The Predator Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Aliens fight aliens, humans make bad jokes, and a kid saves the world by playing with alien tech he found in the mail, all while a government agent REALLY wants to know if human DNA is derived from predator DNA.

🍿 The Predator: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Initial Encounter and Capture

Army Ranger Quinn McKenna encounters a Predator during a hostage rescue mission in Mexico. He manages to incapacitate the alien and sends pieces of its armor back home as evidence. This act sets off a chain of events involving government agencies and other Predators.

The Loonies and the Scientist

McKenna is captured and placed on a bus with a group of mentally unstable veterans, humorously dubbed “The Loonies.” Meanwhile, evolutionary biologist Casey Bracket is recruited to study the captured Predator. The alien soon escapes, leading the group to band together to stop it.

Rory and the Predator Tech

McKenna’s autistic son, Rory, discovers the Predator armor sent home by his father. Rory’s unique abilities allow him to decipher the alien technology, unknowingly making him a target. The Predator seeks to retrieve its lost equipment, escalating the conflict.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook): A former Army Ranger sniper who discovers the Predators and becomes humanity’s unlikely defender against them.
• Rory McKenna (Jacob Tremblay): Quinn’s autistic son who possesses a unique ability to understand and interact with Predator technology.
• Casey Brackett (Olivia Munn): An evolutionary biologist recruited by the government to study the Predator, ultimately joining forces with McKenna.
• Nebraska Williams (Trevante Rhodes): An ex-Marine and part of McKenna’s ragtag team, providing unwavering support and combat skills against the Predators.
• Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key): A military veteran with a dark sense of humor, who becomes part of McKenna’s team of ‘loonies’.
• Traeger (Sterling K. Brown): A ruthless government agent who seeks to control and weaponize the Predators, demonstrating a disregard for human life.
• Ultimate Predator (Brian A. Prince): A genetically enhanced and larger Predator who hunts down the rogue Predator and humans, serving as the film’s primary antagonist.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Traeger: “Large, fast, and f***ing you up is their idea of tourism.” – Traeger describes what the Predators do when they come to Earth.
• Casey Bracket: “That’s not a predator, that’s a sports hunter.” – Casey analyzes the Predator’s behavior, suggesting it hunts for sport rather than survival.
• Coyle: “We’re the Loonies! ” – Coyle tells the team they are the loonies, as the team gears up for the battle against the super predator.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $88,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $51,024,708
• Worldwide Gross: $160,542,134

💥 The Predator Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this movie with pretty low expectations after reading all the reviews, but honestly, I had some fun. The action was pretty wild, and there were some genuinely funny moments. Sure, it’s not a masterpiece, and it definitely doesn’t live up to the original, but if you’re just looking for a cheesy, gory action movie to switch your brain off to, this could fit the bill. I will say, I was a bit confused by some of the plot choices, especially involving the kid, but whatever, explosions!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of action-horror movies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy Shane Black’s directorial style (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3)”
  • “Those looking for a gory and violent sci-fi film”
  • “People who appreciate dark humor and irreverent characters”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Intense violence and gore”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Brief sexual references”
  • “Depiction of characters with mental health issues”

Professional Reviews

• IGN: “The Predator isn’t a terrible movie, but it’s a disappointing one. It’s got some fun action and decent humor, but it never quite lives up to the legacy of the original. It feels like it tries to do too much, and as a result, doesn’t do any one thing particularly well. A missed opportunity.
• Variety: “Shane Black brings his signature wit and action to The Predator, but the story struggles to find a balance between humor and horror. The movie has moments of brilliance, but overall it feels uneven and tonally inconsistent.
• Empire: “Shane Black delivers a fun, action-packed flick, but it might not be enough Predator for some fans. The human characters are entertaining, but the predator action, while good, feels somewhat secondary.

Audience Reactions

Some found the movie entertaining due to its humor and action.: The cast chemistry and some of the action sequences were appreciated by some viewers.

Many fans were disappointed, finding the movie to be tonally inconsistent and disrespectful to the original.: Fans hated the comedic aspects and CGI.

Overall Consensus: The Predator (2018) is a divisive film that attempts to blend Shane Black’s signature humor with the Predator franchise’s action and horror elements. While some viewers found it entertaining, many were disappointed by its inconsistent tone, convoluted plot, and perceived disrespect to the original movie.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Shane Black, who directed this film, also appeared in the original Predator (1987) as Hawkins.”
• “The film underwent significant reshoots, particularly to the third act, after negative test screenings.”
• “Several actors from the original Predator were considered for cameos, but ultimately did not appear.”
• “The initial script included Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as Dutch, but he declined due to the script’s direction.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Predator?

The Predator (2018) is available to stream on platforms such as Hulu (with a subscription) and can be rented or purchased on demand from services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability as it may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Predator, you might like these similar films:

• Predator (1987): The original that started it all, setting the standard for the Predator franchise.
• Aliens (1986): A group of soldiers face off against an alien threat.
• Predators (2010): A group of human combatants are transported to the Predator homeworld to be hunted as game.
• Upgrade (2018): A man is bio-mechanically enhanced to seek revenge, similar to the ‘Predator Killer’ concept.

🛒 The Predator Related Products

• NECA Predator (Ultimate Fugitive Predator) 7″ Action Figure: Highly detailed and articulated action figure of the Fugitive Predator from the movie. Comes with multiple accessories, including interchangeable hands and weapons. A must-have for Predator collectors.
• Predator: Hunters III: A comic book series that expands the Predator universe. Delve deeper into the lore and discover new stories featuring the iconic hunter.
• Predator Movie Poster: A high-quality print of The Predator movie poster. Perfect for decorating your home theater or gaming room.
• Predator Board Game: Concrete Jungle: A board game where one player takes on the role of the Predator, hunting down a squad of elite soldiers controlled by other players. Asymmetric gameplay captures the thrill of the hunt.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Predator features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Theme from Predator” – performed by Alan Silvestri
• “The Hunt” – performed by Harry Gregson-Williams

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Everything Wrong With The Predator (2018)

Wondering how many flaws there are in ‘The Predator (2018)’? This video gives an amusing perspective on the film’s shortcomings in a lighthearted manner.

THE PREDATOR | How to Ruin a Franchise | EXPLORED

Curious how ‘The Predator (2018)’ may have impacted the franchise’s legacy? This video delves into the movie’s reception and its possible consequences.

The Predator | Holiday Special | 20th Century FOX

Check out this stop-motion animated short where The Predator faces off against an unexpected opponent – Santa Claus! It’s a creative and entertaining take on the Predator mythos.

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