‘The Predator’

‘THE Predator’ (2018) returns in an eponymous sequel although not without some mocking from the film’s lead characters.

Remarking that technically predators are creatures that kill to survive while the aliens hunt humans for sport, the film is heavy on the quips but less so on coherence.

Directed by Shane Black (‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, ‘Iron Man 3’ and ‘Lethal Weapon’), ‘The Predator’ begins when the alien’s ship crash lands on earth, it’s robbed of its technology and proceeds to wreak murderous havoc in an attempt to get it back. Standing in its way is a gang of military misfits, traumatised veterans who twitch, rib and wisecrack their way through the Predator’s pursuit.

An erratic outing starring Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K Brown, Alfie Allen and Thomas Jane, the winning ensemble does much to elevate a film that, at times, seems blindly cobbled together.

True to the franchise in its ultraviolence, green blood and gore, ‘The Predator’ is a reboot 31 years into the canon with glaring gaps, some mess about casting and then editing out a sex offender – and very little to show for it.

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