00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Chris: The Predator franchise just pulled off
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 something that seemed impossible. They've
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 made us emotionally invest in the story of a
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 young alien warrior who carries around a
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 chatty robot backpack, and
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 somehow it totally works.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 Jessica: That's such an unexpected direction for this
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 series. Instead of humans running from
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 predators, we're actually following the story
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 of one of these hunters, and he's basically
00:00:23 --> 00:00:24 the underdog.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 Chris: You know what's fascinating about this take?
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 They've built this entire brutal culture
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 around the Yautja. That's what they're
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 calling the predator species, where showing
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 any weakness is literally a, uh,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 death sentence. I mean, this
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 father figure nioher actually orders one son
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 to kill another just because he thinks he's
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 too weak. Mm.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 Jessica: That family dynamic really adds layers we've
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 never seen before in these films. The way
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 they explore toxic masculinity through an
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 alien warrior culture is pretty bold.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 Chris: Well, what really sells it is how they've
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 made Dec this young predator, someone we
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 actually connect with. Here's this warrior
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 from a species we've always seen as the
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 ultimate hunters, and suddenly we're
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 experiencing his vulnerability, his struggle
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 to prove himself worthy.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 Jessica: The choice to pair him with Elle Fanning's
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 character, Tia, uh, this talkative robot
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 missing her legs. That's such an inspired
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 decision. Like, who would have thought that
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 would work, right?
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 Chris: And what's really clever is how they use
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 Fanning in dual roles. She plays both
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 Thea, this warm and supportive presence,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 and Tessa, uh, her cold, calculating sister.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 It's like they're showing two different
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 possible paths for artificial intelligence.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 Jessica: So what do you make of Dan Trachtenberg's
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 direction after Prey? He
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 seems to really understand how to reinvent
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 this franchise.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 Chris: Oh, man. His handling of the action sequences
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 is incredible. The opening fight
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 between the brothers sets this perfect tone.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 It's visceral and violent, but there's real
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 emotion behind it. And the way he uses
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 technology throughout the film, especially in
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 creating the hostile planet, Jenna is just
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 next level.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 Jessica: Well, speaking of Jenna, the way they
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 designed that world where even the plants
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 want to kill you, it really sells why even a
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 predator might need help to survive.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Chris: And you know what's really smart? The subtle
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 connections they're making to the larger
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 universe. Like those Weyland Yutani
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 references from the Alien franchise.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 They're building something bigger here
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 without being obvious about it.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 Jessica: That's exactly what impressed me, how they're
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 expanding the mythology while keeping the
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 focus on Deck's personal journey.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 Chris: Um, um, can we talk about Demetrius Schuster,
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 Kolo Matangi's performances? Deck,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 even under all that makeup, and effects. He
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 manages to convey this incredible character
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 arc. Like he starts as this
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 desperate outcast trying to prove himself by
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 hunting this supposedly unkillable beast
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 called Kalisk. But he ends up on this journey
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 of actual growth and change.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 Jessica: You know what's remarkable? They've managed
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 to keep him deadly and intimidating while
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 still making him sympathetic. That's not an
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 easy balance to strike.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 Chris: The score really helps with that too. It
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 switches between these epic action pieces and
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 more intimate emotional themes. It's
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 like the music is telling its own story about
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 Dec's transformation from outcast to hero.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 Jessica: Well, with that solid 7 1/2 out of 10 rating,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 it seems like they've really found a way to
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 please both critics and longtime fans.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 Chris: And that's what makes this such a successful
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 reinvention. They're not just copying what
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 worked before. They're taking these familiar
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 elements, the hunting, the technology,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 the violence, and using them to tell a much
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 more complex story about identity and
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 belonging.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 Jessica: Mm, mhm. And they've opened up so many
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 possibilities for future stories in this
00:03:54 --> 00:03:54 universe.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 Chris: You know what's really exciting? This could
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 be the beginning of a whole new era for the
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 franchise. They've shown us that there's so
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 much more to explore in predator society than
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 just hunting humans. Like,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 imagine the stories they could tell about
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 other young Yautja or different clans, or
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 even more about their technology and culture.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 Jessica: That's going to change how people watch the
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 original films too, knowing all this
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 background about their society and customs.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 Chris: Exactly. And that's really the mark of
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 a successful franchise reinvention, isn't it?
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 When you can look back at the earlier films
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 and see them in a completely new light while
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 also being excited about where things might
00:04:35 --> 00:04:35 go next.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies first
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 iHeartRadio, uh, or your favorite podcast
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 player. Uh, you can also stream on
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 demand@bytes.com.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 Chris: This has been another quality podcast
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 production from bytes.com.