Listeners will be intrigued by the film's exploration of toxic masculinity through the lens of alien society, particularly in the chilling family dynamics that unfold. Chris and Jessica highlight the clever pairing of Deck with Elle Fanning’s character, Tia, a chatty robot with a missing set of legs, showcasing an inspired duality in Fanning's performances that adds depth to the narrative.
The episode dives into director Dan Trachtenberg's impressive handling of action and world-building, especially in the creation of the hostile planet Jenna, where survival becomes a formidable challenge even for a predator. The hosts appreciate the subtle nods to the broader *Alien* universe, noting how these references expand the mythology without overshadowing Deck's personal journey.
As they analyze the film's emotional core, Chris and Jessica commend the balance struck between Deck’s intimidating presence and his relatable vulnerabilities, enhanced by a score that beautifully complements his transformation from outcast to hero. With a solid score of 7.5 out of 10, this episode invites listeners to reflect on how the film not only reinvents the franchise but also sets the stage for exciting future stories within the *Predator* universe, promising a deeper exploration of Yautja culture and identity.
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
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
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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.