Production Hell - Predator

Sometimes even the best movies have a tough production process, and Predator was one of the most gruelling films of Arnold Schwarzenegger's entire career.

[@chance_ondriezek99]

This is proof that not every movie with a hellish production turns out bad.

[@livingbreathinghuman3451]

The same goes for Apocalypse Now too

[@reservoirdude92]

​@@livingbreathinghuman3451and damn near every Herzog film 😂

[@Sentinelll]

Yeah, Apocalypse now is much more extreme example I think.

[@namantherockstar]

Critical Drinker inspires me.. My parents said if i get 60K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally Begging...

[@ProjectShinkai]

I'm apocalypse now was amazing.

[@braedon2313]

The way Dutch went from being the hunter of the guerrillas to the hunted by the predator and then rose up back to being the hunter of the predator is so badass! I wish there were more movies like this.

[@cbrreezzyy69]

It’s called the ‘80s and ‘90s, shit, even ‘00-‘10. This thing where every movie is a piece of shit is a newer phenomenon. They use to know how to make really good movies in Hollywood before 2016.

[@namantherockstar]

Critical Drinker inspires me.. My parents said if i get 60K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally Begging...

[@chaos.corner]

@@cbrreezzyy69There was a big lull in the 70s which eventually gave way to the bonanza of the 80s. Everything old is new again.

[@Fernando_616]

@@namantherockstarI can only sub once, hope it helps. Follow your dreams dude 👍

[@lucasdieguez1244]

@@namantherockstar Make something to show off your skills and send it with a $5 superchat to the FNT crowd, those guys have helped quite a lot of talented streamers. Best of lucks to you👍!

[@ggrarl]

Rest in peace, Stan Winston, you absolute genius. He helped with Terminator, Predator, Aliens, Jurassic Park, and even Iron Man, just to name a few. Even when the movies he worked on were bad, his effects were always impressive.

[@randomscribblings7192]

I was lucky enough to meet Mr Winston just a few years before his passing, he was incredibly likable and talkative with us fans. And I caught a photo of him fangirling over meeting Michael Rosenbaum which was hilarious.

[@vormina9808]

@@MREKZbin The SFX those 3 did in the 80's look 10 times better and more realistic than any CGI done today. The Howling and American Werewolf in London still have the best transformation scenes ever done.

[@Thuddster]

Your phrasing is off; the movies you mentioned are definitely *not* bad movies, and while his effects added to those films, your phrasing implies they were bad movies by juxtaposition.

[@thehunzz]

The Man

[@chrisknight2631]

@@vormina9808American Werewolf in London was one of the first ‘adult’ films I saw. ‘Grown-Up’ is probably a better term for it. I was 6 or 7 and tucked up in bed when I heard my sister screaming for my dad - she had heard someone else screaming outside which apparently sounded like someone was dying. My dad called the police, and with all the commotion I ended up downstairs with her while my father was in the other room talking to the police. What was he watching before the interruption? American Werewolf in London and what bit did I witness about 20 minutes after going down? The change. Even as a child I didn’t find it particularly scary, but I found it absolutely incredible. Could not believe my eyes! Seeing the guys hands stretch, and his jaw turn bulge forward turning into the wolf’s snout. Mesmerising and today it still looks pretty good. Practical, in-camera effects are always better than CGI in my opinion. When done right it looks better but also leaves you wondering how they did it. It was years until I saw that film again, and a few more years until I saw a making-of, which I found just as good as the movie itself!

[@paulnicholson5997]

Oh, to be a teenager and walk into the theater, not knowing exactly what you were in store for. The 80's were a gift to cinema, great movie!

[@DarthPerkins]

When that helmet came off...

[@alexdhroso9022]

Yes,there was a time that movies were made by people who CARED. Cared for the story,for the characters,about the details,for the audiences. Man has the industry gone backwards.

[@duncanedwards6461]

Backwards?. They've flushed it down the toilet. I agree with you though. Sad isn't it 😢

[@ArmyWolves]

yeah when you read or watch the dedication of the people behind certain movies from the writing, directing, acting, special and visual effects even the stuntmen... damn even the make up team poured their heart and soul into movies decades ago

[@Jayremy89]

Most actors today have zero input or leadership and serious say or investment in the film success. That's why you get so many top tier sctirs do crap movies. Back then actors stuck up for having a solid script and plot.

[@josephmayfield945]

I sometimes think, when growing up in 80’s and the 90’s, I never would have imagined that it was all going to go away. We really do take so many great things in our culture for granted.

[@josephmayfield945]

@@ArmyWolves”do it in post,” will be etched on the tombstone of cinema.

[@jasonsanders8797]

The fact that Arnold didn't want the movie to revolve solely around him says a lot about the man's intelligence and humility despite his bravado and larger than life status.

[@Annokh]

I suppose he understands that chemistry between characters is important, and you're probably not getting it in this kind of a movie without a team of some sort.

[@majpeaches]

Its aspirational

[@Lyndonswing]

Right.....I'm impressed.

[@neatcool4770]

Arnold said "Screw your freedom" during the scamdemic, I and many others have lost all respect for him, he's no longer an American to us. I might watch his old movies, but his career is dead in my eyes

[@drewfuller8660]

I don't think Arnold had an ounce of humility back then. Intelligent, though. Very much so.

[@drinkxyz]

One aspect of this film that doesn't get enough love is the brilliant musical score.

