REVIEW: THE PREDATOR

3.5/5

Fear The Walking Dread.

107 Mins. Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, Augusto Aguilera, Jake Busey, Yvonne Strahovski & Sterling K. Brown. Director: Shane Black.

"F### yeah"! Sterling K.B. 'This Is Us' this is not! This is 'The Predator'. Dread the locks. And lord have mercy on these mercenaries. Because it's going to take an army to take down this alien. Like the marvel of an undercover, former member of the 'Black Panther' revolution tribe, a Reaver hired to track Logan's Wolverine, the actual M.F. Punisher, the purple precognitive power of Psylocke, a man who survived 'Game Of Thrones' without his d### and a guy who looks like he could bench press Arnold Schwarzenegger by 'Moonlight'. All lead in direction by one of the original 'Predator' mercs with a mouth. Not to lions, tigers and bears, oh my mention Gary Busey's kid doing his pops legacy proud. Should you be worried? "Probably"! They are all infrared marked for dead. Even the crazy Jordan Peele 'Get Out' clause of comedic partner Keegan-Michael Key. This substitute teacher has his own moviemaking career locked down, right Timofey? YEAH! But unlike Baxley's mum this isn't rated 'E' for everyone. More like 'R' for Really f###### gory and more foul mouthed than the stench of those this king of the forest leaves in its pine box wake. This 80's retro special all the way down to the homaged trailer voice-over may take you back to the nostalgia of your collective youth. But it's damn sure not for kids. Even if it does make 'Room' for the 'Wonder' of Jacob Tremblay. Not to forget the birth of 'Handmaids Tale' star Yvonne Strahovski. Almost completely unrelated, when Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel turned television series first hit published shelves, the original 'Predator' that would be released in theatres two years later was picked up by the same 20th Century Fox we now see in iconic infrared. The same film that Carl Weathers gave an arm for (the same limb he had that bicep, greased up dap close-up with Arnie's arm) like Marvel phase two and Jean Claude Damme's original motion captured Predator body couldn't give a damn for turned Arnold Schwarzenegger into a Hollywood movie megastar. Alongside that android that told us he'd return (a science fiction double act that did for Arnie what the twin fighters of 'Rambo' and 'Rocky' did for Sly). And after going against this Terminator from out of space that doesn't come from out your chest, but is more than willing to make a hat out of your ribcage, 'Lethal Weapon's' Danny Glover showed he wasn't too old for this s### against a real deadly energy gun in the riot of a uzi ton weighing, gangland riddled Los Angeles set sequel. And who could forget how much 'Pianist' Adrian Brody beefed up for the 'Predators' reboot that put him in the scope of the triangular, three red dots on his forehead (not the actual 97 dots we saw in the tease of a trailer)? Because it's easy to when it comes to the venting of those video game like 'AvP', 'Alien' mash-ups. But now with what's set to cause more confusion ordering than all those 'Fast and Furious' DVDs we have the best Predator since the time Arnold roared from the mud of the jungle and got to the chopper. You know we can't resist a reference either.

But just because it bleeds. Doesn't mean you can kill it. Because this Predator is bigger, better and has even brought his dogs with him. And you thought you wouldn't want to play fetch with those demi-mutts no matter how cool they looked? Well 'Stranger Things' have happened. And this sports hunter sounds, looks and IS cooler. No matter how ugly you think he is cloaked under all that Lil' Wayne hair. But still when it comes to the Marley's nothing hair close tops or imitates the original, iconic Predator (the reason the first movie like the original 'Alien' worked so well before CGI is because you barely saw the suggestive horrors of these terrifying creatures in claustraphobic confines, stalking their human prey, for both cost cutting and mood setting reasons) and of course the real heart of this operation...an A team of mercs. Who we only wish had to camera closing credit sign-offs to match the classic, honour roll title typography. This is a no b.s., straight shooting, all killer no filler blockbuster in a reeling season. This neon green blood next to Marvel's forthcoming, early 2000's looking 'Venom' throwback, is B-movie paradise in this jungle out there. We went from the "what sort of voodoo toy Amazon delivery is this", teaser trailer thinking this movie was going to be a turd. To being pleasantly proved wrong with the instantly rewatchable, band of red, heartbeat first full trailer and then finally not washing our hair for weeks and strapping on some football and hockey pads by the final, Snoop and Dr. Dre, 'One Shot, One Kill' one. F### yeah! But this different animal is more than his enjoyment of his heat seeking missiles and Wolverine claw. As these mercs for hire on the menu are more than just his cannon fodder to boot. Enhanced 'Logan' tough guy Boyd Holbrook is in the star-making, lead role of his life that he looks maverick, top gunner born to play. No matter how many times the Predator picks him up by his throat choke. I mean this is the the metal arm of the law who went after Pablo Escobar aswell as an ex X-Man in Netflix's 'Narcos'. And now this assassin posing a threat like it was the f###### point is the right point man to lead this band of brawny brothers about to be made mincemeat out of. So?! Does he get a cookie now? Or will Arnold just tell him to put it down? It's a good job he has the muscle of Trevante Rhodes in his Rhodey War Machine like corner, putting out matches on his tongue. The charmingly cool, chainsmoking Rhodes' Nebraska wild-man can douse any tension with his diffusing charisma. He may look like he could snap your neck like a pencil stick, but his heart weighs gold. And heavy is the crown for the Ali (Muhammad or Marhershala (who, fun fact was coincidentally in the last 'Predators' picture)) knockout third act of the 'Moonlight' big-three face. Trevante fittingly concluding this trilogy order of parts for the young to old Chiron. Following the 'Black Panther' Compton cameo of Little Alex Hibbert, before the coming age, maturing Black of Ashton Sanders in this years sequel to Denzel Washington's 'The Equalizer' too. But with a body of work as military grade as the ink in the skin of his muscular frame, Rhodes is a warrior. But that's not all the war story and scars soldier you need in this beast of a battle.

