India, Nov. 7 -- A recurring question in my mind while watching Predator: Badlands was how this film could be made by the same director who gave us the splendid Prey and the brilliant Killer of Killers, set in the same universe. Dan Trachtenberg is credited with reviving the Predator franchise and giving it a new voice with these acclaimed films. With Badlands, it seems the director is hell-bent on undoing all of his good work and making sure the franchise goes nowhere forward. Not only is this spinoff bland, but it also demystifies one of Hollywood's most iconic characters so wastefully that it feels tragic more than anything else.

Predator Badlands follows a Predator named Dek, who runs away from his home world in search of both redemp...