[@yousedbucket]

Facts

[@luvmydub]

Everything about the film rocks but the score always gets me. Well said

[@braxxian]

👍

[@Scarlett_Azure]

Fun fact: The same composer made Avengers theme and Forrest Gump theme. Alan Silvestri

[@M.W.H.]

Indeed. The tribal piece is timeless.

[@devilsmessanger]

The fact that actors suffered like Vietnam soldiers did, kinda makes the whole thing even more cool and believable now .

[@Jayakrishnantr5217]

The fact that a movie which had a production hell turned out into a cult classic tells you all about just how good filmmakers were back in the day. Man if only films could entertain like this today.

[@protalghulnist4126]

I think this movie is way too big a success to be considered a cult classic

[@cokemaster3710]

you act like john wick didn’t experience some of the difficulties and came out about a decade ago only to give us a better franchise then predator ever has been. great movies like this still happen dont be so overdramatic

[@nojuanatall3281]

Hopefully we can train AI to make cult classics since modern human directors leave much to be desired.

[@Jayakrishnantr5217]

​@@cokemaster3710chill bro. Didn't take your meds today?

[@cokemaster3710]

@@Jayakrishnantr5217quit projecting im chill. im just pointing out movies like (or better than) predator come out today

[@ragincajun212]

It's absolutely insane how well Predator holds up in 2023. Acting, effects, and story are all on point.

[@benjiro8793]

Practical effects and limited CGI always hold up way better over time. The more CGI you throw at a movie, the more changes of flaws in that CGI just being "off" and that stuff does not age well.

[@purefoldnz3070]

80s!

[@BoraHorzaGobuchul]

The only thing that looks silly is the lack of aiming when shooting. Particularly noticeable when Arnold shoots his m16 jerking it left and right when they attack the rebel base. But well, it's the 80ies, few people knew how shooting is done back then :)

[@ProstheticConscience]

@@BoraHorzaGobuchul Studio didn't trust McTiernan with this relatively high cost scene, so another director filmed the base assault.

[@apk4381]

They do that on purpose so you can see his muscles flexed

[@mgsostanj]

Predator is immersive as hell. Love how the movie just flows effortlessly scene to scene. It builds suspense and tension perfectly until the final awesome act between dutch and predator.

[@papigringo5692]

There is not a single wasted moment in the movie. No fat. Everything serves to propel the story forward. It's truly brilliant.

[@bulbasaurbrutal5137]

And the Silvestri score does a terrific job to add the extra glue and ease the scenes into each other.

[@Ihavehadmanynames7779]

The spine cord scene gave me ptsd as a kid. Thats all i have burned into my memory. That and when arnold cuts his father head off at the end in conan. Even terminator terrified me, i used to sit and watch them all on cable with those old crt box tv’s early year 2000’s Arnold is for sure an action movie legend. It’s just not the same anymore now they only want to use all forms of media to indoctrinate.

[@Bayan1905]

It's amazing how well Predator holds up even to this day. What a decade it was to grow up in. Terminator, Predator, and Aliens all within a few years.

[@braxxian]

The good old 80’s. I really miss them.

[@DaddyGreer65]

Robocop too

[@axelhens7831]

Back when Hollywood didnt suck

[@zzz43344]

​@@DaddyGreer65 Yeah

[@jamessherlock6912]

The 80's was terrible for everything cultural.

[@RobTheTrucker]

Carl Weathers joked in an interview that Arnold Schwarzenegger got him addicted to cigar smoking during filming. Arnold, famous for smoking cigars, offered one to Weathers, who initially declined because he was a non-smoker from his pro-football player days, but eventually gave in. Once Weathers had tried it, Arnold gave him an entire box of cigars. Weathers ended this part of the interview by looking to the camera and cheerfully declaring "Shame on you Arnold! Shame on you!" 🤣

[@seeinred]

This is so heart-warming for some reason :D

[@tba113]

That's a real nasty habit he got there.

[@jackmesrel4933]

​@tba113 Not really. Good cigars don't have the shit that turns your lungs into black sponges of death, or at least they have it in way lesser quantities, so if you smoke them with minimal moderation, your lungs would be fine. Hell, I once smoked a cigarette and hated it to later smoke a cigar from my grandpa and loving it.

[@need-to-know-]

@@tba113Yeah at least he didn’t take up Blain’s offer.

[@texasbeast239]

When someone with arms like young Arnie pushes drugs, you're just gonna lose that battle.

[@rogierb5945]

Kind of insane that Predator and Die Hard was directed by the same guy. Making one action classic is hard enough but making two in a row, Legendary.

[@RobMacc]

Then followed these two classics up with The Hunt For Red October... man was on a roll.

[@JeremyBurch-td7no]

He also did Last Action Hero which is fucking awesome too

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

My film school lecturer was the Head Gaffer on this film. His name is Tony Holtham and was a legend to learn from. He said the toughest thing in his job lighting Carl Weathers and Bill Duke, as their skin was so dark and was a nightmare to adequately expose them realistically with their lighter skinned co-stars under the dark canopy of the Mexican jungle. Powering the lighting setups with generators in the jungle had its own issues. Thanks for everything, Tony. I learned a lot in your class and think of your advice every time I watch this film.

[@chatteyj]

I was best boy

[@fakshen1973]

It's very difficult to find a nice balance between skin tones that absorb more light and those that reflect more light. You either have someone that's just eyes and teeth or another actor that's so blown out that they look like a ghost... even in natural, unobstructed sunlight. Never skimp on lighting professionals if you're looking to get quality results. Fixing it in post is a death sentence.

