In 1987, John McTiernan introduced audiences to his muscular, musclebound movie, "Predator," turning a group of elite soldiers into prey for the titular extraterrestrial hunter. A creature, memorable for its mandibles, dreadlock-like head tentacles, infrared vision, and personal cloaking device. The film became a smash hit, spawning four direct sequels, two crossover films, and expanded universe materials, establishing the franchise as a staple of science fiction cinema.
While the original film is an undeniable classic, "Predator 2," "Predators," and "The Predators" garnered mixed responses, as did the "Alien vs. Predator" crossovers (including the "Alien Vs Predator" anime we'll probably never see). However, the most recent entry, "Prey," is the best-reviewed film of the franchise, reigniting excitement for the venerable series. And now, fans eagerly await the new "Predator" movie coming from "Prey" director Dan Trachtenberg.
To date, the films have rigorously avoided explaining the motives of the Yautja, also known as the Predators,...
While the original film is an undeniable classic, "Predator 2," "Predators," and "The Predators" garnered mixed responses, as did the "Alien vs. Predator" crossovers (including the "Alien Vs Predator" anime we'll probably never see). However, the most recent entry, "Prey," is the best-reviewed film of the franchise, reigniting excitement for the venerable series. And now, fans eagerly await the new "Predator" movie coming from "Prey" director Dan Trachtenberg.
To date, the films have rigorously avoided explaining the motives of the Yautja, also known as the Predators,...
- 4/13/2024
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) birthed two of the biggest sci-fi horror franchises in history: "Alien" and "Predator." Both were birthed in an age where practical and optical special effects ruled the day, but as sequels, prequels, and crossovers multiplied over the decades, the effects became increasingly digital in nature.
What's surprising is the "Predator" series almost aborted entirely at launch. The original 1987 movie -- filmed with the working title "Hunter" -- had a troubled production. Money was tight, the titular alien suit proved to be, well, unsuitable, and the production was shut down. Once given a second life, pickup shoots had to fit around star Arnold Schwarzenegger's increasingly busy schedule, and a mad dash to design a replacement title creature resulted in the iconic, dreadlocked, and mandibled design (from the mind of James Cameron) we all know and love to hate.
While the film was a...
What's surprising is the "Predator" series almost aborted entirely at launch. The original 1987 movie -- filmed with the working title "Hunter" -- had a troubled production. Money was tight, the titular alien suit proved to be, well, unsuitable, and the production was shut down. Once given a second life, pickup shoots had to fit around star Arnold Schwarzenegger's increasingly busy schedule, and a mad dash to design a replacement title creature resulted in the iconic, dreadlocked, and mandibled design (from the mind of James Cameron) we all know and love to hate.
While the film was a...
- 3/16/2024
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
Get to the convention! There was a mini Predator reunion over the weekend as Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura met up at a convention, bringing together two of the key cast members of the fan favorite action flick. If only we could have gotten Bill Duke and that other guy…
Ventura — who played minigun-lovin’ Blain Cooper in Predator — plugged the event on Facebook, writing, “Come on down to the Mad Monster Party in Atlanta! I’ll be here today and tomorrow signing autographs and taking pictures with all the fans. Plus it’s a Predator reunion! Got to see Carl Weathers.” Weathers played Al Dillon (you son of a bitch!).
The original Predator, which came out in 1987, spawned a full-blown franchise for better or worse, with the first sequel, Predator 2, arriving in 1990. The series took a lengthy break before crossovers Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) and...
Ventura — who played minigun-lovin’ Blain Cooper in Predator — plugged the event on Facebook, writing, “Come on down to the Mad Monster Party in Atlanta! I’ll be here today and tomorrow signing autographs and taking pictures with all the fans. Plus it’s a Predator reunion! Got to see Carl Weathers.” Weathers played Al Dillon (you son of a bitch!).
The original Predator, which came out in 1987, spawned a full-blown franchise for better or worse, with the first sequel, Predator 2, arriving in 1990. The series took a lengthy break before crossovers Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) and...
- 11/20/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
It's all too easy to miss your big chance in Hollywood, whether it's by ending up in a flop through no fault of your own or missing the wrong phone call. It's a career tragedy that can happen to anyone, and it creates agonizing memories for stars still at the top of their careers. Just ask Bill Murphy about the time he did pick up his phone and wound up with a gig in "Garfield." That involved a mix-up over last names but it goes to show that anything can happen. To anyone.
The good news? Not every movie madness mixup ends in disaster. One star's missed call might be another's golden hour. A tragedy behind the scenes can create an opportunity for a fresh and far better take on a character. Science fiction definitely isn't exempt from Hollywood chaos, and in the case of some of our favorite movies,...
The good news? Not every movie madness mixup ends in disaster. One star's missed call might be another's golden hour. A tragedy behind the scenes can create an opportunity for a fresh and far better take on a character. Science fiction definitely isn't exempt from Hollywood chaos, and in the case of some of our favorite movies,...
- 10/9/2023
- by Margaret David
- Slash Film
There has been a long history of Hollywood actors being replaced during the production of a movie. The reasons vary; they just weren't right for the role, or they butted heads with so-and-so, or disagreed with the director on their creative vision. While these incidents may have been stressful and unpleasant for the actors at the time, there is one thing that stands out when you look at any list of mid-production replacements. In almost every case, the replacement looks like the far better option, which is of course easy to say in hindsight.
During the '80s, Sylvester Stallone was riding high after the success of "Rocky III" and "First Blood," the movie that introduced his second iconic character. Next up was the lead role in "Beverly Hills Cop," but Stallone wrote his way out of the part by rejigging the screenplay to make it more action-packed. The studio...
During the '80s, Sylvester Stallone was riding high after the success of "Rocky III" and "First Blood," the movie that introduced his second iconic character. Next up was the lead role in "Beverly Hills Cop," but Stallone wrote his way out of the part by rejigging the screenplay to make it more action-packed. The studio...
- 5/28/2023
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
When it comes to John McTiernan's 1987 action classic "Predator," there's no shortage of unforgettable moments or images. There's the design of the titular alien, a camouflaged, green-blooded beast (Kevin Peter Hall in full makeup and prosthetics) on the hunt. There's the military unit's fraught arrival to a Central American jungle set to "Long Tall Sally." There's a shootout that seemingly borrows from Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch."
But it could be argued the most quoted and memorable moment from the whole movie comes from its opening act, where Vietnam War vets Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Dillon (Carl Weathers) are reunited after many years. As Dutch calls his old friend a "son of a b*tch," they clasp hands, each man revealing cartoonishly massive biceps.
Both actors had gotten their start as athletes. Schwarzenegger had found fame as an Austrian bodybuilder before being rejected to play TV's Incredible Hulk...
But it could be argued the most quoted and memorable moment from the whole movie comes from its opening act, where Vietnam War vets Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Dillon (Carl Weathers) are reunited after many years. As Dutch calls his old friend a "son of a b*tch," they clasp hands, each man revealing cartoonishly massive biceps.
Both actors had gotten their start as athletes. Schwarzenegger had found fame as an Austrian bodybuilder before being rejected to play TV's Incredible Hulk...
- 4/15/2023
- by Anthony Crislip
- Slash Film
Picture this: you're deep in the woods, alone save for your family, enjoying the silent majesty of a secluded night in nature while all manner of creatures great and small slumber peacefully around you. Most importantly, you're snug inside a yellow sleeping bag, looking for all the world like a giant banana.
Then, suddenly and without warning, a mutant killer bear emerges from the woods, its gaping maw looking like it's melting as it bellows an unholy roar and attacks. Trapped in your banana bag, you helplessly try to run away like you're in the world's worst potato sack race. It's all for nought, as the bear reaches out with one measly swipe of its paw, and you fly through the air only to hit a rock and shatter into a million feathery pieces.