In this war zone you need a Punisher. And Thomas Jane's name doesn't just sound like he is one. Before Bernthal, he was a veteran Frank Castle to the hell for ghost making rider leather. And even though he now looks like he's retiring to the bay of Tampa, Florida with a family hopefully John Travolta won't knock off, there's still a skull under that Hawaiian shirt. And he's still crazy. Crazy good. But how about the wolf pack, prison bus breaking load rest of these rangers? As you may want to kill anyone who asks you if you've started your Christmas shopping already, but tis the season for the hunters being the hunted. Like Alfie Allen's card sharp sniper on deck, reeking of precision. Or the Key of Key and Peele, Keegan-Michael. Just as funny and credible an actor as his serious partner Peele is an Oscar heayweight. His crazy a## belongs in this Academy of heavy hitters from a fraternity of Apollo Creed's and last action heroes. As a matter of fact this whole epic, ensemble cast years from now will be considered an epic, assemble class. From 'Chasing Life's' Augusto Aguilera's biblical stinging Nettles character to the Busey family tree. And 'Handmaid's' Strahovski refusing to play housewife stereotype to the best child actor maturing on the treble in Tremblay. But for all the men going up against this machine like alien it's the outstanding Olivia Munn that goes up against it all, hammer and nail. She's more than gun-totting or ass kicking smart in this film. She's also arming up against any injustice in the real world outside this film, after she made sure a scene featuring her being hit on by an actor who unbeknownst to her at the time is a registered sex offender was cut and buried. And she's not afraid to speak out about this abhorrent oversight even if it means she does so on her own. Now that's real strength and solidarity to not just self, but others made to feel alone like the Jane Doe victim. Although now some of her co-stars as of press time have made their apologies and spoken up in her support. Like 'This Is Us' T.V. star Sterling K. Brown. An actor who has come a long way since his 'People vs. O.J. Simpson' jury duty or 'Black Panther' key cameo alongside his 'Marshall' defending co-star, Chadwick Boseman. Doing a sterling job of playing a scene-stealing and confidence strapping commander, Sterling K is more than A-OK in an arrogantly as charismatic as that infectious laugh role that is nothing like his anxious 'O.J.' lawyer, his conflicted Wakandan, or his 'This Is Us' do-good family man. This government agent is declaring martial law in this war from his aviators. And look up, as you're going to want to catch what falls out the sky too. As despite a critical casting mistake, Shane Black is back. This time behind the camera instead of the heated line of fire, after his recent run and rule of blockbusters with a kiss, bang indie feel like Ryan and Russell's 'Nice Guys' and even Marvel's 'Iron Man 3'. For some corny as hell, but entertaining as f### dumb fun. Knowing to base camp take the big action back to the small setting, dense, claustraphobic, far from the reaches of the outside world horrors of the forest, than the concrete urban jungle of L.A. There's something in those trees, exploiting weakness and tracking its prey like game. Enjoy it! Because as soon as you hear that recognisable, switch flicking, heat signature noise you know it's on. As 'The Predator' grabs you by the mandibles. Kiss Kiss, Bang, Bang...you ugly Mother######! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Predator', 'Predators', 'Alien: Covenant'.