dylanfordays
Joined Aug 2021
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dylanfordays's rating
The Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers combo at the peak of their physiques is action movie gold.
It's made even better by the fact that the audience is supposed to buy into the fact that this Predator is the real deal, so when we see it tear through a bunch of similar battle-trained soldiers with ease, it's effective for sure. Seeing the fear on the face of Weathers' Dillon character or Sonny Landham's Billy Character, for example, went a long way towards building the proper atmosphere surrounding the thing that's hunting them. The Central American jungle setting elevated the sense of dread and claustrophobia, too.
I have to note, unfortunately, that the score by Alan Silvestri, who is responsible for great stuff including the iconic Back to the Future soundtrack, felt out of place for me. There are great elements to it, such as the theme that plays whenever the Predator is lurking, but the main loop of the general theme was too...silly or wacky for lack of a better word. Did not fit the vibe most of the time, but it wasn't detrimental to the film or anything. Maybe action movies of the time period favored the more upbeat stuff as opposed to something more oppressive even if to match the situation of the story.
Schwarzenegger himself starts off really rocky in the acting department but then settles in quite well when dialogue is no longer required from him as much. The entire last act of the film between him and the Predator was fantastic and felt like a different kind of movie, honestly.
The rest of the crew was the standard group of soldiers that I'm used to seeing in movies like this, so nothing too special to note about them. Some attempts at humor in the beginning, but just like with Arnold, I'm willing to forgive the shaky beginning all around. A favorite scene of mine was Billy staring into the valley and announcing there was something in the trees. I just wish they capitalized on this cool character by having the Predator match his energy on the log so that we could witness hand to hand combat against it for the first time as opposed to the off-screen conclusion he undeservedly received. However, I understand the reasons for the filmmakers to save a scene like that for the confrontation with the main protagonist. It just would have been a cool moment is all I'm saying.
The Predator itself was cooler than I expected for its first iteration; while it's odd for me to have anticipated less out of the OG film, I suppose the complete lack of love that I've seen in any circles for this movie led me to believe the best was yet to come for this IP. Now, I feel secure in saying that the first appearance of the Predator was well done. Probably too much "Predator-Vision" by the end, but I can't blame them for thinking that was really cool at the time. Also, I am choosing to believe the laugh it gives in its final scene was the work of the established voice imitation skills channeling Billy's earlier laugh instead of being genuine. If that was supposed to be real...massive aura plummet is called for. Otherwise, the good looks we do get of the creature were satisfying. Great concept that has deservedly persisted into the current year with the new release, Predator: Badlands (2025), which is getting rave reviews. I am excited to see it after getting properly introduced to the Predator filmography.
Watch for the most masculine handshake ever put to screen.
WATCHED ON: Disney Plus
HIGHER OR LOWER: higher.
It's made even better by the fact that the audience is supposed to buy into the fact that this Predator is the real deal, so when we see it tear through a bunch of similar battle-trained soldiers with ease, it's effective for sure. Seeing the fear on the face of Weathers' Dillon character or Sonny Landham's Billy Character, for example, went a long way towards building the proper atmosphere surrounding the thing that's hunting them. The Central American jungle setting elevated the sense of dread and claustrophobia, too.
I have to note, unfortunately, that the score by Alan Silvestri, who is responsible for great stuff including the iconic Back to the Future soundtrack, felt out of place for me. There are great elements to it, such as the theme that plays whenever the Predator is lurking, but the main loop of the general theme was too...silly or wacky for lack of a better word. Did not fit the vibe most of the time, but it wasn't detrimental to the film or anything. Maybe action movies of the time period favored the more upbeat stuff as opposed to something more oppressive even if to match the situation of the story.
Schwarzenegger himself starts off really rocky in the acting department but then settles in quite well when dialogue is no longer required from him as much. The entire last act of the film between him and the Predator was fantastic and felt like a different kind of movie, honestly.
The rest of the crew was the standard group of soldiers that I'm used to seeing in movies like this, so nothing too special to note about them. Some attempts at humor in the beginning, but just like with Arnold, I'm willing to forgive the shaky beginning all around. A favorite scene of mine was Billy staring into the valley and announcing there was something in the trees. I just wish they capitalized on this cool character by having the Predator match his energy on the log so that we could witness hand to hand combat against it for the first time as opposed to the off-screen conclusion he undeservedly received. However, I understand the reasons for the filmmakers to save a scene like that for the confrontation with the main protagonist. It just would have been a cool moment is all I'm saying.
The Predator itself was cooler than I expected for its first iteration; while it's odd for me to have anticipated less out of the OG film, I suppose the complete lack of love that I've seen in any circles for this movie led me to believe the best was yet to come for this IP. Now, I feel secure in saying that the first appearance of the Predator was well done. Probably too much "Predator-Vision" by the end, but I can't blame them for thinking that was really cool at the time. Also, I am choosing to believe the laugh it gives in its final scene was the work of the established voice imitation skills channeling Billy's earlier laugh instead of being genuine. If that was supposed to be real...massive aura plummet is called for. Otherwise, the good looks we do get of the creature were satisfying. Great concept that has deservedly persisted into the current year with the new release, Predator: Badlands (2025), which is getting rave reviews. I am excited to see it after getting properly introduced to the Predator filmography.
Watch for the most masculine handshake ever put to screen.
WATCHED ON: Disney Plus
HIGHER OR LOWER: higher.
Between this and The Order (2024), I think it's safe to say I'm becoming the target audience for these gritty 90s crime dramas in Small Town, USA. So far, they're not anything special, but they don't need to be. I'll take 50 of these solid and consistent films over most things floating around out there.
