Jonathan F.
Doing too much real life stuff. I just wanted to see Predator
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
11/04/25
Full Review
Moody C
Not enough star power here and feels more like a B comedy. It's not too bad and special unit trying to capture monster is an interesting subplot. Very watchable and funny and deserves higher score.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/28/25
Full Review
Brandito J
People were too harsh on this one. Compared to The Predator, Predators and AVP. It was a masterpiece. Sure it sucked there was no Arnold Schwarzenegger returning; but once I accepted that he won't be ever, I got over it.
Danny Glover and Gary Busey did a great job on this one. The concept of a "Yautja" hunting for sport in the urban jungle was the right move. The only thing missing for a total package would have been a scene were a swat team has the misfortune of getting it's attention to hunt them.
Some of the effects used are a smidge dated but still hold true.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
10/27/25
Full Review
Fix F
When Predator 2 hit theaters, it faced near-universal criticism, unable to escape the shadow of its near-perfect predecessor. Sequels to iconic films often struggle to measure up, but over time, Predator 2 has earned a loyal following—and it’s easy to see why. Though it doesn’t quite match the original’s brilliance, this gritty sequel boasts enough merits and iconic moments to stand tall. Let’s dive into what makes it shine and where it stumbles.
Set in a dystopian 1997 Los Angeles (that would still be an improvement to the state of current day California), Predator 2 paints a gritty urban warzone where drug gangs and an overwhelmed police force clash. The setup is a standout, yet the film misses a golden opportunity by sticking too closely to the action-horror formula of the original, emphasis on action. A pivot to detective-noir genre with horror and action accents where Harrigan is a different kind of hunter to Dutch, using his detective skills to track a “mysterious vigilante” could’ve elevated it, much like how the novelization postulates police as a sort of hunter. Instead, it often feels like Predator 1 transplanted to a city, leaning on nostalgia with callbacks like the face reveal. The third act, especially after Harrigan’s CIA T-bone, falters with uneven pacing and tonal shifts. A tighter climax, perhaps in the subway tunnels as an unused soundtrack song called ‘Tunnel Chase’ hints at, could’ve avoided those missteps and delivered a fresher payoff. It also seems like a miss to not have the gangs and police form an uneasy alliance to face-off against this common foe, something akin to what happens in the Dark Knight. Still, the film shines in many ways: the intense action, vivid setting, and smart lore expansion, like the Predator’s culture, weapons, and hunting code are top-notch. The train fight, with its clever lighting and pulse-pounding horror, is a highlight, boosted by Bill Paxton’s iconic moment (you know the one). If the film had leaned harder into Harrigan’s detective skills and tightened the ending, it could’ve recaptured more of the original’s tension. Even so, these strengths make Predator 2 a fun ride all the same.
The characters in Predator 2 range from solid to underdeveloped, but thankfully, none are forced into completely dumb decisions just to push the plot. Mike Harrigan, played by a fiery Danny Glover, is a hotheaded cop battling thin resources and bureaucratic red tape. Fresh off Lethal Weapon, Glover’s a natural fit, though he misses a true buddy to spark the cop-duo vibe that Arnold’s could’ve filled to great effect. Still, Glover’s intensity cements him as a franchise standout. Bill Paxton, usually typecast as a sniveling wimp, shines as a cocky young officer eager to clean up the embattled LA, but he doesn’t quite fill the buddy role Harrigan needs. Rubén Blades’ Danny Archuleta feels like a plot device, driving Harrigan’s hunt for the Predator but lacking depth to make us care beyond “he’s a nice guy.” Maria Conchita Alonso’s Leona echoes Aliens’ Vasquez but serves mainly to highlight the Predator’s honor code; a hint of her personal life, like a husband/boyfriend or backstory tied to her pregnancy, could’ve added weight and even more so if this played into Harrigan’a predator fight. Gary Busey’s CIA agent Peter Keyes is gloriously unhinged, channeling wild Vietnam-era spook vibes, though his over-the-top antics stretch believability for a government operative. Adam Baldwin, the good Baldwin, is criminally underused despite his charisma and range. The cast’s high-energy, occasionally ludicrous performances might feel like overacting, but they’re a refreshing contrast to today’s often flat deliveries. With sharper dialogue and deeper character moments, this crew could’ve elevated the film even further.