[@paulnicholson5997]

What was the solution he came up with? I remember the lighting had a blueish tint to it in those scenes, trying to come off as moonlight.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@paulnicholson5997 I was actually referring to day shots. Under the thick canopy, the sunlight was blocked considerably and artificial light had to be blasted into the scene to expose the film as it was that dark. The light on the actors with paler skin were either diffused with a scrim or lit with different lights. As for the night shots, the lights had no more than 1/2 blue gels. Unlike James Cameron who ubiquitously uses full-blue gels to "stylise" night shots, Tony opted for a lower intensity of blue, as it is more realistic. The green canopy and foliage also affects the radiosity (colour of reflected light) and would make the look of full blue-gels very muddy and unrealistic on film. When you watch the film again, the night shots are closer to a turquoise or marine blue, which is closer to actual moonlight.

[@paulnicholson5997]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia Cool, thanks for the info. I knew some sort of blue lighting was used in the night scenes, it is a defused, softer blue. Blue gels you said? And yes, the jungle lighting can cause lighting problems. I don't have anywhere near your level of experience, but I've shot second camera to my pops during my 20 year side gig doing Wedding photography. Not quite the same as what you're doing, but we had to measure the light and use defusers as well. The best lighting was actually a slightly overcast day, instead of sunny, because the clouds are doing the defusing for us. Thx.

[@DaFunkler-gp6ie]

FUN FACT: The clicking noise that is made by the Predator was actually created by a voice actor with no audio effects. The noise was made by Peter Cullen who did the voices of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh and the voice of the original Optimus Prime from the G1 Transformers show. He also did the voice of Optimus Prime in the TF Michael Bay films and in the third film they made a few transformers actually look like predators.

[@sasamisa1806]

I always tend to remember him as Venger from Dungeon & Dragons myself. (=^_^=)

[@Bap-lt4ms]

Damn, that guy gets around

[@DaFunkler-gp6ie]

Heck yeah.@@Bap-lt4ms

[@HeisenbergFam]

The way they showed marines being OP at the start just to turn them to easy prey for Predator is genius

[@hariman7727]

They're ready for a pitched battle, but not a stealthy assassin.

[@esteban1487]

​@@hariman7727Green Berets. Army.

[@symbiote3220]

@@esteban1487people forget that uncle sams misguided cunts are more in line with the alien franchise. And the army are the ones who face the predators

[@Dave_McDaveface]

He eats Green Berets for breakfast@@esteban1487

[@hariman7727]

@@esteban1487 ??? I stated what they were ready for, not which military branch. Edited for a typo.

[@sunset-rebel]

Agreed. This movie is a stone cold classic and makes 99.9% of movies made now look silly. No politics, agenda or pandering, just a great movie.

[@cattysplat]

Predator actually has a ton of good diversity with a big range of actors getting screen time and spoken parts, especially for an 80s movie. Nobody is safe from the Predator though!

[@kingofhearts3185]

@@cattysplat It's a good example of how to do diversity. Nobody brings it up, and an actor of any race could play any of the characters without problems.

[@SirBlackReeds]

I dunno. It sounds like your barometer is "no politics, agenda, or pandering," which is frankly setting your standards low.

[@cyberpunk11x]

The last duel (2021) directed by Ridley Scott is one hell of a movie. Go and watch it if you haven't.

[@johncarry5989]

@@kingofhearts3185 exactly. All the actors were there based on merit and what they could bring to the film rather than to tick a box.

[@tlilmiztli]

I dont even need a few beers - I re-watch Predator at least twice a year. Timeless classic.

[@Sentinelll]

I love how this also points out how Arnold made movies better. It seems like almost every action hero now is an asshole who demands to be the main hero, can't get hurt, can't be evil, etc (see: the rock, Vin Diesel). But here Arnold didn't want to be the lone hero against the monster and it made the movie so much better. Never mind all the hurt he put on himself just to get the movie made. He's a goddamn legend.

[@naamadossantossilva4736]

He also improved the Terminator.Peak Arnold was a monster

[@jameslough6329]

This is facts. Especially when you consider that part of The Rock's contract for Black Adam was that he LITERALLY was not allowed to lose a fight🤣 Talk about Narcissism

[@soypelu283]

And that's why Diesel and the Rock have almost no good movies.

[@Mattened]

That was back then. Now, he's an elitist establishment shill. "Screw your freedom!" - Arnold, 2021

[@HerculesBallsInc]

This is part of what I tell people when they say that it's not the actor's fault for being in a bad movie. A GREAT actor can make the movie BETTER. Not just from his performance, but from the input he can provide and the contacts he may have. It's probably not an accident that they got the special-effects guy from Terminator.

[@jimjones308]

Chaves and Ventura are actual Vietnam veterans. They move like soldiers because they were soldiers. The movie is absurd, but at the same time, takes itself so seriously you have to take it seriously too. I love how the Predator moves. An a large, apex predator moves with a confident directness. Deliberate, almost heavy. But purposeful. Hall does this masterfully.

[@Banished-rx4ol]

I knew there was something authentic in how they moved

[@cindernubblebutt1340]

I had no Idea Chavez was an VN Vet. I really liked him in the shitty TV series "War of the Worlds" as the "soldier guy". Always liked him, always will.

