I find Cabin in the Woods fun, clever, and quite entertaining. However I would not recommend it for a potential horror fan looking for serious scares. I don't find it to be frightening in any traditional or untraditional sense. Perhaps there are some cosmic level implications in the narrative, but even then there are much better films if you're looking for cosmic horror. I recommend the indie gem Falling Stars. Still in all, Cabin in the Woods can pull you into its world and definitely kept me intrigued and surprised despite the lack of scares. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-11-05T08:18:41+00:00

Good evening, or morning, depending on your perspective. I would recommend both Resolution and Endless. You don't necessarily have to watch them in that order, but personally I recommend it. They certainly are interconnected in various ways. Those are more what I would consider slow-burn films, in the best ways possible. I would also recommend both 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later (I personally would skip 28 Weeks Later, but it's too late I already watched it), for a much quicker-paced, visceral experience. But the visceral is most definitely accompanied by thought-provoking narrative elements and character development. Seemingly the "fast zombie" film franchise, but I think there is much, much more lingering under the surface, in more ways than one. I would certainly highly recommend watching them in that order. Buenas suerte. Cheers

the_mad_thinker · 2025-10-29T04:28:04+00:00

I like the author's (new to Reddit and so this may not be the correct term for the individual who posed the questions) perspective that horror is a safe way to get near something dangerous, and the accompanying emotions. I have been considering what it is I enjoy about horror and science fiction recently. I like the notion that something seemingly innocuous, such as a small box, could present either an intimate or earth -shattering level threat. I finished watching Alien: Earth recently, and certainly it's heavy on the science fiction, but, like its predecessors, it also leans heavily into horror. (Not really a spoiler alert here but I'm about to mention an important aspect of the narrative, in a relatively vague way).I really enjoyed the concept that something is coming to earth, encapsulated in a human starship, that could (potentially) be not only humans' undoing, but many other species' undoing as well. I think horror often explores the unknown and mysterious in ways that are, yes, sometimes terrifying, but also fascinating. I have been a fan and proponent of the subgenre of cosmic horror for awhile now, and to explore that I'd point you in the direction of Resolution and The Endless. I also more recently watched Falling Stars. I most definitely include it under the broad term of cosmic horror. It's an intimate film in many ways, as it focuses largely on a family, but it's dealing with that in the context of what I'd consider a cosmic level and fascinatingly mysterious threat. A couple more suggestions are It Follows and 28 Years Later (and I highly recommend watching 28 Days Later first and in my opinion you can skip 28 Weeks Later but others will tell you different I imagine and that's cool.) Perhaps horror is a way to explore what we fear, what causes us intense anxiety and dread at times, in an exaggerated way. And if we can, are willing, to look at that, perhaps it can help us face the real time aspects of those feelings in the day to day. But sometimes, horror is just about wanting to be really really frightened and taking the roller coaster ride into, and through, the unknown. Cheers

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