If this scene sounds gloriously horrifying and/or exciting to you, then you need to see...
Then, suddenly and without warning, a mutant killer bear emerges from the woods, its gaping maw looking like it's melting as it bellows an unholy roar and attacks. Trapped in your banana bag, you helplessly try to run away like you're in the world's worst potato sack race. It's all for nought, as the bear reaches out with one measly swipe of its paw, and you fly through the air only to hit a rock and shatter into a million feathery pieces.
If this scene sounds gloriously horrifying and/or exciting to you, then you need to see...
- 2/23/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Joe Cornish, the writer-director of "Attack the Block" and showrunner behind the upcoming Netflix series "Lockwood & Co.," has a hankering to make a Bigfoot movie. It turns out that Cornish, a self-described "Bigfoot obsessive," is itching to do right by a genre that may not even be fully formed in everyone's eyes. Think about it: can you name five great Bigfoot movies ... or even one? How about 47 of them, ranked?
It's a sad state of affairs when the most well-known Sasquatch onscreen may be Harry from "Harry and the Hendersons." Not that there's anything wrong with Harry, who went on to star in his own sitcom and whose makeup design won Rick Baker an Oscar in the interim. But here's a fun fact about Harry: he was played by Kevin Peter Hall the same year Hall played the original "Predator."
It feels like we're owed a movie where Bigfoot,...
It's a sad state of affairs when the most well-known Sasquatch onscreen may be Harry from "Harry and the Hendersons." Not that there's anything wrong with Harry, who went on to star in his own sitcom and whose makeup design won Rick Baker an Oscar in the interim. But here's a fun fact about Harry: he was played by Kevin Peter Hall the same year Hall played the original "Predator."
It feels like we're owed a movie where Bigfoot,...
- 1/21/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Known for his high-flying kicks and flexibility, Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is trained in kickboxing, taekwondo, and kung fu. As a teen, he won the European Professional Karate Association's middleweight championship. Hoping to use his unique skillset to become the next big thing in Hollywood, he moved to Los Angeles in the '80s. Today, Van Damme is regarded as one of the best action stars of all time.
His impact extends beyond the world of cinema. He inspired the ring name for one of my favorite professional wrestlers, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam, whose look and high-flying maneuvers were identical to those of the "Timecop" star, so much so that I actually thought they were brothers. In a 2021 episode of "WWE Icons," the wrestler explained the effect the actor had on his career:
"When I'm down in Florida in '91 and '92, [wrestler-turned-promoter] Ron Slinker is running the [professional wrestling studio] Tampa Sportatorium.
His impact extends beyond the world of cinema. He inspired the ring name for one of my favorite professional wrestlers, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam, whose look and high-flying maneuvers were identical to those of the "Timecop" star, so much so that I actually thought they were brothers. In a 2021 episode of "WWE Icons," the wrestler explained the effect the actor had on his career:
"When I'm down in Florida in '91 and '92, [wrestler-turned-promoter] Ron Slinker is running the [professional wrestling studio] Tampa Sportatorium.
- 10/1/2022
- by J. Gabriel Ware
- Slash Film
With the new Predator movie Prey being released through the Hulu streaming service earlier this month, a lot of people have been talking about the Predator franchise and revisiting the early movies. In the new episode of The Arrow in the Head Show, hosts John “The Arrow” Fallon and Lance Vlcek are getting in on the Predator action as well, looking back at the 1990 film Predator 2 (watch it Here). To find out what they had to say about Predator 2, check out the video embedded above!
Directed by Stephen Hopkins from a screenplay written by Jim Thomas and John Thomas, Predator 2 has the following synopsis:
Los Angeles is enduring a heat wave and a crime wave, so the pressure on police officer Michael Harrigan to solve a strange string of murders is mounting. Harrigan thinks the culprit can be found among the warring gangs and drug cartels, but...
Directed by Stephen Hopkins from a screenplay written by Jim Thomas and John Thomas, Predator 2 has the following synopsis:
Los Angeles is enduring a heat wave and a crime wave, so the pressure on police officer Michael Harrigan to solve a strange string of murders is mounting. Harrigan thinks the culprit can be found among the warring gangs and drug cartels, but...
- 8/24/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In 1987, a hyper-advanced alien species known as the “Yautja” descended upon an elite military squad in Guatemala. Thanks to its memorable performances, quotable dialogue and inventive action set pieces, “Predator” became an American action movie staple. The film has spawned four sequels, including the new Hulu film “Prey,” and two spinoffs. Yet, the mega franchise all started with a piece of paper underneath a door.
“The Thomas brothers snuck the script onto the Fox lot and under somebody’s door,” says John Davis, who has produced all seven “Predator” movies. “We got there on Monday, and there was this script. I was an executive at the time, and I had been working with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was a really good friend of mine. We were always both trying to figure out how we could work together. And so I’m the executive on this movie at Fox, and what happened is I became a producer.
“The Thomas brothers snuck the script onto the Fox lot and under somebody’s door,” says John Davis, who has produced all seven “Predator” movies. “We got there on Monday, and there was this script. I was an executive at the time, and I had been working with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was a really good friend of mine. We were always both trying to figure out how we could work together. And so I’m the executive on this movie at Fox, and what happened is I became a producer.
- 8/15/2022
- by Carson Burton
- Variety Film + TV
"Predator" from 1987 is one of the most enduringly scary monster movies of all time. Decades later, 20th Century Studios (formerly Fox) is still cranking out sequels and even made a good one with "Prey" in 2022, but when you break down what went on behind the scenes of the original Arnold Schwarzenegger action-horror classic, it's easy to see how close this film was to being an embarrassment for everyone involved.
Shot on location in a hot-house Mexican jungle, the cast and crew were already battling the elements. They also embarked on this hunter-and-hunted suspense story the same way as the characters — without a glimpse of the Predator. Legendary "Die Hard" director John McTiernan shot a huge portion of this creature feature before he even had his monster on set, and when it arrived, the crew had to get to the chopper for a redesign.
Schwarzenegger carries this movie on his broad shoulders as the commanding commando,...
Shot on location in a hot-house Mexican jungle, the cast and crew were already battling the elements. They also embarked on this hunter-and-hunted suspense story the same way as the characters — without a glimpse of the Predator. Legendary "Die Hard" director John McTiernan shot a huge portion of this creature feature before he even had his monster on set, and when it arrived, the crew had to get to the chopper for a redesign.
Schwarzenegger carries this movie on his broad shoulders as the commanding commando,...
- 8/15/2022
- by Gino Orlandini
- Slash Film
The horror and sci-fi genres are home to some of the most memorable characters in cinematic history, and sometimes, they never have to show the actor's face. "The Last Starfighter" director Nick Castle became a horror legend when he first donned the white mask of Michael Myers in John Carpenter's "Halloween," and stuntman Kane Hodder became synonymous with Jason Voorhees after playing the hockey-mask wearing slasher in four "Friday the 13th" films. Chances are, if an actor is the first or most storied performer of an iconic monster, they are beloved by generations as new audiences are introduced to their work. This month saw the release of "Prey," with the prequel film becoming the seventh feature film in the "Predator" franchise. The film debuted 35 years after the debut installment, which took an action-packed approach to sci-fi horror and introduced one of the greatest creature characters in cinematic history.
The...
The...
- 8/15/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Warning: This article contains major spoilers for every "Predator" movie -- including "Prey."
When you're in a "Predator" movie, things can get a little messy. For over 35 years, the intergalactic hunters have endured as one of the great movie monsters, hunting humans, animals, and even other iconic monsters with swift brutality. The species known as Yautja have appeared across five films and two spin-offs in all forms, upgrades, and mutations, with each dispensing their own violent pageantry of cannon firing, one on one combat, and spine ripping.
