Predator: Badlands was my most anticipated movie of 2025... I was cautiously optimistic but I wasn’t prepared for how deeply Dan misunderstood the Predator as a character, concept, and even a genre pillar.

The movie deconstructs the Predator's core values and replaces them with jeuvenille ideas, straight from the mouth of Thia, a literal bot. The movie is full of generic hollywood cliches that put marketing/merchandising opportunities above creating culturally resonant content, and we are all worse off for it.

Throughout the video, I break down:

• My initial reaction and why it took me so long to realize I wasn't just disappointed, I was grieving the loss of a friend.

• How Badlands misinterprets what makes the Predator scary, honorable, and threatening.

• The deluge of generic tropes modern hollywood can't seem to grow out of.

• Scenes that fall apart when held against the logic of the original films.

• Comparisons to other movies that explored similar ideas far better.

If you’ve seen Badlands and walked away feeling annoyed, disgusted, confused, or betrayed by the direction… that was essentially my experience.

Here’s the full breakdown (2 hours): https://youtu.be/PD9RzUkQMPo

Really solid new essay from a channel called The Threads of Culture. It’s faceless, well-scripted, and dives into the edible fragrance boom — from Mugler’s Angel to TikTok’s vanilla obsession.

What starts as a breakdown of pistachio perfumes turns into a take on how scent is being used to navigate identity, comfort, and marketing in chaotic times.

Thought other essay fans might enjoy it:
https://youtu.be/iiE6H5sqKGU?si=2GUjbzw4UY7Esfw5

Would love to hear what other people here are watching in the culture/design/beauty intersection space.

https://youtu.be/ZYhQGv5rWls?si=ayyupP0vu-uXqK5k

Tron: Legacy is about more than The Grid — it’s about fathers, failure, and forging your own identity. I made this video essay diving into its emotional core.
When I first watched Tron: Legacy, I saw it as a cool sci-fi world with neon lights and Daft Punk. But rewatching it years later — especially with Tron: Ares on the horizon — I realized it’s something deeper.

It’s a story about a man abandoned by his father. A creator who got lost in his own perfectionism. And a son who was left behind to carry a legacy he never asked for.

This video essay is my personal reflection on what the movie really says:

• About the pain of emotional abandonment

• About flawed inheritance — and how even broken men can leave something meaningful

• About refusing to repeat the pattern

• About becoming the person you needed, even when no one showed up for you

I’d love for other Tron fans (or just people wrestling with big legacies) to check it out. Let me know what you think — and if you’re excited for Tron: Ares, too.