(1987)
Directed by- John McTiernan
Written by- Jim & John Thomas, Shane Black
*Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Richard Chaves, Bill Duke, Kevin Peter Hall
A spaceship drops a package in Central America and a rescue team (not assassins) is called to follow up.
Enter: Arnie. A mass of giant, sweaty muscles held together by tattered pieces of cloth, that speaks. He meets old pal Dillon and they share the single most epic handshake in the history of cinema. As two bulging, glistening biceps fill the screen you realize what's coming your way in the next hour and forty minutes.
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| Arnie's biceps are a country on their own. |
Predator is a testosterone-fueled killfest which follows soldiers hunting outlaws being hunted by an unknown, inhuman killer themselves. McTiernan expertly builds the tension as the film progresses, teasing us with glimpses of the alien creature but never fully showing his hand.
Yes, there is a ridiculously cheesy double-crossing government conspiracy plot thrown in for good measure, but who cares when your eyes are fixed on Arnold sweating, crawling, smeared in mud, flexing, tree-bending, never bleeding and war-crying as he shares blows with an eight-foot hunter from outer space?
The whole film is solely based on the machismo of its lead and never bothers itself with finer, unnecessary details like surnames or characterization. Jump cuts and explosions take control of this unabashed celebration of pure manliness.With some neat special effects for its time and fine direction, this is an exceptionally taut thriller which cuts out all the unnecessary bullshit, accepts that its lead can't act for shit, and is therefore, pretty sorted in what it's gunning for: an unstoppable carnage of bullets, bushes and sheer 'manpower'.
The ultimate revelation of the titular antagonist is a moment which reaches Keyser Soze-levels of jaw-dropping awe.
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| Are you not entertained? |
Rating- 4.1/5
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