With the massive success of "Prey," let's take a look at some of the most memorable death scenes throughout the entire "Predator" franchise. There was a lot of death to sift through -- whether it's a beloved character who couldn't keep up or an antagonistic force facing the music. The only stipulation for this list is that, since the "Alien Vs. Predator" movies are included here,...
When you're in a "Predator" movie, things can get a little messy. For over 35 years, the intergalactic hunters have endured as one of the great movie monsters, hunting humans, animals, and even other iconic monsters with swift brutality. The species known as Yautja have appeared across five films and two spin-offs in all forms, upgrades, and mutations, with each dispensing their own violent pageantry of cannon firing, one on one combat, and spine ripping.
With the massive success of "Prey," let's take a look at some of the most memorable death scenes throughout the entire "Predator" franchise. There was a lot of death to sift through -- whether it's a beloved character who couldn't keep up or an antagonistic force facing the music. The only stipulation for this list is that, since the "Alien Vs. Predator" movies are included here,...
- 8/12/2022
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
A footnote in the career of martial artist and action-movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme is that he was originally cast to play the titular alien in the 1987 sci-fi action-horror film "Predator" before he was unceremoniously canned and replaced by the late Kevin Peter Hall. In recent years, it seems like everybody and their mamas have stepped forward with conflicting eyewitness accounts of what led to Van Damme's dismissal, but the consensus is that his casting was doomed from day one.
Van Damme, then an aspiring action star, got the villainous role and anticipated showcasing his speed, athleticism and roundhouse kicks in an epic...
The post Jean-Claude Van Damme's Predator Casting Was Doomed From Day One appeared first on /Film.
Van Damme, then an aspiring action star, got the villainous role and anticipated showcasing his speed, athleticism and roundhouse kicks in an epic...
The post Jean-Claude Van Damme's Predator Casting Was Doomed From Day One appeared first on /Film.
- 6/27/2022
- by J. Gabriel Ware
- Slash Film
What would it take to overpower the world’s toughest special forces soldiers? A hunter from out of this world, of course.
That’s the spark that ignited Predator (1987), one of the all-time great sci-fi action adventures. Released 35 years ago today, the film’s legacy is now secure: it has spawned three direct sequels and an upcoming prequel, plus two Alien Vs. Predator spin-off movies, along with a variety of comic book series, extremely cool action figures, and assorted other merchandise unusual for a gritty R-rated picture. Naturally we at Tfh felt it was high time to reflect on the original classic.
Cigar-chomping Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger at his most ‘roided-out) and his crew of military mercenaries are recruited by his former Vietnam War comrade Al Dillon (Carl Weathers), now a CIA agent, to purportedly save foreign government officials, taken hostage by a team of guerrilla revolutionaries in a Central American jungle.
That’s the spark that ignited Predator (1987), one of the all-time great sci-fi action adventures. Released 35 years ago today, the film’s legacy is now secure: it has spawned three direct sequels and an upcoming prequel, plus two Alien Vs. Predator spin-off movies, along with a variety of comic book series, extremely cool action figures, and assorted other merchandise unusual for a gritty R-rated picture. Naturally we at Tfh felt it was high time to reflect on the original classic.
Cigar-chomping Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger at his most ‘roided-out) and his crew of military mercenaries are recruited by his former Vietnam War comrade Al Dillon (Carl Weathers), now a CIA agent, to purportedly save foreign government officials, taken hostage by a team of guerrilla revolutionaries in a Central American jungle.
- 6/12/2022
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
There are a plethora of new titles coming to Prime Video and IMDb TV (Amazon’s premium free streaming service) in August, but the best on the list is on August 1st when Predator 2 hits.
The 1990 sequel from director Stephen Hopkins starred Danny Glover, Gary Busey, María Conchita Alonso, Ruben Blades, Bill Paxton, Calvin Lockhart, Kevin Peter Hall. It’s the perfect Saturday afternoon flick, has a wonderful score from composer Alan Silvestri and the final scene of the movie with the big reveal of the spaceship’s wall that the Predator had a Xenomorph skull as one of its prized trophies. We Alien fans in the audience that opening weekend went wild and hoped for an Alien v Predator crossover, which finally happened with 2004’s Alien vs. Predator. A sequel, Predators, was released in 2010, followed by The Predator in 2018.
Predator 2 has developed a huge cult following since it’s initial release.
The 1990 sequel from director Stephen Hopkins starred Danny Glover, Gary Busey, María Conchita Alonso, Ruben Blades, Bill Paxton, Calvin Lockhart, Kevin Peter Hall. It’s the perfect Saturday afternoon flick, has a wonderful score from composer Alan Silvestri and the final scene of the movie with the big reveal of the spaceship’s wall that the Predator had a Xenomorph skull as one of its prized trophies. We Alien fans in the audience that opening weekend went wild and hoped for an Alien v Predator crossover, which finally happened with 2004’s Alien vs. Predator. A sequel, Predators, was released in 2010, followed by The Predator in 2018.
Predator 2 has developed a huge cult following since it’s initial release.
- 7/23/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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From time travel to space exploration, science fiction has produced some of the best movies ever made. The genre, which dates back to near the very beginning of cinema, not only helped stretch our imaginations, but it gave us predictions into what the future might look like. And if you love sci-fi, we rounded up seven of the best movies that you can buy on Blu-ray.
Most of the films listed are available on Amazon, with free two-day shipping for Prime Members. If you’re not a Prime Member, click here to sign up for a free 30-day trial (the membership will cost $12.99 a month after the trial ends), which gets you access to markdowns on movies,...
From time travel to space exploration, science fiction has produced some of the best movies ever made. The genre, which dates back to near the very beginning of cinema, not only helped stretch our imaginations, but it gave us predictions into what the future might look like. And if you love sci-fi, we rounded up seven of the best movies that you can buy on Blu-ray.
Most of the films listed are available on Amazon, with free two-day shipping for Prime Members. If you’re not a Prime Member, click here to sign up for a free 30-day trial (the membership will cost $12.99 a month after the trial ends), which gets you access to markdowns on movies,...
- 6/16/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
Disney’s 20th Century Studios is developing a fifth “Predator” movie with “10 Cloverfield Lane” director Dan Trachtenberg.
Patrick Aison, whose television credits include the series “Kingdom,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” and “Treadstone,” has been hired to write the script.
The four “Predator” movies earned $443 million worldwide, with John Davis producing each. The original “Predator” was released in 1987 and directed by John McTiernan. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura starred as commandos attempting to rescue hostages while being stalked in a jungle in Central America by a fearsome extraterrestrial, played by Kevin Peter Hall.
Stephen Hopkins directed 1990’s “Predator 2.” Danny Glover, Ruben Blades, Gary Busey, María Conchita Alonso and Bill Paxton starred along with Hall, who reprised the title role of the Predator in a story set a decade after the events of the first film. The Predator character also headlined Fox’s 2004 crossover film “Alien vs. Predator...
Patrick Aison, whose television credits include the series “Kingdom,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” and “Treadstone,” has been hired to write the script.
The four “Predator” movies earned $443 million worldwide, with John Davis producing each. The original “Predator” was released in 1987 and directed by John McTiernan. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura starred as commandos attempting to rescue hostages while being stalked in a jungle in Central America by a fearsome extraterrestrial, played by Kevin Peter Hall.
Stephen Hopkins directed 1990’s “Predator 2.” Danny Glover, Ruben Blades, Gary Busey, María Conchita Alonso and Bill Paxton starred along with Hall, who reprised the title role of the Predator in a story set a decade after the events of the first film. The Predator character also headlined Fox’s 2004 crossover film “Alien vs. Predator...
- 11/20/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
There were a ton of awesome new products on display at this year’s Toy Fair, with Neca even revealing a figure loosely based on the Predator costume originally worn by Jean-Claude Van Damme in the 1987 classic before he was replaced by Kevin Peter Hall. Although Van Damme had already recorded footage in the suit, […] The post Neca Display Predator Figure With Removable Head Based On Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Original Suit appeared first on Dread Central.