[@danieldickson8591]

The famous "I ain't got time to bleed" scene was an addition to the movie that Ventura and Chaves requested. As they were both military veterans (Ventura was navy, not a soldier), they wanted to play a scene interacting with each other.

[@adamclark9004]

Ventura never actually went to Vietnam

[@jimjones308]

@@adamclark9004 Correct. And I also misstypes when I refered to him as a "soldier". He was in fact a US Navy UDT Frogman, so he was a sailor. And among the 1% of elite military in the world.

[@Lord_Deimos]

Hiring Stan Winston for the predator's design has to be one of the best clutches in cinema history.

[@Thuddster]

Amongst other iconic aspects, Predator is one of the best examples of why filming on location makes such a huge difference in a movie's look and feel. This one just exudes atmosphere, you feel the jungle around you while watching it. Totally draws you into the story. Thank you Drinker, takes me back it do!

[@vormina9808]

After watching this video I realize the scene with Bill Duke telling Jesse "Goddamn, I seen some bad-ass bush before, but nothing like this!" was absolute truth lol.

[@braxxian]

It’s why all these studio bound green screen things they crank out now days have no atmosphere or feel to them at all.

[@vulpinemachine]

​@@braxxianthey do have a feel. That feel is shit.

[@jamesgoss1860]

One of my favorite (and nerdy) anecdotes of this movie was that McTiernan wanted to shoot this movie in anamorphic 2.35:1, but Fox vetoed it, so he shot it 1.85:1. In "retaliation" when he was able to shoot Die Hard in anamorphic, he included the 1.85:1 version of the Fox logo at the beginning, and had it stretched to fit the screen. So next time you watch Die Hard and wonder why the Fox logo looks weird, that's why.

[@macethorns1168]

That is fantastic!

[@bensmith1689]

The fact one of the most iconic and original movie aliens was a hurriedly sketched, last minute redesign is mind blowing. Would kill for an ounce of that kind of talent.

[@neatcool4770]

Don't bother, nobody cares, if you got lucky to be used for a movie, that's great, but otherwise...most people will still think you are a loser they are more important than.

[@prince-solomon]

Same thing basically happened with the Millenium Falcon in Star Wars. A quick last minute redesign became absolutely iconic.

[@poeticsilence047]

James Cameron, the original "hold my beer" moment.

[@jdraze9321]

That's how it is with creative work though, most of the time is a lot of nothing, unproductive deep thinking, and then an idea comes out of nowhere, it just takes the right temperament to channel it effectively

[@greenlantern7959]

Almost every line of dialog is quotable. One of the best action movies ever.

[@rochstan123]

One of my favourite films ever. The fact that this video has received over 400k views in 20 hours and over 2k comments proves Predator will always be a classic that can never replicated. All the dreadful sequels prove that.

[@thegunslinger8806]

My favorite story is when Ventura apparently had a PTSD flashback through most of the shoot because of his Nam days, he apparently had the jungle, smell and explosions trigger it through out to the point where one time he sat next to his co-stars during a night shoot and said "permiteres secure" they just laughed it off but then when he started talking about Charlie they realized he was flashing back to his Navy frogman days and simply played on it to make some of the scenes feel more authentic. What fucking bosses these guys.

[@cerebralm]

As a film, Predator feels very much to me like it's a metaphor for the Vietnam war from the American perspective. I don't think it was made with that intent but perhaps there was an unconscious resonance with those themes amongst the creators. So it doesn't surprise me at all that it might have been triggering for veterans.

[@tactikiller]

Ventura’s full of shit. He never saw combat in nam.

[@mnomadvfx]

Navy frogmen? Errr..... wasn't like 99% of Vietnam fought ON LAND???!!! I sense some bulls**t in that story.

[@thegunslinger8806]

@@cerebralm I doubt it was made with that idea, even drinker explained it however if you want a Vietnam horror movie then go re-visit Jacob's ladder If you've seen it. If you do want to understand predator deeply then it's quite simple, this is a movie where the powerful are turned into the helpless prey, this movie is why the concept of Prey didn't and won't ever work for predator, you can't take a female (especially from that period and culture) and put her into that situation because native women are not ever hunter gatherers and the very movie itself rewards her for no reason, not only does that not work but it misses the point entirely, you couldn't have a more valid prey in US Army Black Ops squad in a South American jungle with balls of steel who turn south American drug cartels into Swiss cheese and gore bags, they are all casted fundamentally because they are square jawed, masculine, machismo oozing action stars! Then they proceed to systematically kill each and everyone of them according to threat, the glasses guy goes first thus removing the gallows humor from the group that comforts a soldier, followed by the solid rock pillar in Blaine, then Black guy who looks like Bobby Lashley, Apolo Creed gets disarmed and goes back to being dead in rocky 4, John redcorn uses magical Indian powers to die and finally Square jaw guy from every Canon films movie ever gets shot in the chest only for Arnold and housekeeper im sure is gonna get impregnated by him remain. The movie isn't telling you the predator is out to hunt just any prey, it wants the best warriors and so the movie has to turn them into something they have never in their lives been, VICTIMS. That's what it's all about, fuck the Vietnam War, Ventura got flashbacks because Mexican jungle and smell of it looked and felt like being back in that meat grinder, not the movie itself.

[@johngeiger3770]

@@cerebralmtrees talking and shooting at them? Sounds about right.

