The Predator 2018 * 1/2 Stars

Director: Shane Black
Year: 2018
Rated R
Rating: * 1/2 Stars
Cast: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Jacob Tremblay

Some government captives, an autistic kid, and a biologist try to defeat a couple of Predators who specialize in good old slice and dice dispatching. Body parts fly, bullets careen, blood oozes, and humans even kill each other at will in 2018's The Predator (my latest review).

In truth, I thought there would be only one of these snaggle-toothed caricatures involved (hence the conventional title). I digress because The Predator has more than one Predator and even a couple of smelly Predator canines to boot. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said in 1987, these are some "ugly motherf*ckers".

Touted as number four in the Predator film series, harboring the same style film score, and coming off as the least self-serious, "Predator" is gory, B-movie kitsch that will have you rooting for the actual Predators as opposed to the irksome buffoons trying to take them down (that can't be good). As a side persona, Thomas Jane plays "Predator's" kooky Marine veteran with cringe-worthy Tourette syndrome. Man what was he thinking.

With "Predator", director Shane Black bucks integrity and readily goes on paid holiday. He creates violent, grindhouse overtones while letting his troupers spew some of the most gawky one-liners in the history of cinema. Compared to the first three Predator entries (Predator, Predator 2, and 2010's Predators), Black's production values here are weaker, his flick is too flippant, and his special effects seem shoddy at best. If not for The Predator being associated with the long-standing Predator name, this thing would probably find itself slotted into the direct-to-video bin.

All in all, 2018's The Predator is probably one of the most erroneous sequels ever made. You know the movie feels cheesy when the actors seem overly excited just to be firing automatic weapons for the first time (at least it appeared that way). You also know that The Predator is a little misguided when an elementary school sign in one scene unintentionally reads "STDS" (oops). Finally, you know things are bad when certain trigger-happy characters look so much alike you can't tell the gov agent antagonists from the soldiering protagonists. Bottom line: On the wings of the saying "to catch a predator", I say you avoid catching this Predator at all costs. Rating: 1 and a half stars.

Written by Jesse Burleson