Just as he did with Prey and Killer of Killers , Dan Trachtenberg once again breaks new ground with the Predator franchise. Badlands is a bold and badass departure from everything we’ve seen before, proving the Yautja to be a versatile, genre-defying species under the right direction. By exploring the Predator as a character rather than just a threat, you risk pulling back the curtain too far — but thankfully, that’s not the case here. These creatures are as ruthless and menacing as ever. Dek is the name of this Yautja, and his tribe’s customs are absolutely brutal. They hunt for sport, and the weakest links are slaughtered — even family. It’s a massive expansion of the lore that feels entirely fresh, giving the franchise a true sci-fi identity again. Tonally, it’s refreshingly unique — essentially a buddy team-up movie between Dek and Thia, the chatty top half of a Weyland-Yutani synth. A still from Predator: Badlands . The plot is lean, emph...
Task is a morally complex crime drama populated by characters written with thoughtful depth. Following up on the tremendous Mare of Easttown , Brad Inglesby delivers another gripping, heart-rending, and multi-layered story filled with exceptional performances across the board. Because this limited series reaches beyond its crime elements into the lives of people on all sides of the conflict, it becomes far richer than expected. Yes, the investigative and criminal threads are central, but it’s the exploration of what makes these characters tick that truly elevates the show. Some might view the character-driven drama as unnecessary padding, but it adds depth and realism while giving the series a strong emotional core. These aren’t just characters built to serve the plot — they’re living, breathing people with lives and baggage of their own. Tom Pelphrey and Mark Ruffalo in Task . What also makes this such a compelling watch are the layers woven th...