FILM REVIEW : Predators

Posted by: Tony – Jul 10, 2010

It seems obvious from the title that the filmmakers behind Predators were, in some way, trying to channel the success of Aliens. The two franchises have always been closely related, and even though that relation culminated in the two abysmal Alien Vs. Predator movies, both series always garnered respect separately. They began in very much the same fashion, with both original films focusing on a lone alien monster hunting a small group of humans. The two series parted in their sequels. Alien was followed by Aliens, and, as the plural form of the title indicates, the humans had hordes of monsters to contend with making for a fresh experience. Predator was followed by Predator 2, which offered very little different from the first. It moved the action from the jungle proper to the concrete jungle of the big city. It sounds more clever than it was. Now, after 20 years, we are finally given the plural Predators. Unfortunately, in trying to capture both the slow tension of the first Predator, as well as the nonstop action of Aliens, the filmmakers fail to achieve either one.

The movie begins with a group of people mysteriously transported to a jungle. They do not know how they got there or why, but they quickly realize they are all dangerous individuals. Indeed, the group consists of soldiers from around the world, hitmen, and convicts. After a quick look around the environment, a dramatic visual lets them know that they are no longer on Earth. They take the realization remarkably well, though, and begin to deduce the reason for their abduction. The jungle is a game preserve, and they have been chosen by the titular monsters to be prey. They must all work together in order to survive and find a way home.

Not every decision made for this movie was a bad one. Taking things back to the jungle is a step in the right direction. It shows a conscious effort to take the series back to its roots. It is an inconsistent attempt, though. The creative team (headed by producer Robert Rodriguez, from whom we expect better) also throws away the slow building tension of the first movie. The original film followed the example of Jaws by letting the audience know early on that there is something dangerous present, but not letting us get a good look at it for the entire first half of the movie. In this regard, the filmmakers try to cheat their way out of it. They do not build tension slowly, but they do not show us the Predators either. Instead, we get early disposable action sequences against predator dogs, and other creatures serving as game on the preserve. It feels cheap and pointless, and it takes time that would have been better spent focused on the human characters.

Perhaps character development for the humans is not completely necessary. In a movie like this, most of them are just there as fodder anyway. It is hardly a spoiler to reveal that not everyone makes it to the end of the film. It is necessary, however, to make the audience care for these characters so that it matters when one of them meets his or her untimely end. The original film was light on developing the characters. Instead, we were made to like them as a group. They banded together to fight what was after them. That almost happens in this movie, but everyone seems a bit more focused on personal survival than on the well-being of the group. It is difficult to like the characters when they give up on each other so easily. Each of them gets a moment in the spotlight, but it is very clear early on who will survive and who will not. The rest is just waiting for it to happen.

As a fan of the original film and its sequel, I was really rooting for this movie. It seems to have everything going for it. It not only has a fairly capable cast led by Adrien Brody, but also a great production team led by Robert Rodriguez. I, like most fans, cheered when Rodriguez decried the terrible AvP movies during production, and when he claimed that he was looking to them to learn exactly what not to do in this film. It would be unfair and untrue to say that Predators is as bad as an AvP movie. It would be equally unfair and untrue, though, to say that it is a worthy sequel to the first or second movie in the Predator series. Robert Rodriguez failed. He could not recover this franchise. In the face of that sad truth, it may be time to let the Predators fade away.