FOOD/DRINK BEFORE SCREENING: French fries and salad
MOOD: tired
EXPECTATION OF MOVIE: low

In an effort to make my review transparent, I’ll start with the usual rundown of where my head was when I watched The Predator.

I’d spent the day traveling to attend the Toronto International Film Festival but had time to relax and eat some salad and French fries before the screening.

I admit to being tired, though – especially since the movie was a Midnight Madness event, and the film started rolling at about 12:30am.

My expectations were low since I’m not a big fan of the Predator franchise.

And unfortunately, The Predator didn’t do much to change my mind.

First, the good stuff:

Filmed in the forests and suburbs outside Vancouver, B.C., it was nice to see a familiar setting. The giant trees and open spaces are signature Northwest and made an ideal backdrop for the new story, which plays out both in nature and a neighborhood.

I also liked the cast – especially Boyd Holbrook as the leader of an unlikely group of heroes. His swagger and alpha attitude were fun and convincing. Trevante Rhodes, who you might remember from his stunning performance in Moonlight, also filled the screen.

And some of the humor worked. I laughed out loud a couple of times.

But.

I thought the rest of the movie was a jumbled mess.

First and foremost, the script breaks a lot of its own rules. For instance, it establishes a young boy with autism (played by the always-adorable Vancouver native Jacob Tremblay) as having sensory issues – when a fire alarm goes off at school, he’s unable to cope.

But later, when he’s surrounded by loud, rapid-fire gunshots, he’s fine.

And that’s just one example of many.

Also – the Predator isn’t really scary anymore because there’s no suspense. We see him from head to toe, mask on and off, virtually from the film’s outset. You're more likely to get Halloween costume ideas than feel remotely terrified.

And did I mention The Predator (singular) is actually about TWO Predators (plural?) Or that one of them has dogs? Predator dogs. Who play fetch.

I mean.

Listen, I don’t mind meaningless action films if they’re a great ride. And I’m willing to suspend disbelief for a story that works.

But The Predator missed both marks for me.

So, my review for The Predator is: MEH. It just didn’t move the needle for me.

I will say if you're a fan of the original, give it a try - there are some fun call-backs you'll appreciate. 

But don't expect the magic of Predator in The Predator.

WHAT IS “HONEST REVIEW”?

I’m a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. I interview actors and filmmakers. I’ve worked in broadcast television for 20 years.

I’m also a Seattle wife and mom who works full-time and sits in an hour of traffic (minimum) every day. 

Sometimes I’m tired when I screen a movie. Sometimes I’m traveling and I miss my kids. Sometimes I’ve had a glass wine when I should have had a glass of water.

All of these things can impact my reaction to a film. Because I’m human. 

So in an effort to write an Honest Review, I’ll always list the external factors that might affect my enjoyment of the movie. Then, I’ll give you my review. Then, you can decide if it’s useful or not. 

What do you think of Honest Review or The Predator? Let me know at @kimholcomb.

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