[@lbds954]

I remember watching Predator for the first time as a kid and being absolutely obsessed with it. It remains in my top 10 movies of all time to this day. Also, Blain is such a badass. "I ain't got time to bleed!" What a champ.

[@Uzarran]

I actually used that during high school after badly scraping up my knees during gym, and have used several times since. Love that line!

[@Neognostic-pk5wu]

"You got time to duck?" 😅

[@archstanton9073]

@@Neognostic-pk5wu Narrator: He did.

[@nahkaboltsi6315]

Blain is pure testosterone

[@inversionesincia5754]

It's surprising how short the movie is, like an hour and a half, not a second wasted, a true jewel.

[@bobxyzp]

Arnie’s script notes make me respect him even more. He’s such a clever guy. He also fixed the movie posters for Total Recall which looked really lame before his feedback.

[@nhmooytis7058]

He had two flaws, got into politics and boinked the housekeeper 😅

[@choojooo8531]

​@@nhmooytis7058did you see the jugs on that house keeper? That and Arnold being on the juice is a deadly combination.

[@nhmooytis7058]

@@choojooo8531 housekeepers with big casabas are a dime a dozen 😁. Throwing away a 35 year marriage with 4 kids is not so smart. Just my opinion.

[@bobxyzp]

What rich powerful man hasn’t diddled the help?

[@nhmooytis7058]

@@bobxyzp yeah but Maria Shriver wasn’t pleased.

[@adamlakeman7240]

Kevin Peter Hall's push for the Predator to move slowly and carefully (like some sort of predatory thing) while McTiernan wanted it to be more of a rushdown jumpscare type monster definitely helped make the Predator into a much more distinctive monster. As the RedLetter Media guys once said "actors are creative people too" and their input shouldn't be discounted.

[@katashley1031]

Agree, absolutely. The way he moved really sold it for me.

[@chrisbaker8533]

That depends on the actor in question, sometimes, they need to keep their mouth shut.

[@benjiro8793]

@@chrisbaker8533 But a lot of times, the actors know their characters and when they protest about the way the director pushes the character, the are called "difficult work with " (aka, do not hire again). So people who are not AAA, never talk back and well, then you see movies where you can tell the actor is talented but the script and direction is a mess.

[@Pj-fm7oe]

I also heard that Kevin Peter Hall never complained even though he was in that get up in miserable jungle heat for long periods of time. And the way he moved had a huge impact on the final product. Fantastic job on an all time great monster flick. Him and Stan Winston really saved it, just wouldn't work without nailing the alien the way they did.

[@crazyralph6386]

@@DeadManWalking-ym1oo I think “graceful” is the proper term, not slow? We do in fact see a fast moving and agile Predator in this film near the ending(whether it was Hall in the suit or not) but once the mask came off for the showdown, then he became a slow moving stalker.

[@Erikjust]

You forgot one little detail. The voice of the Predator itself. That's Peter Cullen the voice of Optimus prime doing the voice. He apperently got the idea for the voice after seeing the Predators face and remembering a childhood experience where he saw a dying horseshoe crab on the beach one day. There is a great interview with him on KZbin where he talks about it.

[@TheDealMaster]

The drinker makes a lot of good points here. First off, this movie is an absolute action/sci-fi classic. And it completely holds up well today. Secondly, the director John McTiernan was definitely in his prime in the 80's and early 90's with this film, Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October. Getting rid of Van Damme and bringing in Stan Winston to revamp the Predator was BIG. If you youngsters haven't seen this, you should. It is a LOT of fun.

[@dimex3362]

Youngsters today would just be triggered by all the testerone (natural and unnatural) this movie exudes. Absolutely one of the greatest action flicks of all time. The scene where they just release about a million bullets into the forest just because, is a cinematic masterpiece.

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Fun Fact: this certainly wouldn't be the first time Arnold had to come to the rescue when total production hell kicked in. When the producers of TOTAL RECALL (1990) began to worry about the high budget of TOTAL RECALL which already had been plagued with problems in development, pre-production and actual production (it actually took 16 years for that movie to get off the ground!), Arnold had to come in and reassure them by saying "Pay the turnaround no matter how many millions it cost" and the result was another sci-fi action classic in its own right.

[@thehitman8248]

This isn't just one of the greatest action movies ever made.....it is one of the greatest movies ever made. Period.

[@ClassicPass_]

Predator is a perfect movie. There are only a few ever made, but this is one of them.

[@walkwithoutrhythm9858]

I convinced my roommate to sit down and watch Predator. He loved it, and we went on to watch all the Predator movies, the Alien trilogy, and the two AvP's one weekend. He holds the mimic of the child's voice in Predator 2 as one of the most unsettling things hes ever seen in a movie.

[@AregPone]

"Want some candy?"

[@kevins4213]

Damn you I won't get that out of my head today

[@jasonwebster9300]

Kevin Peter Hall had experience working in a “suit” with prosthetics and had martial arts training. So, he was able to give the Predator a distinctive gait and mannerisms that made the creature believable and terrifying as an otherworldly being. It was the amazing design and work of the highly talented Stan Winston, his dedicated crew and the performance of Hall that has made the Predator and indelible movie monster.

[@ObjectiveObservershort-man]

An absolute unapologetic 80s masterpiece people may have "bled" making it but it certainly didn't "kill it"!

