April 25, 2021
'Predator'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Shea Serrano, and Kyle Brandt ain't got time to bleed while rewatching the 1987 action classic 'Predator,' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Bill Duke.
Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan 'Dutch' Schaefer
Carl Weathers as Dillon
Jesse Ventura as Blaine Cooper
Bill Duke as Mac
Sonny Landham as Billy Sole
Shane Black as Hawkins
Elpidia Carrillo as Anna
Directed by: John McTiernan
Written by: Jim Thomas & John Thomas
Music by: Alan Silvestri
Produced by: Joel Silver
Notes
- $15 million budget, made $98 million at the box office. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
- The script originated from a joke in Hollywood after 'Rocky IV': 'Rocky's going to have to fight an alien because there's nobody left.'
- Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the 'Predator' but was fired – at least six conflicting accounts of what happened exist.
- The original 'Predator' suit completely failed, halting production. Stan Winston was brought in and redesigned it.
- Shane Black (already one of the most famous screenwriters in Hollywood) was cast as an actor; the producers hoped he'd do free rewrites, but he refused. Legend has it they killed his character off first as revenge.
- Two cast members became state governors: Arnold Schwarzenegger (California) and Jesse Ventura (Minnesota). Sonny Landham also ran for governor of Kentucky.
- The studio's insurance company required a bodyguard to be hired for Sonny Landham – to protect OTHER PEOPLE from him.
- The Predator's blood was Mountain Dew mixed with glow sticks and KY Jelly.
- Kevin Peter Hall (who played the 'Predator') also appears as the helicopter pilot at the end. He tragically died at 35 from HIV contracted via a blood transfusion.
- The 'Predator' only has about 8 minutes of actual screen time in the suit.
- Arnold wore a Seiko diver's watch (nicknamed 'the Arnold') – his third film wearing it; highly sought after by collectors.
- Schwarzenegger pranked Ventura – had wardrobe tell Ventura his arms measured one inch bigger than Arnold's.
- 5 AM competitive weightlifting sessions between the cast. The phrase 'manly men' was coined during the shoot.
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“Predator moves at a breakneck pace, strong and simple characterizations, good location photography, terrific special effects. And it supplies what it claims to supply – an effective action movie.”
Most re-watchable scene
- Shooting into the jungle – guys being dudes, 90 seconds of gunfire that accomplishes nothing (Shea Serrano).
- Dutch vs. the 'Predator' at the end – first time Arnold faced someone bigger and stronger (Kyle Brandt).
- The slasher movie sequence when the 'Predator' picks them off one by one (Chris Ryan).
- The guys getting off the chopper – the Zapruder scene of wardrobe choices (Chris Ryan).
What aged the best?
- First sight of Arnold in the helicopter smoking a cigar.
- Arnold's 12-second primal battle cry.
- Jesse Ventura's gun – Old Painless as a movie prop.
- The one-liners: 'Get to the chopper,' 'Stick around,' 'If it bleeds we can kill it'.
- Sonny Landham – authentically rugged, indelible screen presence.
- The score by Alan Silvestri.
- The Predator's heat vision / thermal POV.
- Stan Winston saving the production with the new 'Predator' suit.
- The structure – Arnold steps aside for an hour, then returns for the final 30 minutes one-on-one.
What aged the worst?
- 'Predator' 2 as a sequel.
- Hawkins' girlfriend jokes.
- The mud disguise – Arnold touches mud for 2 seconds, next shot he's completely covered.
- The hostage character (Anna) – underdeveloped and purpose unclear.
Casting what-ifs
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as the 'Predator' (he was cast and fired – at 5'9" he was too small).
- Bill Paxton as Hawkins (replacing Shane Black).
Best "that guy"
- R.G. Armstrong as the general (Bill Simmons pick).
- Richard Chavez as Poncho.
- Elpidia Carrillo as Anna.
Over-acting award
Bill Duke – 'I'm gonna have me some fun' / when he loses his mind and embraces hunting the 'Predator'.
Best "heat check" performance
- Carl Weathers / Dillon – gets his arm blown off and keeps shooting (Shea Serrano).
- Sonny Landham / Billy (Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan).
- Jesse Ventura / Blaine – 'ain't got time to bleed,' Old Painless, insane death (Bill Simmons).
Re-casting couch
Shane Black / Hawkins – replace with Bill Paxton (Hicks energy from Aliens) or a young Damon Wayans type.
Half-assed (internet) research
- Entire crew had diarrhea the whole shoot.
- Filming in the Mexican jungle – cold, needed heat lamps, bugs, leeches, disgusting water.
- The last third of the movie was essentially reshot.
- Peter Cullen did the Predator's voice – based on a dying horseshoe crab sound.
Apex Mountain
- Arnold Schwarzenegger – No for Arnold himself, but Yes for Arnold movies.
- Jesse Ventura – Yes.
- Sonny Landham – Yes.
- Bill Duke – No (Deep Cover is his apex).
- Carl Weathers – debated; great highlight reel but has 'Rocky' and 'Happy Gilmore'.
- Jungle aliens – Yes.
Picking nits
- MythBusters proved covering yourself in mud does NOT conceal body heat.
- The 'Predator' traveled across the galaxy but doesn't know about mud.
- Old Painless is completely unnecessary for a quiet stealth extraction mission.
- The opening spaceship shot is gratuitous – would have been better without it.
- The same weapon that blows Dylan's arm off just bounces off Dutch's chest.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- Did Billy have superpowers?
- Is this the movie The Rock is most jealous of?
- What was the Predator's endgame – exploration or hunting trip?
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
- The M-134 minigun aka Old Painless (Bill Simmons).
- Mac's razor (Chris Ryan).
- Mac/Bill Duke's flask (Kyle Brandt).
- The 'Predator' mask (Shea Serrano).
Who won the movie?
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (Bill Simmons, Shea Serrano, Chris Ryan).
- Bill Duke / Mac – best actor in the movie with the full character arc (Kyle Brandt).