Dan Trachtenberg directs an unpretentiously entertaining installment in the franchise, full of extraterrestrial action as well as odd-couple chemistry between its two leads.

“Predator: Badlands,” which he co-wrote with his “Prey” writing partner Patrick Aison, is set in the distant future on a new planet. Trachtenberg said at a Comic-Con showcase of the film that one inspiration was the realization that “The Predator never wins.” He wanted to see what that would look like, without making a slasher film.