We follow Billy Magnussen who plays Lucas Frost, an heir to a third of a family drug empire, as he deals with the aftermath of a terrible personal tragedy at the hands of his own estranged kin. Starting out as an honest man on his way out of the criminal world his family is steeped in, Lucas' need for revenge pushes him to a point of no return-hence, "Violent Ends."
I really like the idea of revenge on paper. Seeing justice carried out on bad people should be a slam dunk entertainment wise, but in practice, a delicate balance needs to be struck between satisfying retribution and keeping a grasp on the protagonist's good nature. This is why many revenge plots will go the route of "forgiveness," which this film addresses, but even that conclusion can feel underwhelming at times. In this case, this subjective topic came across as a little too indulgent on the side of blood or an "eye for an eye." Do I think it would have been a better movie if Lucas had shown more restraint? Not particularly. All I know is that my empathy for Lucas was significantly lessened once he crosses a certain line. The reaction from the brother and mother point to this being the intended impact, but even so, the emotional resonance at the end can only reach so far after this point.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Kate Burton, who I enjoyed in NBC's Grimm (2011-2017), play the mother of Lucas and a cop, Darlene Woodley. Unfortunately, I felt they didn't use her to the full potential. Early on, her careful investigation into the inciting incident seemed like it was going to surpass Lucas' messier rush for justice and offer something to say about playing things straight despite seemingly easier options, but her subplot was delegated to uncovering a "twist" about the case that I personally saw coming. Her contribution of this information wasn't even really necessary either as it was actively being revealed just as she arrives with it.
I couldn't help but think about Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014), which, despite the benefit of multiple seasons of television to build upon, handles the exact "brand" of vengeance this film was targeting much better on many occasions. As for a movie comp, one of my favorites of last year, The Dead Don't Hurt (2024) reaches a similar conclusion but handles the aftermath of the revenge tastefully enough to make the whole ordeal feel earned, which this movie lacks a bit (although, the flashback was a really nice touch to close it out).
My favorite scene was probably when Lucas and his brother Tuck seek out Uncle Walt Frost, played really well by Ray McKinnon, in order to negotiate for a more "rational" justice. This plan ends terribly, of course, but it was surely entertaining to watch.
Other random thoughts: I enjoyed the "rattlesnake" analogy to describe Lucas and his situation. I found it odd how Lucas demanded so much out of Tuck despite caring about him and knowing what his involvement could mean for his family (until the very end when it was too late). I felt that Lucas' "at least I'm doing something" justification for his actions was weak, especially considering the seemingly decent job his mother was doing given how recent the incident was.
Between this and The Order, I would choose the latter for the star power. It turns out that really does matter.
WATCHED ON: AMC Theaters
HIGHER OR LOWER: higher.
We follow Billy Magnussen who plays Lucas Frost, an heir to a third of a family drug empire, as he deals with the aftermath of a terrible personal tragedy at the hands of his own estranged kin. Starting out as an honest man on his way out of the criminal world his family is steeped in, Lucas' need for revenge pushes him to a point of no return-hence, "Violent Ends."
I really like the idea of revenge on paper. Seeing justice carried out on bad people should be a slam dunk entertainment wise, but in practice, a delicate balance needs to be struck between satisfying retribution and keeping a grasp on the protagonist's good nature. This is why many revenge plots will go the route of "forgiveness," which this film addresses, but even that conclusion can feel underwhelming at times. In this case, this subjective topic came across as a little too indulgent on the side of blood or an "eye for an eye." Do I think it would have been a better movie if Lucas had shown more restraint? Not particularly. All I know is that my empathy for Lucas was significantly lessened once he crosses a certain line. The reaction from the brother and mother point to this being the intended impact, but even so, the emotional resonance at the end can only reach so far after this point.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Kate Burton, who I enjoyed in NBC's Grimm (2011-2017), play the mother of Lucas and a cop, Darlene Woodley. Unfortunately, I felt they didn't use her to the full potential. Early on, her careful investigation into the inciting incident seemed like it was going to surpass Lucas' messier rush for justice and offer something to say about playing things straight despite seemingly easier options, but her subplot was delegated to uncovering a "twist" about the case that I personally saw coming. Her contribution of this information wasn't even really necessary either as it was actively being revealed just as she arrives with it.
I couldn't help but think about Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014), which, despite the benefit of multiple seasons of television to build upon, handles the exact "brand" of vengeance this film was targeting much better on many occasions. As for a movie comp, one of my favorites of last year, The Dead Don't Hurt (2024) reaches a similar conclusion but handles the aftermath of the revenge tastefully enough to make the whole ordeal feel earned, which this movie lacks a bit (although, the flashback was a really nice touch to close it out).
My favorite scene was probably when Lucas and his brother Tuck seek out Uncle Walt Frost, played really well by Ray McKinnon, in order to negotiate for a more "rational" justice. This plan ends terribly, of course, but it was surely entertaining to watch.
Other random thoughts: I enjoyed the "rattlesnake" analogy to describe Lucas and his situation. I found it odd how Lucas demanded so much out of Tuck despite caring about him and knowing what his involvement could mean for his family (until the very end when it was too late). I felt that Lucas' "at least I'm doing something" justification for his actions was weak, especially considering the seemingly decent job his mother was doing given how recent the incident was.
Between this and The Order, I would choose the latter for the star power. It turns out that really does matter.
WATCHED ON: AMC Theaters
HIGHER OR LOWER: higher.