Predator 2’s special effects largely carry the torch from the original, delivering a thrilling showcase of practical artistry. Kevin Peter Hall’s iconic performance in the suit makes the City Hunter feel like a living, breathing extraterrestrial, even if sharp-eyed fans might spot a slightly oversized head due to added animatronics (like that brief scene of the tongue movement). The City Hunter’s vibrant paint job pops and makes sense to the species. Why later films leaned into these terrible “variants” instead of this individuality baffles me. The expanded arsenal, from the sleek breathing mask to the upgraded medical kit, adds rich layers to the Predator’s lore, though the smart disc feels a bit too much like a cosmic Frisbee. My gripe? The film leans too hard into making the Predator a brawler rather than a cunning hunter. While the warrior culture vibe fits, later entries overdo the “tank” approach, and that problem starts here. Power scaling also stumbles: the City Hunter shrugs off multiple shotgun slugs, unlike the original’s vulnerability to a well-placed .308 round, yet Harrigan somehow holds his own in a blade lock—a stretch for a human against this obviously much stronger alien. Still, the practical effects and lore additions keep the City Hunter menacing and memorable, anchoring the film’s visual punch.
The urban sprawl of Predator 2’s 1997 Los Angeles is a gritty, vibrant setting that brims with potential, even if it’s not fully tapped. The subway slaughter sequence is a standout, oozing tension and horror as the Predator cuts loose in tight quarters. Yet, the dense, shoulder-to-shoulder cityscape sometimes undercuts the creature’s stealth, making it hard to buy that a seven-foot alien could slip to and fro unnoticed as it kills gratuitously, invisible or not. The crowded setting also limits the isolated dread that fueled the original’s horror, trading jungle shadows for neon-lit streets. Still, the city offers a playground of varied structures, rooftops, alleys, etc that could’ve been a Predator’s paradise with more creative use. No major sins here, just a sense that the setting could’ve pushed the action and horror even further, amplifying the film’s already bold vibe.
Predator 2 undeniably radiates iconic energy, carving out a lasting pop culture footprint. It inspired the video game Concrete Jungle and birthed some great comic book spinoffs, proving its influence beyond the screen. The dialogue delivers quotable zingers that stick, but the real showstopper is Bill Paxton’s cocky officer facing off against the Predator—checking off one of his legendary trifecta of Alien, Predator, and Terminator showdowns. While it may not outshine the original’s mythic status, the film’s mark on gaming, comics, and genre history is impossible to ignore.
Predator 2’s score, a remix of Alan Silvestri’s classic, tweaks the original with added bongos to some songs and trimmed instruments to others. It’s a slight step down from the first film’s near-perfect pulse but still packs a punch, fitting the urban chaos. A bolder genre shift or fresh soundtrack might’ve elevated it further, as perfection is tough to top. The original rap/hip-hop tracks, while scene-appropriate, feel a bit jarring next to the orchestral intensity. Where the film truly shines is its sound design—guns thunder, cars screech, crashes hit hard, and the Predator’s iconic roar chills the spine. Everything lands with power, yet the mix stays balanced, ensuring key dialogue cuts through clearly.
For most of its one-hour-and-forty-eight-minute runtime, Predator 2 hums along with tight, engaging pacing that keeps the action and tension high. Things hit a snag, though, when Harrigan’s tunnel chase kicks off the third act. The momentum drags as the story stretches into an extended CIA subplot to capture the Predator, pulling focus from what should’ve been a swift, intense climax. The prolonged final fight doesn’t help, with Harrigan’s showdown feeling padded and the Predator’s actions veering into idiotic territory. It’s not a dealbreaker—a leaner third act with a sharper focus on the tunnel confrontation could’ve made this a slick, efficient movie. Even so, the film’s brisk pace for most of its runtime keeps it gripping.
Predator 2 is a blemished gem that I’ll gladly take for its smart lore expansion alone over other entries. The original Predator became a cultural juggernaut thanks to John McTiernan’s direction, Jim and John Thomas’ script, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s presence, and Stan Winston’s iconic creature design, setting a towering bar. While Predator 2 doesn’t reach those heights, it’s a fun ride that shines with its urban grit, cool action, and memorable moments. With expectations set for a worthy sequel rather than a masterpiece, it delivers an experience that keeps the Predator legacy alive.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/17/25
Full Review
Charlie M
Hot take I guess, but I preferred it a decent amount over the original. Cheesy 90’s stuff, but the Predator felt more threatening and interesting in this one to me.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/15/25
Full Review
Andrew
Pretty good sequel.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/06/25
Full Review
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