There are few films that get me more amped than Shane Black films. The action director has made a living delivering amazing films over the years, including “The Nice Guys,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” and “Iron Man 3” since 2000. He also has written several big films, including the first two “Lethal Weapon” films in the late eighties and early nineties. Black is an excellent filmmaker that knows how to make his characters pop off the screen while amping up the action. Based on the new red band trailer for “The Predator,” it looks like we’re in for a treat.
So let’s break this down. There’s a Predator that’s just messing up everyone’s day. The team in Mexico looks like it’s led on the ground by Boyd Holbrook (“Logan“), but his team of mercs includes Keegan Michael-Key (“Key & Peele”) and Trevante Rhodes (“Moonlight”). They are hired by what appears to be a secret government team run by Sterling K. Brown (“This is Us“) to recover a ship that’s crashed on Earth. However, it appears the ship has (in what I feel can be the only right nomenclature) a Super Predator. The regular Predator monster shows up, ready to kill everyone, but now the battle will consume all our friends. Also, somehow, Olivia Munn and Jacob Tremblay are also cogs in the story, with Munn looking to play a scientist of some kind.
The plot feels pretty simple, but simple is better in these films. It’s also good that the big reveal out of the way now. What’s most exciting is that this trailer feels like “Aliens,” which took the adage “bigger is better” and made arguably the best sequel ever. If that’s the choice, that’s a brilliant move by Black and company, who are ready to kick ass and chew bubble gum (Wrong franchise, I know, but it feels apt). The cast has further depth, with Thomas Jane (“The Punisher“), Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), and Alfie Allen (“Game of Thrones“). With an awesome cast ready to spit some awesome dialogue, Black was definitely the right director to reinvigorate this franchise. The added bonus that Black was in the original (as an actor) only adds to the great narrative building around this film.