[@pll9000]

Fun fact: Die Hard, also directed by McTiernan, begins with a 20th Century Fox logo that's in the wrong aspect ratio for the frame. It's McTiernan's FU to Fox for not allowing him to shoot Predator in the wider 2:39:1 aspect ratio, citing that they wouldn't waste the expensive film stock on an unproven director. The man himself said so on the Die Hard commentary track.

[@jamesguy926]

Thanks for this trivia, I never knew that!

[@naqidoesps4860]

This movie just understood what their audience wanted - killer alien be BIG MUSCLES!!! - and brought it to them. Rewatching it, even the acting was on point, like when Arnold was cornered by the Predator who was about to step into his trap and kept yelling “Come on! Kill me! I’m right here, kill me!” Just an all-round awesome movie

[@TheBetabox]

The score by the legend that is Alan Silvestri really tied the whole thing together and gives it such a tense edge, it's like Star Wars or Indiana Jones: you immediately hear the music in your mind when you think about the film.

[@robertoprestigiacomo253]

I heard a version a bit more detailed about Van Damme quitting. It was an interview with some producers I think. According to them, Van Damme was not alright with not being able to do martial arts and having his face covered (he was trying hard to make his breakthrough in Hollywood so he wanted to be recognized) so he tried to renegotiate these points many times (they even recollected an episode where Van Damme would show the producers splits and kicks in their offices to convince them) until production told him that Predator wasn't an "Alien kung fu movie" and either he accepted that or leave. He didn't want to give up and eventually production let him go or pushed him to leave.

[@thebillykeith]

I wasn't sure that I could appreciate this move anymore than I already did, but The Drinker delivers.

[@neiladkins6726]

I will NEVER forget this movie......i was a 16yr old roofing Labourer working with my dearly departed uncle......it was chucking it down one afternoon so my uncle said to me and another labourer sod this lets go down the cinema!!! So random, but so good!!! there was about 10 of us in the entire showing coz it was like 2pm in the afternoon.........but WOW what a day that was..........Unforgetable........Rest in peace uncle Barry x

[@Marc_Araujo]

I'm a huge fan of Predator 2. It's an awesome sci-fi action romp with horror undertones...and Bill Paxton.

[@charlesmolineaux9436]

Totally underrated movie. Who could forget Gary Busey saying "lions and tigers and bears... oh my!"

[@danielpauley9113]

Want some candy

[@ktman36]

Thanks for the "Long Island" shout out. Finally we get some recognition. Damn that feels good..

[@darthraider450]

One of the most complete scripts in a film of all time. The nuances and variety of genres and themes, and how it all superbly ties in effortlessly within two hours, is a masterpiece in filmmaking. The setting and visuals tell their own stories, even today there are new things found to talk about with this film. There are very few films like this, and how different it could have been if that pink blob was introduced instead.

[@Tellin08]

Robocop, another film from the 80's is just like this. Both it and Predator are all time favorites.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

When I was younger, I thought Arnold Schwarzenegger is all muscles and no brain... boy, was I wrong! The dude gave the critical ingredient to this movie's story to become really interesting. Considering his career as entrepeneur and his numerous other exploits, this guy really is a multi-talent.

[@dawnfire82]

Knocking up a frumpy housekeeper while married, though...

[@jamessweet5341]

@@DeadManWalking-ym1oo He's ackowledged the mistake publicly too.

[@apk4381]

Until your hear his modern take on politics... "Screw your freedom" He truly has become part of the swamp. What a shame.

[@spencergsmith]

@@apk4381agreed, I looked up to him until he said that 😠

[@SheyD78]

This movie was worth every single hell soaked moment the cast and crew endured to bring it to the big screen. It is and always will be a classic, and a gold standard against which more modern 'attempts' at action movies will be measured against (and mostly found wanting)

[@planguy9575]

That's really impressive that the filmmakers and actors managed to save such a troubled production. Stan Winston is also a real hero for coming up with the Predator's design.

[@martyhollie1502]

My definition of a Classic movie is: can you watch it again and again and again and still be thrilled by it? Predator is proudly and definitively one of those rare films. 😍

[@makocrab2223]

Absolutely.

[@RaymondSingh-um4dw]

I can watch Commando again and again also

[@noobmasterruben5167]

This applies to any 2000s pixar movies

[@longann7560]

AMEN !

[@phreakazoith2237]

Because there is something going on beyond the creature you are waiting for. First time you wanna know what is hunting them. If you rewatch it you know whats coming, but there is still a great 80s action movie going on to entertain you til the yautja appears. Compare that to the first AvP movie where the first 40 minutes or so are just filler you don't care for and skip for the duel

[@Thergood]

The special features on the DVD releases, particularly the special edition, where these stories are recounted, are soooo awesome. If you are a fan of this movie and the characters behind the characters, seek out the special features wherever you can find them. There are plenty of great stories Drinker didn't cover as well. Arnold putting the crew through PT every day, the actors trying to one-up each other by showing up to the gym earlier and earlier in the morning, and so many more.

[@iowa_lot_to_travel9471]

Jesse Ventura covered some of that in an interview. It was great. Especially when Arnold got in earlier but spritzed himself in di hydroxy monoxide to make it look like he had been working out for a long time

[@Thergood]

@@iowa_lot_to_travel9471 Also loved the arm measuring contest where Arnold had the wardrobe department lie to Jessie telling him arms measured 1 inch bigger than Arnold’s. Arnold baits Jesse into betting on it and Arnold’s arms turned out 3 inches bigger.

[@Rx37Legacy]

There are several such things and a documentary here on YT.

