The Predator review: Trailer, cast, release date – all you need to know

The Predator is Shane Black’s attempt at reinvigorating the long-running franchise, launched in 1987.

After much controversy and anticipation, the film has finally landed in UK cinemas.

While reviews are still pouring in, enough have been published to produce a general feeling on the film.

Read on to see what the critics are saying about The Predator.

The Predator holds an underwhelming 34 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, a reviews aggregator.

Despite the excitement leading up to its release, The Predator failed to meet its expectations – nor the heavy burden of relaunching a floundering franchise.

Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus reads: “The Predator has violence and quips to spare, but its chaotically hollow action adds up to another missed opportunity for a franchise increasingly defined by disappointment.”

The Express’ Andy Lea wrote: “The action scenes are forgettable, the mythology is confusing and the bad taste comedy is hopelessly off-target.”

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Pat Padua of the Washington Post gave the movie 2/4 stars, and said: The Predator lacks the electric charge that made its predecessors pulpy fun.”

“Black may be a part of this franchise’s origins,” wrote Katie Wash of Nerdist, “but as the messy, chaotic, and convoluted The Predator proves, he’s not the right filmmaker to shepherd this property to its next evolution.”

One of the scant positive comments came from Samantha Incorvia at the Arizona Republic: “The movie’s storyline as a whole fits in really well with the rest of the series, and it does a great job of paying homage to the original Predator movie by starting out in a jungle-like setting.”

What is the plot of The Predator?

The Predator begins with a young boy named Rory McKenna who lives in the suburbs with his single mother.

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When he accidentally triggers an alert, the Predators species sets off for a return to Earth.

Having upgraded themselves with DNA from other alien species, the Predator species is now smarter, more powerful and deadlier than before.

“Only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race,” the official synopsis finishes.

The Predator has a UK release of September 12, 2018, and will be out in IMAX 3D.

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Who is in The Predator cast?

Jacob Tremblay of Room fame plays Rory, the young boy who starts the whole plot.

Rory’s mother Emily, and ex-wife to Quinn McKenna is played by Yvonne Strahovski.

Rory’s father, Quinn McKenna, is played by Boyd Holdbrook (Narcos).

Quinn is also the former Army Ranger who discovers the existence of the Predators and subsequently leads the team tasked with destroying them.

Nebraska Williams, Quinn’s best friend and a former Marine who enlists in the Predator-hunting operation is played by Trevante Rhodes from Oscar-winning Moonlight.

The rest of the team is made up of Keegan-Michael Key as Coyle, Olivia Munn as the science teacher and biologist Casey Bracket, Sterling K. Brown as Will Traeger, Thomas Jane as Baxley, Alfie Allen as Lynch, and Augusto Aguilera as Nettles.

The Predator is out in cinemas on September 12, 2018.