the predator
DIRECTOR: Shane black (kiss kiss bang bang, iron man 3, the nice guys)
STARRING: boyd holbrook, olivia munn, Keegan-Michael Key, and sterling K. Brown
REVIEWER: lyall carter
From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home. The universe's most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and an evolutionary biologist can prevent the end of the human race.
To be perfectly honest I can't remember if I've seen the original Predator film. I know - shock horror. All I really remember is Arnie running around in the jungle and saying the immortal line, "Get to the chopper!"
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So I'm not the biggest fan of the Predator franchise so went into The Predator with zero expectations and was more than pleasantly surprised. Director Shane Black has crafted a true summer blockbuster - action packed and fun to boot if not a little messy during the third act.
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You know the drill. A predator makes it to earth. Humans have to hunt it down before it wreaks havoc on the world. Grab the AK47 and lets get going!
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Shane Black has to be one of the most underrated film makers around at the moment. Do you remember The Nice Guys from a couple of years back with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling? Didn't think so. It got barely any publicity, made next to no money, but everyone that I've made watch it genuinely loved it.
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At the heart of The Nice Guys is this brilliant back and forth banter between Crowe and Gosling which is both hilarious and slightly endearing to watch. Black brings this same banter to his motley ex - military crew and Olivia Munn's evolutionary biologist which causes you to really care for these characters - even though you know its a summer blockbuster and not many of them will probably survive.
The Predator is a genuinely funny film - the cinema we went to see it in was filled with roaring laughter. Some of the jokes alone are worth the watch.
But of course this wouldn't be a predator film without some gory action and The Predator more than fills your boots with people sliced, diced, and thrown into a broken tree branch to form a human kebab.
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I have it on very good authority that there were little nods and winks to the past films of the franchise that will more than please die hard fans. The story does start to lag a little and becomes a tiny bit messy near during the third act but overall the film more than works.
Despite a slightly messy third act, The Predator is exactly what you want in a big summer blockbuster: an entertaining ride, bloody action, and some belly laughs.
The Predator is available on DVD, Blu-ray, 4KUHD, and digital from all good disc and digital retailers.
