One Key Filmmaking Element Explains Why Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator Movies Work So Well

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Be warned – the following contains spoilers for the movie Predator: Badlands. Released in 2025, Predator: Badlands was Dan Trachtenberg’s second film in the Predator series (and his third overall). The movie clearly demonstrated that Trachtenberg understands what makes the Predator character so compelling and that there’s still a lot of potential for future stories in this universe. With Badlands achieving significant box office success, it appears Trachtenberg isn’t finished with the franchise yet.

What makes Trachtenberg’s work on the Predator films so remarkable is that many others have tried to recapture the magic of the original, but haven’t come close. He’s not only delivered the same level of thrilling action and entertainment, but he’s also found fresh and inventive ways to portray the Predator, avoiding predictable storylines.

Shane Black’s Predator films have many strengths, but what truly distinguishes them from other sci-fi action movies is a consistent quality in their storytelling and direction. It’s a challenging element to get right, yet Black consistently nails it in all three films.

Dan Trachtenberg Always Nails The Ending For His Predator Movies

The first Predator movie was thrilling throughout, but it truly shined during its final battle between Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character, Dutch, and the Predator. That explosive showdown was incredibly satisfying and left viewers wanting more, and director Trachtenberg seems to have understood what made that ending so effective.

Each of Shane Black’s Predator films delivers a strong and satisfying ending, just like the first movie. He consistently proves his skill at creating conclusions that feel earned within the story and are filled with memorable, exciting moments.

Taking a chance by moving away from the typical Predator movie style, Prey delivered a thrilling and well-paced story. The ending was particularly satisfying, as Naru cleverly used her surroundings and the Predator’s own aggression against it, ultimately leading it to destroy itself with its own weapons.

Predator: Killer of Killers surprised viewers with a clever twist. The film initially presented itself as a series of separate stories, but it was later revealed that all the events unfolded across different times and locations were actually connected. This exciting conclusion not only provided a satisfying end to the previous action, but also expanded the universe of the Predator franchise.

Predator: Badlands Might Have Had Trachtenberg’s Strongest Ending Yet

Both Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers had strong endings, but Predator: Badlands might be even better. Like the previous films, Badlands held a surprising twist for viewers. It also featured one of the most creative action sequences in recent years—including incredibly well-done fight choreography focused entirely on legs—and cleverly developed Dek’s character by showing him build his own group.

This resulted in what I think is the best conclusion to the series so far. Dek returns to his home world to face his ruthless father, a respected hunter and leader of his clan. Using the weapons and abilities he learned on the dangerous planet Genna, Dek defeats his father and takes his shoulder cannon as a sign of his new position, supported by his allies.

The ending of Predator: Badlands is incredibly rewarding, bringing Dek and Thia’s story to a strong conclusion. It also sets up exciting possibilities for Dek’s future – he’s established himself as a dangerous Predator, but rejects the violent traditions of the Yautja. Director Dan Trachtenberg delivered a perfect finale while cleverly hinting at further adventures within the Predator universe.

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2025-11-17 07:20