The "Predator" franchise receives an unexpected blast of fun — and a healthy dose of humor — in "Predator: Badlands," one of the year's most thrilling, lively action movies. Surprised? Same here. Who knew what this nearly 40-year-old series needed was a solid deployment of jokes ?

Director Dan Trachtenberg, who is nothing if not driven to prove the malleability of the "Predator" series — he made 2022's sparse survival thriller "Prey" as well as this year's viciously violent animated feature "Predator: Killer of Killers" — takes a hard left here and goes the buddy comedy route with "Badlands."

And against all odds, it works, thanks to a smart reinvention of the story, a sparklingly charismatic performance from Elle Fanning and a bold belief in the director's vision. "Predator: Badlands"

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