We forget that John McTiernan’s Predator (1987) wasn’t just a balls-to-the-wall violent horror film, but it was also playful. What made the film so unforgettable was the cast of characters, all who were unique, fun and relatable. People overlook that Shane Black, who wrote and directed this month’s The Predator, also did onset rewrites while he co-starred in the original (it’s actually the main reason he was cast in the film). It’s also the reason that this new film looks whimsical, fun, and filled with banter. It’s also why the trailers and promotional materials have been so confused – does 20th Century Fox sell this as a comedy or a horror film? Within the past few weeks, they’ve found their sweet spot.
The final red band trailer delivered the bloody goods, while also looking genuinely entertaining. Now, fresh TV spots are zeroing in on Black’s sensibilities and giving us a look at just how amusing this new “team” is going to be. Check out this goldmine of a commercial…
In theaters September 14, 2018, the film stars Jacob Tremblay, Olivia Munn, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Alfie Allen and Yvonne Strahovski. Jake Busey plays the son of Gary Busey’s Predator 2 character.
In the sequel, “From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home in Shane Black’s explosive reinvention of the Predator series. Now, the universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a young boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.”