As a seasoned movie buff with over three decades of cinema-watching under my belt, I must say that The Predator leaves me feeling like a prey, rather than the predator, when it comes to understanding its place within this iconic franchise.
The less favorably reviewed Predator sequel is experiencing a revival due to its Netflix debut this month, and is nearly at the top of the worldwide movie chart. Although it hasn’t been released in the U.S. (where it can be found on Hulu because of the franchise now being owned by Disney), it has discovered a new fanbase on the platform globally…however, it still hasn’t gained much praise from critics.
Eight years following the generally successful 2010 film “Predators,” The Predator sought to rejuvenate the series. The narrative unfolds between the incidents depicted in the ’90s movie, Predator 2, and that film’s events. It centers around a squad of soldiers and a scientist as they endeavor to uncover the extraterrestrial race’s intentions for Earth and its inhabitants in the future. The crashed Predators on Earth were found to have traces of human DNA in their genetic structure, implying that they aim to advance themselves by experimenting with genetic engineering, potentially creating a hybrid species.
The film encountered several production problems, faced some contentious debates concerning its plotline and character choices, and ultimately failed to resonate with viewers. As of now, The Predator holds a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating of 34% and a Popcornmeter score of 32%, which places it second from the top in terms of audience feedback within the series.
The film was initially unveiled in 2014, and a preliminary glimpse into its production emerged two years after. Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, the actor apparently declined the part because it was deemed too minor. Yet, this wasn’t the main obstacle that hindered the movie’s progression. Instead… (the biggest challenges arose during the film’s development)
The Troubled Production of The Predator
Few films experience trouble-free production, and The Predator undeniably faced some challenges. The casting of Steve Wilder, a friend of director Shane Black, in a minor role stirred up controversy because Wilder had been on the sex offender registry since 2010 for grooming a 14-year-old girl. In the movie, his character flirted with Olivia Munn’s character, but once she learned about his past, she asked for the scene to be removed. At first, Black defended his choice, but later apologized when faced with public criticism. As a result, the scene was ultimately deleted from the film.
The movie was criticized for its representations of autism as well, with critics arguing that it portrays individuals with autism as an evolutionary advancement in humans. The film’s handling of the subject was heavily criticized by many reviewers, including the New York Post, who described the depiction of autism as a “questionable scientific theory that is likely to anger parents.
Despite setting aside any disputes, it’s clear that the film The Predator seemed destined for failure. Reports suggest that test screenings were so unsatisfactory that the ending was revised and reshot in July 2018, a mere two months before its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of the same year. For the most part, some cost savings could have been achieved, as the movie’s conclusion turned out to be only a minor aspect of the overall disappointing addition to the franchise.
Initially after the premiere of “The Predator,” there were indications that Fox was keen for Black to direct at least one sequel. However, due to its disappointing box office performance, negative criticism, and the merger between Fox and Disney, these plans were abandoned. Contrastingly, in 2022, it was Dan Trachtenberg who presented a new installment. This film garnered the best reviews across the entire franchise, even outshining the original from 1987, which paved the way for Trachtenberg to start working on another sequel that is currently in development.
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2024-10-10 17:31