The Predator

It’s been 31 years since the classic line “Get to da chopper!” became a part of our vocabulary, and a few less since the disastourous “The Predator 2” (1990) and “Predators” (2010) graced our screens. Let’s not even mention the duo of “Alien vs. Predator” films.

The good news is, Shane Black is back to direct the new “Predator” film, which promises and excellent case, some Black humour (so to speak), and a few references to the original ’87 “Predator” that we know and love. What it won’t deliver on is some Arnie action, but we can forgive that one.

Boyd Holbrook stars as Quinn McKenna, an American sniper who discovers the Predator when he crashes down to Earth in his alien spaceship. He quickly nabs the Predator’s belongings and mails them home, before getting captured by the US Army. Whilst being held captive, he meets Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key), Baxley (Thomas Jane), Lynch (Alfie Allen), Nettles (Augusto Aguilera) and Nebraska (Trevante Rhodes) – all jailed for various reasons – and the unlikely chemistry between the group creates an interesting and funny dynamic. Sterling K. Brown plays the film’s villain Will Traeger, who also enlists biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn) to help study the rogue Predator.

McKenna’s son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) and ex-wife Emily (Yvonne Strahovski) get caught up in the alien drama after Rory intercepts the Predator’s belongings, and being the smarty pants 12-year old he is, hacks the gear and summons other Predator species down to Earth.

Following poor test screenings earlier this year, the entire climax of the film was reshot – and it shows, but not for the right reasons. The first two-thirds of the film is Black at his best, delivering funnies that aren’t forced, great characters and an arc that makes sense. Once a more evolved and fancier Predator shows up, with his Predator-dogs in tow, the film unravels quickly and it really feels like we’re suddenly watching a different movie.

The height of cheese rises to a record level, and it feels like Hollywood takes over Black’s movie and makes it as cliché and predictable as possible. Not to mention unbelievable. 12-year old Rory’s arc goes from heartwarming to eye-rolling, and all the character development Black worked so hard on goes down faster than a lead balloon. Let’s just say by this point, I was rooting for the Predator and his pals, and felt bad every time I saw some green goo hanging about.

It’s a real shame because “The Predator” really sets up a decent return in the first half of the flick, and it feels like the old Predator is back in business. The beauty of the 1987 flick wasn’t even the alien, it was more the hunt and the destruction it left. Without giving it away, the latest film quickly undoes the legacy left by Schwarzenegger and pals – let’s just ignore the follow up films shall we?

If you’re after an out-of-this-world alien adventure that requires little to no thought, then “The Predator” is the right choice. If you plan on dissecting each part of it – similar to what I just did – then you may be crying into your popcorn by the end of the film. Solid entertainment, but just doesn’t quite deliver the climax it needed.

Blu-ray : The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo features several featurettes, some deleted scenes and a gallery.