Without outright saying it, Predators basically forgets that Predator 2, Alien Vs. Predator (AVP) and Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem ever existed. Exactly like Aliens is to Alien, Predators is to Predator.
As you can tell from the Predators trailer, a group of eight humans unexpectedly wake up on a planet used by the Predators for human hunting. It is often referred to as a “gaming preserve.” Working as a team, the hunted become the hunters as they try to find a way off the alien planet.
The only big problem with Predators lies within how much that trailer reveals. Because we already know that much just from the trailer, the first third of the movie is pointless. That portion of the film is dedicated to showing the characters try to discover where they are and why they are there – which we, the audience, already know. When the characters come to that realization, it is supposed to be shocking – but since we already know it, it is pointless.
Fans of the original Predator, beware. This is a Robert Rodriguez script, meaning it feels like a Robert Rodriguez movie. One fight in particular is very over-the-top in a Rodriguez sort of way. If you don’t like or are not familiar with his style, you might find it too absurd to be enjoyed. For those that like his style, get ready to love it.
If you disliked Predator 2 and the AVP movies as much as most people did, know that Predators erases their very existence from the Predator cannon. You will finally have the bad taste removed from your mouth by a movie worthy of donning the Predator title.
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