- 3/2/2019
- by David Gelmini
- DreadCentral.com
If someone told you that Jean-Claude Van Damme was briefly the star of 1987’s Predator before dropping out, you might assume that he was in the action hero role eventually handled by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The reality, however, is a fair bit more intriguing and ultimately kind of depressing.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Van Damme reflected on his time spent in the uncomfortable costume of the Predator himself. As it turns out, he found it to be a physically demanding experience, right from the first audition:
“I came to the studio and they made me run around and I jump, and they say, ‘This guy can jump very high so yes, he’s in.’”
Once the outfit went on, the star had trouble breathing, and the experience only got worse from there:
“I go to this place and they put me on sticks and woods and they start...
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Van Damme reflected on his time spent in the uncomfortable costume of the Predator himself. As it turns out, he found it to be a physically demanding experience, right from the first audition:
“I came to the studio and they made me run around and I jump, and they say, ‘This guy can jump very high so yes, he’s in.’”
Once the outfit went on, the star had trouble breathing, and the experience only got worse from there:
“I go to this place and they put me on sticks and woods and they start...
- 3/2/2019
- by David Pountain
- We Got This Covered
“The Predator” has found its next feast: its box office competitors.
The Fox release is invading North American multiplexes with an estimated $25 million opening weekend at 4,307 sites, early estimates showed Friday.
The alien franchise film is coming in at the lower end of expectations, which had ranged from $25 million to $32 million. “The Predator” should be able to top the second weekend of Warner Bros.’ supernatural horror hit “The Nun,” which is projected to finish at about $20 million for a 63% decline.
Lionsgate’s opening of mystery-comedy “A Simple Favor” is heading for a sold third place with $18 million at 3,102 sites, coming in well above forecasts in the $12 million to $15 million range. Sony-Studio 8 crime drama “White Boy Rick” is also projected to top recent forecasts at about $10 million from 2,500 screens, battling for fourth place with the fifth frame of rom-com hit “Crazy Rich Asians” and the second weekend of Jennifer Garner’s thriller “Peppermint.
The Fox release is invading North American multiplexes with an estimated $25 million opening weekend at 4,307 sites, early estimates showed Friday.
The alien franchise film is coming in at the lower end of expectations, which had ranged from $25 million to $32 million. “The Predator” should be able to top the second weekend of Warner Bros.’ supernatural horror hit “The Nun,” which is projected to finish at about $20 million for a 63% decline.
Lionsgate’s opening of mystery-comedy “A Simple Favor” is heading for a sold third place with $18 million at 3,102 sites, coming in well above forecasts in the $12 million to $15 million range. Sony-Studio 8 crime drama “White Boy Rick” is also projected to top recent forecasts at about $10 million from 2,500 screens, battling for fourth place with the fifth frame of rom-com hit “Crazy Rich Asians” and the second weekend of Jennifer Garner’s thriller “Peppermint.
- 9/14/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Fox’s “The Predator” invaded the Thursday night box office with $2.5 million.
“A Simple Favor,” starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, reeled in $900,000 from Thursday night previews in North America. “White Boy Rick,” meanwhile, grossed $575,000 in previews.
“The Predator” has been pegged to top the domestic box office with $25 million to $32 million in its opening weekend at 4,037 sites. Its preview number fell short of “Alien: Covenant,” which made $4.2 million on Thursday night on its way to a $36 million launch last year.
The sophomore frame of “The Nun,” which has grossed $64 million in its first six days, may challenge the new installment of the “Predator” franchise for first place. Lionsgate’s mystery thriller “A Simple Favor” will likely open between $12 million and $15 million at 3,102 venues. Sony and Studio 8’s crime drama “White Boy Rick” is projected to make between $6 million and $10 million from 2,500 screens, battling for fourth place with the...
“A Simple Favor,” starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, reeled in $900,000 from Thursday night previews in North America. “White Boy Rick,” meanwhile, grossed $575,000 in previews.
“The Predator” has been pegged to top the domestic box office with $25 million to $32 million in its opening weekend at 4,037 sites. Its preview number fell short of “Alien: Covenant,” which made $4.2 million on Thursday night on its way to a $36 million launch last year.
The sophomore frame of “The Nun,” which has grossed $64 million in its first six days, may challenge the new installment of the “Predator” franchise for first place. Lionsgate’s mystery thriller “A Simple Favor” will likely open between $12 million and $15 million at 3,102 venues. Sony and Studio 8’s crime drama “White Boy Rick” is projected to make between $6 million and $10 million from 2,500 screens, battling for fourth place with the...
- 9/14/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Fox’s “The Predator” should dominate the domestic box office with $25 million to $30 million in its opening weekend on Sept. 14-16, early tracking showed on Thursday.
The tracking services also showed that Lionsgate’s mystery thriller “A Simple Favor” will likely open between $12 million and $15 million that weekend, while Studio 8’s crime drama “White Boy Rick” has been pegged to launch between $5 million and $9 million with Sony handling the release. The newcomers will likely see strong competition from the second weekend of Warner Bros.’ horror entry “The Nun,” which is currently heading for a debut in the $32 million to $40 million range on Sept. 7-9.
Shane Black’s new installment of the “Predator” franchise follows the titular aliens, who return to Earth, now deadlier than ever before after taking the DNA of other species. Jacob Tremblay’s character accidentally triggers an alert that brings the Predators back to Earth.
Black...
The tracking services also showed that Lionsgate’s mystery thriller “A Simple Favor” will likely open between $12 million and $15 million that weekend, while Studio 8’s crime drama “White Boy Rick” has been pegged to launch between $5 million and $9 million with Sony handling the release. The newcomers will likely see strong competition from the second weekend of Warner Bros.’ horror entry “The Nun,” which is currently heading for a debut in the $32 million to $40 million range on Sept. 7-9.
Shane Black’s new installment of the “Predator” franchise follows the titular aliens, who return to Earth, now deadlier than ever before after taking the DNA of other species. Jacob Tremblay’s character accidentally triggers an alert that brings the Predators back to Earth.
Black...
- 8/23/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Fox’s “The Predator,” a reboot of the alien action franchise that launched in 1979, is returning to Earth in a bloody new red band trailer.
The scenario is set by Sterling K. Brown’s character, Will Traeger, who explains, “I’m in acquisitions. I look up and catch what falls out of the sky.”
The footage features several shots of the violent extraterrestrial hunter, who brings chaos to the suburbs.
Brown’s character then warns: “Predators don’t just sit around making hats out of rib cages. They conquered space. That’s not what is on the horizon.”
Shane Black’s new installment follows the titular aliens, who return to Earth, now deadlier than ever before after taking the DNA of other species.
Black is directing from a script he co-wrote with Fred Dekker. John Davis produces. The cast also includes Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn,...
The scenario is set by Sterling K. Brown’s character, Will Traeger, who explains, “I’m in acquisitions. I look up and catch what falls out of the sky.”
The footage features several shots of the violent extraterrestrial hunter, who brings chaos to the suburbs.
Brown’s character then warns: “Predators don’t just sit around making hats out of rib cages. They conquered space. That’s not what is on the horizon.”
Shane Black’s new installment follows the titular aliens, who return to Earth, now deadlier than ever before after taking the DNA of other species.
Black is directing from a script he co-wrote with Fred Dekker. John Davis produces. The cast also includes Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn,...
- 6/26/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Director John McTiernan’s sci-fi classic Predator was released 31 years ago today on June 12, 1987.
Having just starred in The Terminator (1984), Red Sonja and Commando (1985), Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest movie star of the 1980’s with his name alone selling tickets.
