„Predator: Badlands“ 4K Home Cinema Test: Monster Hunter instead Schwarzenegger
Disney turns its alien war machine into a tame teen franchise. Can the 4K UHD convince at least technically?
(Image: 20th Century Fox)
- Timo Wolters
Hardly any Hollywood corporation subjects its franchises to market logic as consistently as Disney. Its subsidiary 20th Century Studios now neatly divides the two sci-fi brands Alien and Predator by target audience: While Alien continues to be marketed as uncompromising horror for adults, Predator is to function as a youth-friendly action blockbuster in the future.
This change in strategy affects not only dramaturgy and age rating. It also shapes the film's aesthetics – from watered-down violence to the video game logic of the plot. Muscular action heroes à la Schwarzenegger are a thing of the past. Instead, the Predator works its way through a sequence of digital monster battles that are more reminiscent of Monster Hunter than the claustrophobic jungle terror of the original.
On paper, this sounds like a bombastic sci-fi spectacle that should be particularly impressive on Ultra HD Blu-ray (UHD) with 4K picture and Dolby Atmos sound. We therefore compare the picture and sound quality of the UHD with the regular Blu-ray Disc and the streaming version.
(Image: 20th Century Fox)
But before we get to encoding, HDR, and Atmos mix from page 3 onwards, it's worth taking a look at the film itself – and at the question of why Disney is fundamentally overhauling the Predator franchise.
From Jungle Terror to CGI Monster
There is hardly any sci-fi franchise that has had such a cinematic rollercoaster ride as Predator. When Arnold Schwarzenegger faced an invisible alien hunter in the mercilessly humid jungle of Central America in 1987, director John McTiernan created an uncompromising classic of 80s sci-fi terror. The Yautja was an ultimate, bloodthirsty force of nature – a hunter without remorse. What followed in the decades since, however, was an often sad series of sometimes failed sequels and bizarre Alien crossovers that increasingly dismantled the merciless myth of the alien trophy collector.
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After Dan Trachtenberg had given the Predator franchise, believed to be killed off by irrelevant action sequels, a fresh, dirty, and exciting makeover with Prey, hopes for Predator: Badlands were correspondingly high. International critics also found some words of praise. However, those who appreciate the 1987 original rub their eyes in amazement. What old fans are served here is a fundamental betrayal of John McTiernan's classic – and a slap in the face for anyone who, after Prey, believed the studio had understood the merciless essence of this universe again.
The strategy of Disney and 20th Century Studios is clear. The two major sci-fi monster brands are neatly divided. While the Alien franchise was recently successfully anchored back in its claustrophobic, uncompromising R-rated horror roots with Romulus, Predator is now being deliberately transformed into a watered-down teen franchise.
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The economic logic behind this is simple: PG-13 films suitable for all ages open cinema doors to affluent teenagers and can potentially double worldwide box office revenue. The adult niche is sacrificed for the global mass market.
But this backfired. With a budget of just over 100 million dollars, the latest franchise entry grossed only around 180 million. Since cinema operators keep about half, the net result is a veritable flop. At least the film climbed to number one in the home cinema charts – perhaps many viewers consciously saved it for home, allowing Disney to recoup costs at least partially.
