Review of Predators (2010) by Inaneswine — 14 Nov 2017

Three years passed between the poor Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and this, the second true sequel in the Predator franchise. And it's not until you see it that you realise what an embarrassment the AVP films really were, to both franchises. Ripping both sets of characters out of their original setting and slapping them in well-worn horror environments, they could have easily killed them off for good. Thankfully and quite rightly, Predators clearly wants nothing to do with them, and pretends it's the first Predator film since 1987's Schwarzenegger-manly-menly-man-man feast. So I'll carry out the remainder of this review as the filmmakers clearly want: as though it is.

The setting, first of all, brings us right back into the mood established by the original. It puts the creature back in its natural habitat. The jungle is where we first encountered it, and it should never really have left. The first half hour or so is very effective, and the broad and beautiful forest that surrounds our main characters never detracts from the "bottle episode" tone. The pace builds up slowly, allowing us ample time to get to know our characters. It's definitely been done better, but it's still done fairly decently here.

Oddly enough, I was almost a little disappointed when we did eventually find the titular beasts. I was so engrossed by the characters exploring their surroundings, finding out who each other was and their purpose for being there, I nearly forgot I was watching a Predator film. Nonetheless, the filmmakers have become wiser, picking up a few handy tips from the first couple of Alien films and the original '87 outing. Less is more. The fewer sightings we get of the villain, the scarier they become.

Other than a few silly plot twists here and there, Predators does a fine job of re-establishing the validity of the franchise, and functions in its own right as a tight action film with a solid cast.