Predator also featured Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Kevin Peter Hall (as The Predator) and writer/actor Shane Black, has one of the best opening credits, scored by composer Alan Silvestri, and is one of the quintessential sci-fi films from the 1980’s.
Major Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the leader of a military rescue unit looking for allies captured by guerrillas in the Latin American jungle. At first it seems like any other mission: Schaefer and his team of seasoned combat veterans spot a guerilla camp, destroy it, and find the men they were sent to rescue executed. But when Schaefer attempts to lead his unit out, with a captured guerrilla in tow,...
Having just starred in The Terminator (1984), Red Sonja and Commando (1985), Arnold Schwarzenegger was the biggest movie star of the 1980’s with his name alone selling tickets.
Predator also featured Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Kevin Peter Hall (as The Predator) and writer/actor Shane Black, has one of the best opening credits, scored by composer Alan Silvestri, and is one of the quintessential sci-fi films from the 1980’s.
Major Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the leader of a military rescue unit looking for allies captured by guerrillas in the Latin American jungle. At first it seems like any other mission: Schaefer and his team of seasoned combat veterans spot a guerilla camp, destroy it, and find the men they were sent to rescue executed. But when Schaefer attempts to lead his unit out, with a captured guerrilla in tow,...
- 6/12/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Thirty years after the original “Predator” film was released, a rebooted version of the action film is here, and so are the aliens.
In the first trailer for “The Predator,” a young boy (Jacob Tremblay), releases the extraterrestrial creatures back into the world when he finds a miniature version of their space ship, which he thinks is a toy. Soon, the aliens have returned in full force and are posing a threat to mankind.
“I think they’re attempting hybridization, they’re upgrading on every planet they visit,” Olivia Munn’s character says as she works in a science lab. The action-packed first look shows a group of ex-soldiers in battle against the creatures, which have genetically increased their strength and intelligence with the DNA from other species.
“The Predator” features a star-studded cast of Munn, Tremblay, Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Sterling K. Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane and Yvonne Strahovski.
In the first trailer for “The Predator,” a young boy (Jacob Tremblay), releases the extraterrestrial creatures back into the world when he finds a miniature version of their space ship, which he thinks is a toy. Soon, the aliens have returned in full force and are posing a threat to mankind.
“I think they’re attempting hybridization, they’re upgrading on every planet they visit,” Olivia Munn’s character says as she works in a science lab. The action-packed first look shows a group of ex-soldiers in battle against the creatures, which have genetically increased their strength and intelligence with the DNA from other species.
“The Predator” features a star-studded cast of Munn, Tremblay, Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Sterling K. Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane and Yvonne Strahovski.
- 5/10/2018
- by Kirsten Chuba
- Variety Film + TV
Movie going audiences were introduced to a new sci-fi monster on the 12th of June, 1987. Director John McTiernan’s movie starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Kevin Peter Hall (as The Predator) and writer/actor Shane Black.
Nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, Predator was the big hit during the summer of 1987. The thriller provided such quotable lines as “Get to the chopper!” and “If it bleeds, we can kill it.” Along with a killer score by Alan Silvestri, it is one of the quintessential sci-fi films from the 1980’s.
20th Century Fox has released the first teaser trailer for The Predator, directed by Shane Black and starring Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Jake Busey and Yvonne Strahovski.
From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes...
Nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, Predator was the big hit during the summer of 1987. The thriller provided such quotable lines as “Get to the chopper!” and “If it bleeds, we can kill it.” Along with a killer score by Alan Silvestri, it is one of the quintessential sci-fi films from the 1980’s.
20th Century Fox has released the first teaser trailer for The Predator, directed by Shane Black and starring Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Jake Busey and Yvonne Strahovski.
From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes...
- 5/10/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
You may or may not know this, but Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast in the 1987 film Predator. This was a time when he was an unknown actor and he was supposed to play The Predator. He eventually ended up being fired and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall. There's actually footage of Van Damme in the original Predator suit that you can watch here.
Some new stories have surfaced from several people that worked on the film explaining why Van Damme was fired. There are a few different reasons and stories given and one of them was because he wouldn't stop kickboxing! He wanted Predator to be a kickboxer alien from outer space, which is a good title for a 1960s sci-fi movie, but producer Joel Silver didn't want that.
Van Damme was apparently just walking up to people like Silver and into people offices jumping around and showing how high he could kick. Stunt Coordinator Craig Baxley recalled:
"Joel and I were walking down the hallway of the hotel together and Jean-Claude was walking toward us with his assistant. And Jean-Claude walked up and said, 'Are you Joel Silver?' And he said yeah. And Jean said, 'Well look at this!' And he jumped up in the air, I swear to God, did the splits with his legs straight out and his crotch was at eye level — and I'm 6 feet tall."
As far as the reasons given as to why Van Damme was fired there are several different accounts. My favorite comes from special effects supervisor Joel Hynek. While talking to THR for the film's 30th anniversary he said:
"I was in Joel Silver's trailer, and he had called for Jean-Claude to come see him. And he comes in the trailer and Joel starts saying, 'You gotta stop kickboxing!' --- because [Jean-Claude] wanted to kickbox --- and he was telling him, 'Look, the Predator is not a kickboxer.' And Van Damme was like (Van Damme voice), 'I must do that; that's how I see the Predator.' And Joel said, 'Well, you're fired. Get out of here.' And Van Damme says, 'Kiss my balls!' and walks out, and that was the end of that."
I don't know how Van Damme would have been able to pull off some of his signature kickboxing moves in the suit, but apparently, he was and Silver wasn't impressed. A mixed martial artist Predator certainly would have made things even more interesting... in a silly way. I thought the way the Predator was handled in the film was perfect. Ya gotta hand to Van Damme, though, for telling Silver to kiss his balls! That takes balls.
One of the other reasons given as to why he was fired included him breaking a $20,000 Predator head. Baxley explains:
"He was there to play the creature, and a company called Boss had designed a creature. It had the head of an ant. And they spent an absolute fortune on this. And so they brought Jean-Claude out and they put the head on Jean-Claude, and Jean-Claude stood up and freaked out, and took off this $20,000 head and threw it on the ground and it shattered. And Joel said, 'What the f— are you doing!' And he told Jean-Claude, 'You'll never work in Hollywood again! Get off my set!' So that was it."
Apparently, Van Damme hated the original red suit that he had to wear. Not sure why he would freak out, though. A couple other reasons given were because he was too short to play the alien hunter and he didn't want to wear the suit. He wanted his face to be seen. Then, of course, Fox apparently hated the footage they saw of him in the suit.
Regardless of how Van Damme's firing went down, I think we all know now that it was for the best.
Some new stories have surfaced from several people that worked on the film explaining why Van Damme was fired. There are a few different reasons and stories given and one of them was because he wouldn't stop kickboxing! He wanted Predator to be a kickboxer alien from outer space, which is a good title for a 1960s sci-fi movie, but producer Joel Silver didn't want that.
Van Damme was apparently just walking up to people like Silver and into people offices jumping around and showing how high he could kick. Stunt Coordinator Craig Baxley recalled:
"Joel and I were walking down the hallway of the hotel together and Jean-Claude was walking toward us with his assistant. And Jean-Claude walked up and said, 'Are you Joel Silver?' And he said yeah. And Jean said, 'Well look at this!' And he jumped up in the air, I swear to God, did the splits with his legs straight out and his crotch was at eye level — and I'm 6 feet tall."
As far as the reasons given as to why Van Damme was fired there are several different accounts. My favorite comes from special effects supervisor Joel Hynek. While talking to THR for the film's 30th anniversary he said:
"I was in Joel Silver's trailer, and he had called for Jean-Claude to come see him. And he comes in the trailer and Joel starts saying, 'You gotta stop kickboxing!' --- because [Jean-Claude] wanted to kickbox --- and he was telling him, 'Look, the Predator is not a kickboxer.' And Van Damme was like (Van Damme voice), 'I must do that; that's how I see the Predator.' And Joel said, 'Well, you're fired. Get out of here.' And Van Damme says, 'Kiss my balls!' and walks out, and that was the end of that."
