VFX Team Reveals All: Insider Secrets to the Changes in Predator: Badlands’ Kalisk

Note: This article contains SPOILERS for Predator: Badlands!In Predator: Badlands, directed by Prey and Killer of Killers filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg, the Yautja species experiences a dramatic shift in the predator-prey hierarchy. The film tells the story of Dek, a young Yautja ostracized by his tribe and nearly slain by his own father. To regain honor, Dek embarks on a perilous quest to the hostile world of Genna, aiming to capture a formidable trophy.

The target of Dek’s quest is Kalisk, a legendary beast considered unbeatable by his people, reigning as the supreme predator of Genna. Throughout the 107 minutes of Predator: Badlands, Dek engages in several battles with Kalisk, who is revealed to possess both regenerative powers and immense strength. During his journey, Dek, aided by a native creature dubbed Bud by Thia, played by Elle Fanning, grows to respect Kalisk and ultimately strives to rescue it from captivity by Weyland-Yutani at the film’s climax.

In a discussion with ScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns about their contributions to the film, VFX Supervisor Sheldon Stopsack and Animation Supervisor Karl Rapley shared insights into Kalisk’s development. Rapley began by describing the “extensive evolutionary process” Kalisk underwent from initial design concepts to its final depiction on screen.

Rapley explained that initially, Kalisk had numerous abilities suggested during the brainstorming phase that were not included in the final film. Trachtenberg had many ideas for the creature, but they had to streamline these due to time constraints and narrative coherence. The team at Weta FX had to focus and refine these ideas:

Karl Rapley: It could regenerate, which was quite an overpowered trait to start with. When it came to designing it, we needed to consider how it would regenerate in action sequences, particularly when battling the Power Loader. To counterbalance its regenerative ability, we decided to have it attacked with a giant saw blade.

Rapley also noted that Kalisk’s facial features changed significantly during development, with some designs featuring no tendrils and others incorporating a more fluid, wavy appearance. Ultimately, they settled on a bone-like tendril structure. For movement, they drew inspiration from various animals including bears, raptors from Jurassic Park, large cats, and even King Kong.

During the conversation, Stopsack highlighted the film’s attention to portraying Kalisk not just as a monstrous entity but as a being capable of complex relationships, particularly in its interactions with Bud. He detailed the lengthy design process:

Sheldon Stopsack: The concepts such as regeneration and the saw blade attack actually influenced the final design. We also had to consider the emotional aspects of its relationship with Bud. Could there be visual similarities? We thought about color schemes and other subtle traits that wouldn’t be immediately obvious to viewers. Bud’s scales and the tendrils were a result of such considerations, and these elements played a significant role in our design choices for Kalisk.

Karl Rapley: There were many discussions with Dan, who was very meticulous about not revealing too much too soon, which was crucial.

Predator: Badlands introduces several firsts in the franchise, notably featuring a creature that dominates the Yautja in the predator-prey dynamic. This is a stark contrast to previous films where humans were the usual adversaries, only becoming formidable opponents once they recognized the threat posed by the Yautja.

Moreover, unlike previous Yautja trophies in the films, Kalisk is not killed by the alien hunters. Initially, this is due to its ability to regenerate, but as the story progresses, Dek sides with Kalisk, attempting to reunite it with Bud. The creature is ultimately subdued by Elle Fanning’s character, Tessa, using cryogenic grenades.

The portrayal of Kalisk in Predator: Badlands aligns with the descriptions provided by Rapley and Stopsack, showcasing a creature that moves with the power and grace of terrestrial predators like lions and bears. The design subtly hints at the connection between Bud and Kalisk, with shared physical traits like scales and eyes providing clues to their relationship, despite differing animation styles.

Explore more about Predator: Badlands with our additional coverage:

• Our Predator: Badlands Review
• Guide on how Predator: Badlands connects to the Alien franchise
• Insights from Dan Trachtenberg on the future of the Predator franchise post-Badlands
• Various interviews with Dan Trachtenberg discussing his inspirations and decisions for the film
• Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi on the extensive use of practical effects in the movie
• Discussions with Stopsack & Rapley about how the climactic battle scene was almost completely different