FAQ for
Predator (1987)

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Predator can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093773/parentalguide.

No. Predator is based on a script by screenwriters Jim and John Thomas. The story goes that the Thomases wrote the screenplay after hearing a joke that Rocky Balboa had run out of earthly opponents and would need to fight an alien if a Rocky V movie was going to be made. Hence, they came up with a script for Predator.

The original concept for the Predator was a shape-shifting monster who carried a spear gun. This concept was found too difficult to film, so it was scrapped. However, a good bit of the footage was filmed with this concept in mind, and was kept even after the creature design was changed into the version seen in the movie. The shot of Blaine being hit in the shoulder was a leftover shot and shows the original weapon being used...if you watch the DVD and slow it down, you can clearly see the blade-like weapon slicing through the top of his shoulder. Correction: there was no spear gun used. The Predator shot the animal that Blaine was looking at to get him to turn around. His plasma cannon was fired, hit the animal, it exploded on Blaine, and he turned around and was hit too. He is sprayed with blood in the shot, not cut with a weapon

No. The log was a counterweight for a spike trap Dutch had set up. He had cut wooden stakes and tied them to a log over the top of a ditch, and set a trip wire under it. The wire was tied to the log. The idea was that when the Predator tripped the wire, he'd be hoisted up and slammed into the spikes. When Dutch tried to sucker him into it, he almost fell for it, but saw the spikes at the last second and went around. Unfortunately for him, he stopped and stood over Dutch directly under the log counterweight, so Dutch tripped the trap himself, dropping the log on the Predator and disabling him.

It is never explained fully. But it is suggested they feed on them. Possibly on victims not worthy to be trophies. Another possibility is that hanging and skinning is to the Predator as hanging and skinning is to any hunter...field dressing of the prey.

On the special edition DVD you can see a deleted scene. The Predator deliberately Missing dutch with his lazer cannon and some other test footage with the original creature. Strange looking thing with one eye.

The Predator shows his trophies on screen but only showed three of them and their were seven members including Dutch. It's likely he collected trophies from all six of them but did not show all of them. The skull with the hole in it was definetly Poncho's because he was shot in the head the others are unknown, the other two were probably Billy because we see the Predator rip Billy's spine out of his back and clean the skull and the other was probably Blain's since the Predator came into their camp to get his body.

Others thing the skull with the hole in the head was Mac's, but he wasn't shot in the head, he was shot in the chest. The angle he was on, caused the exit wound to burst out through the back of his neck, which is why the blood appears to burst out from his head. This is supported by the shot of him laying dead when Dillon finds him. He has a big hole in his chest but his head is unmarked.

The targeter appeared to give off heat so he was probably cleaning them heating the blood off or heating them up so he could sharpen them.

Major Dutch Schaeffer: Team Leader

Billy: Scout/Tracker

Mac: Sergeant, 2nd in command/Assault.

Poncho: Demolitions/Translator (possibly medic)

Hawkins: Radio Operator (possible medic)

Blaine: Heavy Weapon Support

Dillon: CIA Agent. Mission Supervisor.