I don't know how Van Damme would have been able to pull off some of his signature kickboxing moves in the suit, but apparently, he was and Silver wasn't impressed. A mixed martial artist Predator certainly would have made things even more interesting... in a silly way. I thought the way the Predator was handled in the film was perfect. Ya gotta hand to Van Damme, though, for telling Silver to kiss his balls! That takes balls.
One of the other reasons given as to why he was fired included him breaking a $20,000 Predator head. Baxley explains:
"He was there to play the creature, and a company called Boss had designed a creature. It had the head of an ant. And they spent an absolute fortune on this. And so they brought Jean-Claude out and they put the head on Jean-Claude, and Jean-Claude stood up and freaked out, and took off this $20,000 head and threw it on the ground and it shattered. And Joel said, 'What the f— are you doing!' And he told Jean-Claude, 'You'll never work in Hollywood again! Get off my set!' So that was it."
Apparently, Van Damme hated the original red suit that he had to wear. Not sure why he would freak out, though. A couple other reasons given were because he was too short to play the alien hunter and he didn't want to wear the suit. He wanted his face to be seen. Then, of course, Fox apparently hated the footage they saw of him in the suit.
Regardless of how Van Damme's firing went down, I think we all know now that it was for the best.
- 6/23/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Are we in the midst of a filmmaking revolt against the overuse of computer generated effects? This latest development in the journey of The Predator to the big screen might suggest as much, as director and co-writer of the film, Shane Black, has taken to Twitter to confirm that he will indeed be delivering a real, tangible Predator, when the blockbuster is released in the summer of 2018.
I am standing on set next to a 7-foot tall gentleman in a Predator suit — so no, it is not all CGI.
— Shane Black (@BonafideBlack) April 23, 2017
While it may seem like a mere snippet of information, lending a tantalizing glimpse of the production process for this highly anticipated sequel, this actually speaks volumes about the growing, and welcome trend in mainstream studio movies to return to the days of practical effects, over and above the use of CGI.
The choice Shane Black is...
I am standing on set next to a 7-foot tall gentleman in a Predator suit — so no, it is not all CGI.
— Shane Black (@BonafideBlack) April 23, 2017
While it may seem like a mere snippet of information, lending a tantalizing glimpse of the production process for this highly anticipated sequel, this actually speaks volumes about the growing, and welcome trend in mainstream studio movies to return to the days of practical effects, over and above the use of CGI.
The choice Shane Black is...
- 4/24/2017
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Ryan Lambie Mar 29, 2017
Mazes And Monsters provided the first feature role for a young Tom Hanks in 1982 - and warned against the perils of Dungeons & Dragons...
Where there's great popularity, there's sometimes an equal and opposite backlash. Pokemon has occasionally been accused of promoting everything from Satanism to animal cruelty. The book Why Knock Rock, published in 1984, warned of the morally corrosive dangers hidden in the music of Judas Priest, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.
Before all this, there was the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons. From humble beginnings, the role-playing game quickly became a phenomenon in the 1970s, taking the company behind it - Tactical Studies Rules, founded by Gary Gygax - from a tiny cottage industry to a 600-strong firm by the end of the decade.
Dungeons & Dragons' brilliance lies in its freeform design; with only a few raw materials - dice, counters, a rulebook - the game conjures...
Mazes And Monsters provided the first feature role for a young Tom Hanks in 1982 - and warned against the perils of Dungeons & Dragons...
Where there's great popularity, there's sometimes an equal and opposite backlash. Pokemon has occasionally been accused of promoting everything from Satanism to animal cruelty. The book Why Knock Rock, published in 1984, warned of the morally corrosive dangers hidden in the music of Judas Priest, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.
Before all this, there was the moral panic surrounding Dungeons & Dragons. From humble beginnings, the role-playing game quickly became a phenomenon in the 1970s, taking the company behind it - Tactical Studies Rules, founded by Gary Gygax - from a tiny cottage industry to a 600-strong firm by the end of the decade.
Dungeons & Dragons' brilliance lies in its freeform design; with only a few raw materials - dice, counters, a rulebook - the game conjures...
- 3/28/2017
- Den of Geek
Director Greydon Clark is not a name thrown around a lot. Horror fans will know him (probably) for 1977’s Satan’s Cheerleaders. The rest of filmdom need not apply. However, his best film, Without Warning (1980), would end up resonating in such a way as to inspire Predator (1987), Schwarzenegger’s Alien in the Jungle box office smash. And when I say inspire, I mean they stole the concept. But what Without Warning lacks in testosterone and Hollywood bankrolls, it makes up in B movie charm and a winsome personality. You can’t help but fall in love with the damn thing.
Released by Filmways Pictures in New York, in September 1980, Without Warning (Aka It Came…Without Warning) had a scattered release – dribs and drabs in smaller markets, and don’t forget Finland (who could?). Made for a meager $150,000 Us the film was given a real dine and dash release, I’m...
Released by Filmways Pictures in New York, in September 1980, Without Warning (Aka It Came…Without Warning) had a scattered release – dribs and drabs in smaller markets, and don’t forget Finland (who could?). Made for a meager $150,000 Us the film was given a real dine and dash release, I’m...
- 3/12/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
February’s home entertainment releases are kicking off in a big way, as horror and sci-fi fans have an extraordinary number of brand spanking new titles to choose from this Tuesday. From indie horror to cult classics to cult classics in the making, February 2nd’s Blu-ray and DVD releases truly do offer up something for everyone.
Scream Factory is offering up two modern genre films this week, Hellions and Zombie Fight Club and Cinedigm is keeping busy too on Tuesday with their releases of Extraordinary Tales and The World of Kanako. Vin Diesel’s latest, The Last Witch Hunter, arrives on both Blu and DVD and if you call yourself a Henry Rollins fan, you will definitely want to pick up He Never Died this week as well.
Other notable titles being released on February 2nd include From Dusk Till Dawn: Season Two, Falling Skies: The Complete Fifth Season,...
Scream Factory is offering up two modern genre films this week, Hellions and Zombie Fight Club and Cinedigm is keeping busy too on Tuesday with their releases of Extraordinary Tales and The World of Kanako. Vin Diesel’s latest, The Last Witch Hunter, arrives on both Blu and DVD and if you call yourself a Henry Rollins fan, you will definitely want to pick up He Never Died this week as well.
Other notable titles being released on February 2nd include From Dusk Till Dawn: Season Two, Falling Skies: The Complete Fifth Season,...
- 2/2/2016
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
We have a winner for Biggest Comic-Con nerd -- it's gotta be Dwight Howard ... who's roaming San Diego as "Predator." Yeah, unless there's a 7-footer dressed as the Alien (which would be awesome) ... we're guessing 6'11" Dwight is king of the hill for cosplay fans this weekend. Check out the clip ... Dwight told us about all the time and effort he put into his get up. Hint: not much. Fun fact: Dwight isn't even as...
- 7/11/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Ryan Lambie Jul 6, 2016
In 1986, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the title alien in Predator before he was hurriedly recast. Ryan looks back at what happened...
In the mid-1980s, Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in America with dreams of stardom. Possessing a finely-honed physique, thanks to years of training in (among other things) karate, kickboxing and ballet, he was ambitious and brimming with self-belief.
The acting bug bit Van Damme while he was still in his teens: he played “a bad guy with all the knives” in the 1984 French gangster movie Rue Barbare and, determined to further his goal of becoming an actor, hopped on a plane to Los Angeles. His first few years in America were, however, tough. He slept in a rental car for two weeks, and made money by teaching aerobics and martial arts, delivering pizzas, and working as a doorman at a restaurant belonging to Chuck Norris.
