‘Hair-raising’ sci-fi thriller with Hollywood icon set to air tonight | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV
A hair-raising sci-fi thriller is set to return to screens imminently. The Predator is a 2018 entry in the long-running Predator franchise. The movie was directed by Shane Black, who previously appeared in the original 1987 film alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. Serving as both a sequel and a fresh take on the series, the film mixes sci-fi action with elements of horror and comedy.
The story kicks off when a Predator ship crashes on Earth, leading Army Ranger sniper Quinn McKenna and his squad to encounter the alien creature during a rescue mission. After managing to stop it, Quinn secretly mails pieces of the Predator’s advanced armour to use as evidence of alien life.
Soon after, government agent Will Traeger takes Quinn into custody for questioning, while the captured Predator is transported to a research facility for testing. Scientist Casey Bracket is brought in to analyse the creature and discovers that its DNA contains human genetic traits.
Before long, the Predator breaks free from confinement and launches a violent attack inside the laboratory, killing the scientists and armed guards as it escapes. Yet it opts not to attack Casey, as she is the sole unarmed individual there, before fleeing the laboratory, reports the Mirror.
Yet as the carnage and mayhem escalates, it quickly becomes clear that The Predator is an overwhelming force that cannot be readily controlled.
Despite The Predator boasting a distinguished cast, including Sterling K. Brown, Boyd Holbrook, and Olivia Munn, it struggled to achieve box-office triumph at the time. According to reports, the film endured a disappointing run at the box office, falling short of comfortably breaking even. Nevertheless, with a worldwide gross of $160 million, it technically stands as the highest-earning entry in the core Predator franchise.
Beyond the financial figures, audiences have embraced the film warmly, penning glowing reviews. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, film enthusiasts have been keen to share their verdicts.
One viewer wrote: “So glad I ignored the humourless haters. This movie is hilarious with a ton of sci-fi action. Great cinematography. Fantastic cast. Overall, just a ton of fun! I would describe it as E.T. meets Scary Movie meets Terminator meets Road Trip. Instant classic! Miss this at your own peril.”
While another also said: “Great cast, fun dialogue and decent script. In my opinion, second best movie in the franchise after Badlands…they keep getting better like the sister franchise Alien!”
A third chimed: “The quality was good, as well as the concept. Obviously different from the original, but stayed on topic, had great actors and scenes and overall a good movie. Can’t wait for the next Predator movie!”
The Predator airs tonight at 10pm on E4
