The 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring Predator is an undeniable cult classic, remembered for its bold style, endlessly quotable script and occasional preposterousness.
Its sequels Predator 2, Predators and the Alien vs Predator movies... not so much.
So, all eyes are on Shane Black's newest instalment, daringly named The Predator, to see whether it can live up to the original, or will prove another disappointment. And thanks to Black's smart script and a charismatic cast, it's probably the best since Arnie got to da chopper.
The movie stars Boyd Holbrook as army sniper Quinn McKenna, who finds himself on the run after a brush with a crashed alien ship filled with some startling (but familiar) tech.
He teams up with a squad of outcast army veterans (Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Jane among them) and a biologist with a fascination for aliens (Olivia Munn) on a mission to stop Earth's latest Predator visitor from making mincemeat out of humanity.
And meanwhile, McKenna's genius, autistic son gets his hands on that missing alien technology.
The movie starts with our hero McKenna decked out in camouflage and hiding in a thick forest for his target. It's a clear nod to the original, and sets the stage for a film that honours '80s action and science fiction throughout, from the bombastic set pieces to the soundtrack. The Predator has a few cheekily on-the-nose references – "get to the choppers" being the most obvious – but thankfully, it doesn't stray into parody.
Black is known for his witty dialogue and doesn't disappoint, building the relationships between a large cast and making it look easy. And it's a strong cast to begin with. Logan's underused Boyd Holbrook makes a tough but gruffly likeable lead (Black has compared him to Steve McQueen, and we can see where he's coming from).
Trevante Rhodes oozes charm as a former marine, a character miles away from his Moonlight role. Olivia Munn is prickly and tough as our resident scientist, and isn't sidelined during the action.
Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane and Augusto Aguilera round out a great ensemble (though you'd be forgiven for forgetting that Alfie Allen is in the film at all). Alas, poor Jacob Tremblay – slotting himself into his well-practised role of child prodigy – serves more as a plot device than a real, fleshed-out character.
As for the plot, it's serviceable. Half-heartedly tapping into some 'hot-topic issues', it's sometimes silly and doesn't show us much we haven't seen before, but it's rarely boring. Issues of coherence do arise in both the narrative and action, with moments in which you might find yourself wondering if something small but vital has been cut out to explain a) why the heroes have to do this now or b) where that guy's head has gone.
And the world would be totally screwed if not for the amazing coincidence that the lead's son just happens to be a savant.
The movie also flirts with subverting some genre tropes, but never goes quite far enough. Munn is given some fun anti-mansplaining put-downs and spared a romantic arc, and The Predator works to soften its military men, revealing or implying real tragedy and emotion in their backstories.
But at the same time, the military characters in The Predator are strictly male, and indeed the film fails the Bechdel Test miserably. And for all the attempts at a nuanced portrayal of soldiers and veterans, they are shown to be at their best when allowed to kill people indiscriminately, and their mental issues – such as Jane's Tourette's – are too frequently used as punchlines. It's just not quite as smart as it wants to be.
The Predator is a flawed actioner, but a strong cast and some Shane Black magic give it a sparkle that has been lacking from recent attempts to revive the killer aliens. It's not Black at his best, but it's a fun diversion as long as you don't think about it too hard.
Director: Shane Black; Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Sterling K Brown; Running time: 107 minutes; Certificate: 15
The Predator is out now. Book tickets here.
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