In 1986, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the title alien in Predator before he was hurriedly recast. Ryan looks back at what happened...
In the mid-1980s, Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in America with dreams of stardom. Possessing a finely-honed physique, thanks to years of training in (among other things) karate, kickboxing and ballet, he was ambitious and brimming with self-belief.
The acting bug bit Van Damme while he was still in his teens: he played “a bad guy with all the knives” in the 1984 French gangster movie Rue Barbare and, determined to further his goal of becoming an actor, hopped on a plane to Los Angeles. His first few years in America were, however, tough. He slept in a rental car for two weeks, and made money by teaching aerobics and martial arts, delivering pizzas, and working as a doorman at a restaurant belonging to Chuck Norris.
- 10/21/2014
- Den of Geek
In 1986, Jean-Claude Van Damme was the title alien in Predator before he was hurriedly recast. Ryan looks back at what happened...
In the mid-1980s, Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in America with dreams of stardom. Possessing a finely-honed physique, thanks to years of training in (among other things) karate, kickboxing and ballet, he was ambitious and brimming with self-belief.
The acting bug bit Van Damme while he was still in his teens: he played “a bad guy with all the knives” in the 1984 French gangster movie Rue Barbare and, determined to further his goal of becoming an actor, hopped on a plane to Los Angeles. His first few years in America were, however, tough. He slept in a rental car for two weeks, and made money money by teaching aerobics and martial arts, delivering pizzas, and working as a doorman at a restaurant belonging to Chuck Norris.
In the mid-1980s, Belgian martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme arrived in America with dreams of stardom. Possessing a finely-honed physique, thanks to years of training in (among other things) karate, kickboxing and ballet, he was ambitious and brimming with self-belief.
The acting bug bit Van Damme while he was still in his teens: he played “a bad guy with all the knives” in the 1984 French gangster movie Rue Barbare and, determined to further his goal of becoming an actor, hopped on a plane to Los Angeles. His first few years in America were, however, tough. He slept in a rental car for two weeks, and made money money by teaching aerobics and martial arts, delivering pizzas, and working as a doorman at a restaurant belonging to Chuck Norris.
- 10/21/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Without Warning is another film being released to Blu-ray by Scream Factory that I’ve never seen, but it’s with good reason. The film has been largely unavailable on home video for the past 30 years. From what I understand, there was a VHS released in the UK, as well as a DVD that was mastered from the same source used to master the VHS, but never a legitimate DVD release, and no release at all in the states. The fact that this film is even being released at all is a miracle, much less that it is being given the Blu-ray treatment, with all-new extras. Without Warning has a lot going for it. It was shot by Dean Cundey, the monster/alien is played by Kevin Peter Hall, who was also Predator, as well as Harry in Harry and the Hendersons, and the film features Jack Palance and Martin Landau in superb character roles,...
- 8/5/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
It’s hard to believe that it’s already August, which means fall (and Halloween!) are just right around the corner. To keep all you genre fans busy in the meantime, there are a couple of classic releases coming this week from Scream Factory, as well as Mike Flanagan’s Oculus.
Spotlight Titles:
Oculus (20th Century Fox, Blu-ray & DVD)
Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence,...
Spotlight Titles:
Oculus (20th Century Fox, Blu-ray & DVD)
Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence,...
- 8/5/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Some sequels are doomed to live in the shadow of the hits that triggered them. Here are a few examples...
Following up a successful movie with a sequel is a tough proposition for any writer or director, and it's often the case that such follow-ups fail to recreate the magic of their predecessors. But sometimes, sequels can offer a different yet entertaining experience of their own, and it's even possible that, if they didn't happen to share the same name as an earlier hit film, they might even have been better received.
This article's dedicated to a few of these kinds of films. They offer lots of excitement, comedy, jolts of terror and a smattering of great performances, and might have fared better with audiences and critics had they not been sequels. At the very least, they attempted to do something a little different than the films they followed. While other examples undeniably remain,...
Following up a successful movie with a sequel is a tough proposition for any writer or director, and it's often the case that such follow-ups fail to recreate the magic of their predecessors. But sometimes, sequels can offer a different yet entertaining experience of their own, and it's even possible that, if they didn't happen to share the same name as an earlier hit film, they might even have been better received.
This article's dedicated to a few of these kinds of films. They offer lots of excitement, comedy, jolts of terror and a smattering of great performances, and might have fared better with audiences and critics had they not been sequels. At the very least, they attempted to do something a little different than the films they followed. While other examples undeniably remain,...
- 7/29/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
From a suburban werewolf to a farmer who plants people, Scream Factory will continue to deliver cult horror films to viewers’ doorsteps throughout this Summer of Fear. Those attending Sdcc next week will get a taste of their terror treats firsthand at booth #4248, where a number of Blu-rays will be available, as well a limited edition t-shirt, posters, and an “inside look” panel that will include special announcements and sneak peeks of upcoming Blu-ray releases.
The panel, titled An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory, will take place on Friday, July 25th, 2014 at 7pm in Room 23Abc. In addition to exclusive panel announcements, a Comic-Con exclusive blood-red Scream Factory t-shirt will be available at their booth, as well as a free 2014 button pack, collectible keychains, screen wipes, and more. Also available at booth #4248 will be the following batch of Scream Factory Blu-rays, each one coming with...
The panel, titled An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory, will take place on Friday, July 25th, 2014 at 7pm in Room 23Abc. In addition to exclusive panel announcements, a Comic-Con exclusive blood-red Scream Factory t-shirt will be available at their booth, as well as a free 2014 button pack, collectible keychains, screen wipes, and more. Also available at booth #4248 will be the following batch of Scream Factory Blu-rays, each one coming with...
- 7/14/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Humankind’s collision with otherworldly life forms can make for unforgettable cinema.
This article will highlight the best of live-action human vs. alien films. The creatures may be from other planets or may be non-demonic entities from other dimensions.
Excluded from consideration were giant monster films as the diakaiju genre would make a great subject for separate articles.
Readers looking for “friendly alien” films such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), It Came from Outer Space (1953) and the comically overrated Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) are advised to keep watching the skies because they won’t find them here.
Film writing being the game of knowledge filtered through personal taste that it is, some readers’ subgenre favorites might not have made the list such as War of the Worlds (1953) and 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957).
Now let’s take a chronological look at the cinema’s best battles between Us and Them.
This article will highlight the best of live-action human vs. alien films. The creatures may be from other planets or may be non-demonic entities from other dimensions.
Excluded from consideration were giant monster films as the diakaiju genre would make a great subject for separate articles.
Readers looking for “friendly alien” films such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), It Came from Outer Space (1953) and the comically overrated Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) are advised to keep watching the skies because they won’t find them here.
Film writing being the game of knowledge filtered through personal taste that it is, some readers’ subgenre favorites might not have made the list such as War of the Worlds (1953) and 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957).
Now let’s take a chronological look at the cinema’s best battles between Us and Them.
- 7/13/2014
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
I’d have to say that 1987 was one of my favorite years to be a young movie fan. Because we didn’t have a ton of money, my mom and I would spend most of our weekends at the drive-in taking in double features of all kinds of now-classic films, which included John McTiernan’s eternally badass Predator.
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, Shane Black, Sonny Landham and Kevin Peter Hall as the titular intergalactic hunter, Predator opened at number one the weekend of June 12th despite receiving a lackluster response from critics at the time. Predator’s theatrical success would continue for another six weeks, with McTiernan’s genre-bending blockbuster eventually taking in almost $60 million during its run that summer.
Predator’s run wouldn’t end there though- there was also the release of the successful 1990 sequel Predator 2 starring Danny Glover and Gary Busey,...
