Highly suspenseful, unique sci-fi/action mix!

Rating: 10/10 (27 July 2009)

1987 contains 3 of the best sci-fi/action/horror films of the entire 1980s: The Hidden, Robocop, and this film I'm reviewing PREDATOR. Just further proof that Arnold Schwarzenegger is a film legend. Again, not a great thespian, but definitely a movie star. The man knew how to carry an action film (literally!) on his back. And PREDATOR is so much more than that! In 1987, PREDATOR was just another Arnie action flick. In retrospect, it is a highly involving, ominous, twisting mystery. It's about a band of Army mercenaries on a CIA-initiated rescue mission in South America. In actuality, the men were lied to by their CIA contact/companion in order to get to top secret information and that there was a previous team that was sent, and due to unknown circumstances, never made it back.
Schwarzenegger plays Dutch, the team leader and Carl Weathers is the shady CIA contact Dillon and a "friend" of Dutch's, or so he thought. The rest of Dutch's team includes veteran actors Bill Duke (Mac) and Sonny Landham (Billy), as well as former wrestler-turned actor-turned Governor Jesse Ventura (Blain). This early scene of the commandos attacking the foreign camp is among the best action sequences ever! The editing, cinematography, and sound is top notch in this scene as well as throughout the movie. When watching this film, one can really feel the tension and ever-present danger that constantly engulfs this band of soldiers.
The team picks up a female hostage Anna (Elpidio Carillo) who may be more than meets the eye and definitely serves a greater purpose. Upon retrieving the information and succeeding in the mission, the team heads back through the jungle to their helicopter transport. Along the way, they find the mutilated remnants of the previous team, the likes of which none of these veteran commandos has never see.
This is when PREDATOR switches gears and goes from action to sci-fi/horror! An alien creature has caused all this. The team must now evade and elude this being just to survive. Once PREDATOR changes direction, it turns from just another standard one-note 80s action flick into a provocative and original horror movie. The up-to-this-point macho tough guys are now WAY out of their league! THEY are the prey! The way the team deals with this new development is excellently scripted, acted, and directed and never devolves into parody or silliness. It actually seems like it could happen, making this film an all-time action classic.
Also amazingly for an 80s film, PREDATOR does not have a dated look, which adds to it's universal appeal. It doesn't look "80s" at all, mainly due to the jungle setting, classy camera-work, cinematography, costume design, and the brilliant look of the Predator. Effectively combining action, sci-fi, mysticism, and horror, PREDATOR is an enduring 80s standout!