‘Predator’ Stands Tall as an Action-Flick Masterpiece

June 12, 2022

In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger led a highly trained commando team through the misty, humid jungle of Central America. Their mission was, ostensibly, to rescue political prisoners, but it quickly became a survival game. Schwarzenegger’s team is systematically stalked and killed by an unseen force cloaked in the trees. This invisible force is an extraterrestrial being who hunts for sport using various weapons, camouflage, and agility. In the climax, Schwarzenegger and the alien have a satisfying final battle before the monster is defeated.

That is Predator (1987) in a nutshell. But it is so much more.

A few ’80s action flicks can punch at Predator’s weight class level. Now 35 years later, it has become a legacy creature feature. The famous alien has sprawled into a massive franchise that includes some decent (and not-so-decent) sequels, a set of Alien vs. Predator crossover films, video games, toys, and comics.

Predator Is a Pop-Culture Powerhouse

Predator has a fantastic creature, stars an iconic box-office superstar, is filmed in a beautiful location, has a sweeping score that is better than it needs to be, and utilizes incredible special effects and stunt work. The film boasts a talented supporting cast that helps remove some of the burdens of making ol’ Arnie carry the movie himself.

Unlike many other action films of the day, Predator focused more on teamwork and brotherhood instead of the “lone hero saves the world himself” trope. Indeed, Schwarzenegger leads his team as their commanding officer, but to see big, burly macho guys with heavy machine guns plan defensive positions and share tender battlefield moments elevates Predator above its peers.

Special effects legend Stan Winston designed the hideous mandible-laden face of the creature. The Predator’s look is the stuff of nightmares. It is ugly, nasty, and downright awesome!

Kevin Peter Hall plays the eponymous monster, and his towering 7’2” frame juxtaposes smartly against most of the beefy cast, which includes Schwarzenegger, Sonny Landham, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura. The Predator is a perfect villain. He is quiet, invisible, and fast, hunting and observing with his heat-vision. His iconic shoulder cannon that sights in with triangular red dots pairs nicely with his dual wrist blades for handling his prey. The film smartly hides the creature for most of the first and second act, save for a few splashes of glimmer in the trees and that famous Predator snarl. While he is a formidable foe, he is thankfully not invincible.

“If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It.”

Predator 1987 - Arnold Schwarzenegger — 20th Century Fox

First-time screenwriters John and Jim Thomas wrote the script under its original name, Hunter. After being shopped around at 20th Century Fox, they finally greenlighted the project with director John McTiernan at the helm. It was the second highest-grossing film of 1987 and received mixed reviews upon release. It currently holds an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and has become a cult classic and a crown jewel in Schwarzenegger’s body of work.

At first, the film was an action vehicle with a conventional one-on-one conflict between Dutch (Schwarzenegger) and the alien. Despite being a massive star, Schwarzenegger saw the potential to expand the story and have strong character development between the squad of soldiers. Each team member possesses unique identifying characteristics on the surface, which help separate them from each other later.

Blaine (Jesse Ventura) saunters with a mini-gun and is a “goddamned sexual tyrannosaurus.” Mac (Bill Duke) is quiet and soft-spoken, with cold eyes; he always shaves using his sweat as lubrication. The other members include Hawkins (Shane Black), who tries to make inappropriate humor out of his identity, no matter the context; Poncho (Richard Chaves) loves to blow things up; Billy (Sonny Landham) is the scout and tracker, floating through the jungle like a ghost.

These men compliment Dutch and his leadership; they listen to and trust him. He trusts them too. Between facial expressions, tone, and brief snippets of dialogue, they all convey a shared history and respect for each other. That is good writing carried with great acting. Dillon (Carl Weathers), a CIA operative with an ulterior motive, accompanies the team on their mission, much to the chagrin of Dutch. After the first major skirmish in the film, where Dutch’s crew defeats a guerilla stronghold, they take an insurgent named Ana (Elpidia Carillo) prisoner to question later.

The Central American jungle setting is beautiful. Director John McTiernan made the most of the sweeping vistas, waterfalls, and mountains to treat our eyes to natural wonder while also giving a sense of isolation to the characters. Despite the Vietnam War heavily influencing the setting, the exotic location never dampers the intensity or suspense.

Composer Alan Silvestri, hot off his success with the Back to the Future soundtrack, strings together a haunting and memorable score. The music has become a legend, incorporating Silvestri’s typical fanfare of “heavy horn blasts, staccato string rhythms, and undulating timpani rolls.” Stepping away from the score, I cannot listen to “Long Tall Sally” ever again without thinking of the famous banter scene in Predator’s opening helicopter sequence.

“And It Ain’t No Man…”

Predator 1987 - No Man — 20th Century Fox

The first shot of this film showing the Predator being jettisoned from his spacecraft and falling to Earth lets us know that this is not your standard ’80s shoot-em-up. While the action on-screen takes the driver’s seat as Predator unfolds, elements of horror and dread creep in like a molasses drip. A few scenes may leave a first-time viewer disgusted yet intrigued. It becomes a bit of a mystery as to why there are men skinned alive hanging from the jungle canopy.

A killer scene erupts after Blaine is killed after being blasted in the back by the laser cannon. Scared and angry, Mac sees only a glimmer of a figure with glowing yellow eyes run off into the jungle. Mac proceeds to saw the forest down with Blaine’s mini-gun, prompting the surviving squad members to join in. They level the woods together. You know, teamwork.

It wouldn’t be an ’80s action classic without a montage. Predator is gracious enough to give us two of them. The first one bestows the glistening muscles of Schwarzenegger, Weathers, and Landham as they build trip wires and traps. The second montage appears shortly in the final act, with Dutch covering himself in mud, forging a compound bow, setting more traps, lighting a torch, and screaming at the top of his lungs. This film has more testosterone than one could fill the Grand Canyon.

Between both montages is sandwiched one of the most incredible scenes. Knowing they are all marked for death, Billy makes a final stand with a machete, selflessly giving others time to escape.

Predator’s pacing is breakneck but never seems to rush. The sound design, the effects, and the visuals are such an exquisite assault on the senses. The film oozes with energy and vibrance. That is the strength of Predator; it fires on all cylinders.

While its successors may not have reached the same heights as the original, the franchise is full of second chances. Hulu will be releasing a prequel named Prey in August 2022.