Predator (1987)

A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.

Director:

John McTiernan

Writers:

Jim Thomas, John Thomas

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Dutch
Carl Weathers	...	Dillon
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Anna
Bill Duke	...	Mac
Jesse Ventura	...	Blain
Sonny Landham	...	Billy
Richard Chaves	...	Poncho
R.G. Armstrong	...	General Phillips
Shane Black	...	Hawkins
Kevin Peter Hall	...	The Predator / Helicopter Pilot

Storyline

A team of special force ops, led by a tough but fair soldier, Major "Dutch" Schaefer, are ordered to assist CIA man, Colonel Al Dillon, on a rescue mission for potential survivors of a Helicopter downed over remote South American jungle. Not long after they land, Dutch and his team discover that they have been sent in under false pretenses. This deception turns out to be the least of their worries though, when they find themselves being methodically hunted by something not of this world.

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Plot Keywords:

jungle | commando mission | survival | guerrilla base | hunting people | 

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Taglines:

It came for the thrill of the hunt. It picked the wrong man to hunt.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish Russian

Release Date:

12 June 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alien Hunter

Filming Locations:

Sierra Madre del Sur de Oaxaca, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,031,638, 14 June 1987

Gross USA:

$59,735,548

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$98,399,956

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Lawrence Gordon Productions, Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) (4 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Arnold Schwarzenegger posed for photos with the snake around his shoulders.

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Goofs

The snake that crawls down towards the guys is slithering down a metal pole when we see it in close-up, instead of the tree we see in the previous shot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Major General Phillips: You're looking good, Dutch.
Dutch: It's been a long time, General.
Major General Phillips: Come on inside.

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Crazy Credits

All the 7 main cast members re-appear in ascending order as their names are displayed to give a smile to the audience in appreciation.

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Alternate Versions

In the 1991 ITV broadcast of the film, some violent scenes and bad language were cut for censorship and for time: Mac warning Dillon that he'll bleed him, if he gives up his position again. The decapitation of Dillon's right arm and his demise. The Predator ripping out Billy's skull and spine and Dutch calling the Predator "You One Ugly Motherfucker!" when The Predator removes it's mask.

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Connections

Referenced in Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)

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Soundtracks

LONG TALL SALLY
Performed by Little Richard
Written by Little Richard (as R. Penniman), Enotris Johnson (as E. Johnson) and Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell (as R. Blackwell)
Courtesy of Specialty Records

User Reviews

Very, very tense and murderously suspenseful

First of all, if you haven't seen this action, suspense and violence extravaganza, you most certainly are not a true action movie afficionado. The immediate grabbing feature of this movie is its score, very imaginatively composed and created by Alan Silvestri whose other credits include the Back to the Future series and other gems like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The tempo and build up which the score lends to the film engage its viewers with feelings of fear and nerve wracking suspense for what lurks within the thick of the forest. Take note of Sonny Landham's comment;"there's something out there,and it ain't no man.

The action is fast, furious and merciless. The commandos are killed off one by one, leaving Arnie, Carl Weathers and the surviving members extremely terrified and on the verge of breaking down. Note the heated arguments that some of the commandos get into with each other. There is very animated and fiery action in the beginning (assault on the terrorist camp) but as we are introduced to the true terror of the jungle (or should I say, outer space), the action takes a turn for the more insane eg.Arnie running away armed only with a knife and trembling in fear, almost drowning in a waterfall and thereafter, continually pursued by the Predator). All this followed by a half hour long jungle battle mano a mano with spears, rocks and fists and hall deafening yells by both warriors. Very, very fierce and macho stuff I assure you all.

I shall not go into the other intricacies of the film and will leave it to the curiosity of potential/virgin viewers to find out for themselves. "Predator" is essentially one of the few action movies that truly lives up to its name and delivers the thrills and spills in no small amount and at breakneck speed. True connoisseurs of hard action.....YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!! 9.5/10