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, Shane Black, Sonny Landham and Kevin Peter Hall as the titular intergalactic hunter, Predator opened at number one the weekend of June 12th despite receiving a lackluster response from critics at the time. Predator’s theatrical success would continue for another six weeks, with McTiernan’s genre-bending blockbuster eventually taking in almost $60 million during its run that summer.
Predator’s run wouldn’t end there though- there was also the release of the successful 1990 sequel Predator 2 starring Danny Glover and Gary Busey,...
- 7/9/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
The question of the existence of extraterrestrial life has long been a mystery plaguing the human race. While many continue to be fascinated by this question, film offers us some answers. In film, aliens are often portrayed as monstrous animals, creatures that thrive on basic instinct and kill for the sake of killing. This vicious take on otherworldly beings has been the basis of many science fiction-horror movies over the decades. Ever since H.G. Welles’ novel War of the Worlds, fictional accounts of aliens taking over the world and destroying humanity has been an extremely popular premise for many entertainment mediums.
To explore the history of malevolent aliens on film, one must start with such 1950s classics as Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Blob. These films used the alien monster as a metaphor for paranoia. This was a time in which the atomic bomb was a threat...
To explore the history of malevolent aliens on film, one must start with such 1950s classics as Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Blob. These films used the alien monster as a metaphor for paranoia. This was a time in which the atomic bomb was a threat...
- 6/29/2014
- by Randall Unger
- SoundOnSight
“It preys on human fear. It feeds on human flesh.” Scream Factory has officially announced their August 5th release of Without Warning to Blu-ray & DVD. The cover art and special features on this first-ever home media release of Without Warning should excite fans of the 1980 sci-fi thriller.
“The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar® winners Jack Palance (Batman) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Tarah Nutter (Bitter Harvest), Christopher S. Nelson (Roller Boogie), Cameron Mitchell (Blood and Black Lace), Neville Brand...
“The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar® winners Jack Palance (Batman) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Tarah Nutter (Bitter Harvest), Christopher S. Nelson (Roller Boogie), Cameron Mitchell (Blood and Black Lace), Neville Brand...
- 6/6/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Released in 1980, the low-budget sci-fi horror flick Without Warning has faded into relative obscurity over the course of the last several years, never managing to find itself on any home video format. That all changes this summer, when Scream Factory breathes new life into a lost and undiscovered gem. Read on for full release details!
From the Press Release
The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar® winners Jack Palance (Batman) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Tarah Nutter (Bitter Harvest...
From the Press Release
The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar® winners Jack Palance (Batman) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Tarah Nutter (Bitter Harvest...
- 6/5/2014
- by John Squires
- DreadCentral.com
Review James Hunt 25 Apr 2014 - 09:53
Warning: this episode of Tng might turn your stomach...
This review contains spoilers.
3.8 The Price
The episode opens with Troi collecting her voicemail, because that is a thing people still do in the future. After deleting all of the messages from her mother and ignoring junk mail about a new psychology study, she sits down and starts asking the replicator for "real" chocolate, which confuses the replicator because what else would it make? Unreal chocolate?
Having finally established Troi's secondary character trait (they've all got one. Riker plays the Trombone, Geordi is a holo-pervert, Data owns a cat, and so on.), the focus shifts to Picard, who is hosting a reception ahead of some trade negotiations. The Barzan people have discovered the galaxy's one and only stable wormhole, direct to the Gamma Quadrant. Everyone is excited about this, because it means they can travel...
Warning: this episode of Tng might turn your stomach...
This review contains spoilers.
3.8 The Price
The episode opens with Troi collecting her voicemail, because that is a thing people still do in the future. After deleting all of the messages from her mother and ignoring junk mail about a new psychology study, she sits down and starts asking the replicator for "real" chocolate, which confuses the replicator because what else would it make? Unreal chocolate?
Having finally established Troi's secondary character trait (they've all got one. Riker plays the Trombone, Geordi is a holo-pervert, Data owns a cat, and so on.), the focus shifts to Picard, who is hosting a reception ahead of some trade negotiations. The Barzan people have discovered the galaxy's one and only stable wormhole, direct to the Gamma Quadrant. Everyone is excited about this, because it means they can travel...
- 4/25/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
If you're a fan of the movie Predator, you've got to watch this video commentary from Stan Winston School. It features Makeup FX innovator Steve Johnson giving us the history of the Predator costume, showing the original "terrible" design. It even includes video footage of aspiring action star at the time Jean-Claude Van Damme wearing a version of the suit that would be used for cloaking scenes.
I love how no one on the production explained to Van Damme what he would be doing in the film or why he was wearing the suit. Poor guy thought that was what the alien would look like, and he was kind of pissed off, especially when he learned he wouldn't be performing any martial arts or fighting Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When the final version of the suit was developed, Kevin Peter Hall was the guy who stepped into the role. I'm so glad...
I love how no one on the production explained to Van Damme what he would be doing in the film or why he was wearing the suit. Poor guy thought that was what the alien would look like, and he was kind of pissed off, especially when he learned he wouldn't be performing any martial arts or fighting Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When the final version of the suit was developed, Kevin Peter Hall was the guy who stepped into the role. I'm so glad...
- 4/9/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Back when Jean-Claude Van Damme was a Hollywood newcomer, he wanted nothing more than to make a name for himself as an action star. So when he got the role in "Predator" as the title character, he thought that he would get the chance to show off his martial arts skills against Arnold Schwarzenegger. But what he got was a red costume that he had to wear the entire time. What Van Damme didn't know was that the costume was red for special effects purposes in order to make the Predator invisible. The actor was upset about the whole thing and was later replaced by Kevin Peter Hall when the insect-like design of the creature was scrapped in favor of the look we're now all familiar with. Below is a video that not only contains make-up guru Steve Johnson (Ghostbusters, Species, Blade 2) telling the story of Van Damme's experience, but...
- 4/9/2014
- WorstPreviews.com
Something you might not know about Predator is that Jean-Claude Van Damme was the original choice to play the monstrous title character before being replaced by the late Kevin Peter Hall. Just as the actor was changed, so, too, was the suit as this hilarious new video reveals.
Posted on YouTube this week by the Stan Winston School of Character Arts, the vintage video of Van Damme donning the original Predator suit is joined together with a new interview with makeup effects artist Steve Johnson, who at long last reveals the true story behind the creature costume that almost was.
The never-before-seen video gives us a better look at the original outfit than past pictures have ever shown us, and Johnson's memories of the ill-fated costume are absolutely hilarious. Van Damme, he recalls, wasn't at all happy about the look of the suit, thinking that an incredibly goofy version of...
Posted on YouTube this week by the Stan Winston School of Character Arts, the vintage video of Van Damme donning the original Predator suit is joined together with a new interview with makeup effects artist Steve Johnson, who at long last reveals the true story behind the creature costume that almost was.
The never-before-seen video gives us a better look at the original outfit than past pictures have ever shown us, and Johnson's memories of the ill-fated costume are absolutely hilarious. Van Damme, he recalls, wasn't at all happy about the look of the suit, thinking that an incredibly goofy version of...
- 4/8/2014
- by John Squires
- DreadCentral.com
Before the award-winning creature designer, Steve Wang, designed the look of the Predator that we all know and love, there was a much different version conceived with "backward bent reptilian legs, extended arms" and an insect-like facial sculpt. That original version of the monster didn't require a tall actor like Kevin Peter Hall, who played the final version of the monster, so they hired then-newcomer, Jean-Claude Van Damme ("The Quest"). In the video below, special effects guru, Steve Johnson, recounts the challenges the Muscles From Brussels encountered on his first big Hollywood production. There's also some rare footage of the Sudden Death actor in the original monster suits. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this action-packed adventure story of fighting men pitted against an unseen enemy, a force more powerful than their fiercest weapons. Recruited by the CIA to rescue hostages held by guerrilla fighters in a Central American country, Schwarzenegger and...
- 4/8/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
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