[@betonde]

Predator genuinely is an amazing film and is miles apart from anything sharted out by Hollywood today, the fact it was difficult to make makes it even better, the fact people had to fight and problem solve and suffer to get this movie over the line, makes you appreciate it more.

[@Guyonnn]

This was the first rated R movie I ever saw, back when that actually meant something to a kid. Blew my mind then and still holds up today! Love this movie.

[@masterofpuppets5568]

I wish the writer who made movies/shows like this were still in the game. On first glance this movie should not be as good as it is, but it is so well written.

[@eyespy3001]

Ummm….Sorry to break it to you, but….

[@CrispyHulk1]

God forbid studios hire older writers / directors, whose experience warrants more pay. Just hire cheap shut-ins with zero life experience, who pander to gross social agendas and who can't make a movie that correlates with 99% of humanity to save their lives. That'll produce great cinema surely.

[@masterofpuppets5568]

@@eyespy3001 could've worded that better. Not that writer specifically, but ones that write scripts of that caliber.

[@meatpuppet5036]

The va for the Pred has his own cool story. Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime himself!) had done a King Kong movie, and was asked to do vocals for Predator. He had a bloody throat from doing Kong, and didn't want to do the roars they suggested. They didn't want him to see the footage either, so they showed him a few seconds of the camo effect to work with. He had to ask for more, and they finally showed him the unmasked shot. They mandibles reminded him of a crab he had once seen, bubbling and making weird noises out of the water, so he worked off that, and the iconic "clicking" was born.

[@CallsignJoNay]

Optimus Prime did the Predator clicking?? I had no idea. 🤯

[@reavenpl]

@@CallsignJoNay yeah, he is not only the greatest autobot ever to visit planet Earth, he could also transform to a truck AND to a talentend voice actor ;)

[@CocoHutzpah]

Predator is that VHS that survived the purge and now sits proudly on the shelf.

[@SYKOK1LLER]

0:18 Cutting edge special effects like the gum on the end of the knife holding the scorpion that I haven't been able to unsee for years now. Then when it gets crushed by the boot the next scene the scorpion is facing the opposite direction it was crushed. Still a great movie.

[@Pj-fm7oe]

A lot to appreciate about a great movie like this but one thing that always stuck out to me was the acting. The genuine fear in hardened soldiers as they start to piece together what is really going on makes this much scarier than a lot of others like it. The scene with Billy telling them they are all going to die highlights this for me, some are in denial, others are freaking out but Billy knows, because he is usually the hunter. He recognizes that they are completely outmatched. Subtle, perfectly acted and spot on dialog. They literally don't make them like they used to. The other predator movies don't compare.

[@lukaszmalinowski8675]

Surprisingly i liked predator 2 , with dany glover. I would say Predator 2 is much better than most action movies that come out right now....

[@Pj-fm7oe]

@@lukaszmalinowski8675 There's some good things in it, I always liked the last 20ish minutes. That whole chase scene and ending was sick. But a lot of the other stuff with Gary Busey was strange and not particularly compelling. You're probably right about it being better than much of what comes out now though.

[@lukaszmalinowski8675]

@@Pj-fm7oe well it might be that i liked it cause i watchwd it when i was young...

[@danieldickson8591]

The first act of the movie does a fine job of setting up Dutch's team as total badasses, seemingly able to take on anything. That makes it even more terrifying when they start being taken out by the Predator -- you appreciate that this thing is on a level of dangerous that mankind has never dealt with before.

[@Pj-fm7oe]

@@lukaszmalinowski8675 your free to like it, just my thoughts.

[@epicduck703]

Gotta love Cameron. His contributions to films even in the slightest bit always have huge profound impacts. The guy is amazing.

[@jamessweet5341]

Some people are born with suprenatural levels of vision.

[@SirBlackReeds]

Roger Corman made his career.

[@jhonnyappleseed1786]

He was. Everything he did after True Lies was crap, and he's just an insufferable human being now.

[@M0butu]

​@@jhonnyappleseed1786His woke daughter "turned him around". Or he saw too much of Hollywood's ugly side. Probably both.

[@supremeghost7950]

"James Cameron doesn't do what James Cameron does for james Cameron. James Cameron does, what James Cameron does, because James Cameron is James Cameron." - James Cameron

[@AreUmygrandson]

It’s one of those movies, that if you hear someone say they don’t like it, you instantly wonder what tf is wrong with them

[@locomojoboy2]

Predator was my favorite movie as a kid. I loved it so much that I innocently declared Kevin Peter Hall as my favorite actor because he played the Predator. I have never forgotten his name and remember it till this day. This is the first time I’ve ever seen what Kevin Peter Hall actually looks like

[@caronstout354]

He was in the failed tv series "Misfits of Science"...

[@Theocracy8]

This was an international hit. My dad worked in Iraq during the late 80s, and we moved with him for a short while. He rented this film after it was unavailable for a while and beloved by many in that country.

[@psychotictactoe]

One of the best movies ever, balls out action with surprising cerebral sci-fi mixed in.

[@nomad9584]

An absolutely perfect action film. They don't make 'em like they did in the 80's that's for sure. I remember when my mum wouldn't let me watch Predator until I turned 15 and I can't count how many times I looked at the cover back-to-front in the video store in anticipation. It was a borderline obsession. Predator is also one of the most original monsters of all time and it just still can't be beat today.

[@NormanReaddis]

Kudos for Peter Cullen as well for voicing the iconic Predator.

