Predator 2 Movie Review

Released: 21st November 1990 (US)

Length: 108 Minutes

Certificate: 18

Director: Stephen Hopkins

Starring: Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, Bill Paxton, Robert Davi and Kevin Peter Hall

Having introduced one of the most iconic monsters in cinema, Predator continues to thrill decades after its release. Three years on and Predator 2 was put out to a critical thrashing and a somewhat strong cult status. It’s a wild, over-the-top production but falls short as a follow-up to the creature’s far superior debut.

Taking place in 1997, Predator 2 is set on the battered streets of Los Angeles; a vicious drug war has consumed the city with the police desperately struggling to contain the chaos. Amid the carnage, another Predator arrives on Earth and it takes an interest in Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover); as the body count begins to pile up, Harrigan works to unravel the true nature of the newcomer alongside team members Danny (Ruben Blades), Leona (Maria Conchita Alonso) and Jerry (Bill Paxton). Predator 2 offers the same action-horror blend of the original but within a sub-genre; the police drama. It’s a formula that has been used for years in crime films but for the Predator this can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s a great fit for the city environment, an urban jungle used to deliver a different kind of hunt. But on the other, the cop drama gives way to a lot of clichés and a more inconsistent tone. One minute the characters are swearing in every other sentence and the next they’re trying to pull some more serious drama into the mix. This wild mix of tones does deliver some mindless entertainment but for a Predator film it falls short. Pacing-wise, things feel a bit hackneyed as well; the film’s action doesn’t come at a consistent clip and while the final encounter does feel climatic, it does leave you wishing the film had done more to build up to this moment. It simply can’t keep you gripped the way the first film could.

It doesn’t help that the characters also pale in comparison. Danny Glover capably embraces Harrigan; he’s no Dutch Schafer but the police lieutenant is still a worthy opponent to the monster with a fair few memorable moments for his character. The other characters don’t fare as well however; Harrigan’s teammates all fill in the quotas of old friend, tough-as-nails officer and comic relief respectively. These are tried-and-true caricatures but for a Predator film they rarely show any major differences that set them apart from each other. At least Gary Busey is entertaining as the slimy Peter Keyes, whose true colours are revealed as the film goes on. The dialogue doesn’t always work either; again, the police sub-genre gives way to a lot of samey conversations and angry confrontations. There is a lot of swearing in Predator 2 and where it added to the awesome moments in the original film, here it feels unneeded. Ironically, it’s Kevin Peter Hall who makes the biggest impression here; yet again his portrayal of the Predator is excellent, even if the monster is occasionally burdened with some crappy lines.

Matching the wilting heatwave of its setting, Predator 2’s aesthetics make for a very drab and grotty look that reflects the filthy drug war contained therein, while also being very off-putting for general audiences. The film is often drenched in blood and sweat as the action heats up, often even more so than the monster’s original outing. The special effects for the creature itself are still great, particularly the cloaking effect and all the new gadgets given to the monster this time around work very well at expanding its abilities and hunting prowess. The costume work and makeup are equally strong for the antagonist; as we see the monster a lot more in this film, the producers put extra effort into showing us the finer details of its composition. Good stunt work and a barrage of bullets work to sell the action scenes and while the more creative angles in the cinematography are few and far between, Predator 2 is still well helmed when it comes to camerawork. The final piece of the puzzle is a handful of great set designs, the highlight of which coming at the film’s final moments as Harrigan enters the monster’s lair.

Predator 2 makes many contributions to the creature’s lore and mythos, but it also takes quite a few steps backwards; the plot and characters stick out for how inconsistent they are and at many points the film feels a bit too silly and sleazy for its own good. Fans will still get something out of it, but the general viewer will be left expecting better.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars (Mediocre)