Stars: 3.5/5

Written and directed by one of the cast members of the 1987 original, “The Predator” does an exceptional job at capturing the key elements of the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic.

Much like the original, “The Predator” sees a group of highly-trained soldiers fighting an extraterrestrial game-hunter. However, instead of a South American jungle, the action takes place in a Virginia suburb. Not only does “The Predator” breathe new life into a series that has grown stagnant, it also deftly handles references to previous films. Schwarzenegger’s now iconic and constantly parodied “Get to the choppa!” line is referenced hilariously by Nebraska Williams (Trevante Rhodes), only in reference to motorcycles instead of a helicopter.

The film also interjects much more comedy into the dialogue, as opposed to the gruff, testosterone-filled, ‘80s action of the original. Much of the humor comes from the quick-witted Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key) and Baxley (Thomas Jane). The two play off of each other surprisingly well, and their ability to bounce jokes off one another helps distinguish them as actual characters.

If there is one thing “The Predator” does better than the original, it is character development. In the original “Predator,” there was Schwarzenegger, “Rocky” star Carl Weathers and a bunch of other men whose sole purpose was to add to the body count before Schwarzenegger finally killed the titular hunter. But, the characters now develop beyond the way they meet their fate.

There was the genuine sense of remorse that all of the characters possessed as soldiers haunted by their experiences in war. The actors expertly portrayed their characters as out-of-touch back among civilians, only seeming to be at ease with a gun in their hands. The interactions between the characters feels real, as if they are the only people who understand each other through their shared experiences in war.

If “The Predator” suffers from anything, it is the introduction of a secondary, unnecessary villain in the form of a secret branch of the U.S. government. The Predator itself is an incredibly dangerous and skilled hunter and is a menacing enough villain on its own. The conflict of the movie should be the soldiers versus the Predator, not the soldiers versus the government and the Predator. The introduction of the government as a secondary antagonist adds a useless conflict that only serves to give the Predator more people to kill.

Overall, the movie does a superb job of acknowledging its roots, but not just repeating a film that we have already seen. “The Predator” is a good film for fans of the action genre, and it’s a must-see for fans of the iconic Schwarzenegger original.