[@upfront2375]

The fact that most of the cast members speaking so highly of Billy's character as an out of this world crazy brave, being actually how they felt so threatened by him on the set is almost unheard of on any other movie set.

[@RetroMMA]

Indians and firewater are quite the mix, yeah?

[@RolandDeschain1]

As an Australian I have to shout out our boy Don McAlpine as director of photography. He still made a gorgeous movie under the most difficult of circumstances.

[@secondchance6603]

As a Scotsman I have to shout out.... WHISKY!!!

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

My film school lecturer was the Head Gaffer on this film. His name is Tony Holtham, another fellow Aussie, and was a legend to learn from. He said the toughest thing in his job lighting Carl Weathers and Bill Duke, as their skin was so dark and was a nightmare to adequately expose them realistically with their lighter skinned co-stars under the dark canopy of the Mexican jungle. Powering the lighting setups with generators in the jungle had its own issues.

[@Adrenaline416]

Yea but Aussie's are generally good at everything so if you want something done right you just call one of them in from the start.

[@RolandDeschain1]

Very true. there's a reason why Aussie DOPs and crews are regarded as the best in the world.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@RolandDeschain1 My take is that Aussies never take for granted the opportunity for being on a film set. They know they have a job to do. They know the job can be hard and grueling, but the will keep the set fun with humour and levity without ever being at the expense of the quality of work. It's all make-believe, and something that will live forever on screen is something to be proud of.

[@jackee-is-silent2938]

Can't believe you passed up "Anyway, that's all I've got for today. Get to the chopper, now."

[@brandonmauer20]

Definitely a classic. This and Demolition Man are perfect before heading out with the guys for a night of drinks. Cheers Critical Drinkers!

[@jonnywishbone9516]

This absolute classic movie gets even better when you realise McTiernan made a film that ruthlessly and satirically deconstructs the generic 80’s blockbuster action flick. Start with the fact that cinema goers must’ve been close to getting testosterone poisoning from seeing so many body-builders on the big screen at the same time - the ludicrous power handshake between Dutch and Apollo Creed at the beginning being a particular highlight. Then recall the scene where every surviving member of the team unleashes as much ordnance into the jungle as every other action film of the decade put together and hit absolutely nothing. In fact McTiernan included that scene only because the suits asked him to include more dakka in the film and the scene basically satirises that request. Then finally consider that the Predator can actually be considered the protagonist of this film, in much the same vein as 80’s actioners cast alpha males as one-man armies to the point of cliche. Dillon maybe gets some redemption at the end, but he's basically a straight-up antagonist CIA manipulator. Whilst Dutch might be honourable, his team basically kill people for money - these are not "good guys". The Predator is offing some guns for hire. Compare with another absolute classic Arnie cheese-fest Commando. In that he kills hundreds of soldiers who are trying to engineer a coup (in Val Verde no less!) single-handedly in pursuit of his goal. In this, the Predator is the one-“man” army, using knives and a shoulder-mounted BFG to off a bunch of well-armed mercenaries whilst fighting with honour and sparing the life of the only non-combatant he comes across. Absolute, stone cold classic which will make you a goddamn sexual Tyrannosaurus just by watching it.

[@xadalau9758]

Liked your analysis, that's why Predator is brilliant and not so on the nose subversive. What is not as much mentioned is that Arnie's character is only able to defeat the Predator by using his brains.

[@jonnywishbone9516]

@@xadalau9758 Yeah good call, I hadn’t thought of that but it fits with the theme of deconstruction of typical action flicks.

[@themonsterunderyourbed9408]

Your analysis is faulty. Dutch's team aren't assassins, they're a rescue team. That's why Dillon had to trick Dutch into thinking it was a hostage situation. So no, Dutch and his team don't kill people for money and no you can't use this as an excuse to make the Predator look like the protagonist.

[@Noperare]

Also, the predator was all about honor and fair fight until he lost, then he went full sore loser and nuked the jungle trying to kill Arnie.

[@jonnywishbone9516]

I’m no film critic I can be wrong. But I didn’t say they were assassins I said they were mercs. Making money for them inevitably involves killing people. And their “rescue” ended up with a lot of dead bodies. So yes they were a rescue team, but they also had a large body count. I don’t retract the statement that these aren’t good guys, even if they aren’t (Dillon aside) villains. But yes a less controversial reading would make the Predator an anti-villain. Still the fact the film has more nuance than 12 year old me thought when I first watched it (in horror) is a win.

[@harryvuemedia5106]

Predator is over 30 years old and still holds up very well today. Only Predator 2 can be on the same level as it since they still gave it the same formula. Everything about Predator from showing us an elite team slowly getting dismantle by an Alien that we don't get to see until halfway through the movie. What makes this movie so great is the buildup, the actions, the suspense, the Gun-Ho, the actors/actresses, the cinematography, the jokes and the story that brought everything together in harmony. Prey, The Predator, Predators, and even AVP all went downhill and can't even bring back the same magic that Predator and Predator 2 accomplished. This movie is a masterpiece and is a must-watch 100 list. Go now, get to the choppa!!!!

[@ioogy]

Well spoken. As an industrial designer, i can attest to the truth in that the more simple a production seems (Small cast, straight forward story, no big sets), the more thought and genius had to go into its creation!

[@pilouuuu]

The Critical Drinker has such a badass taste in movies!

[@jilp2002]

😐

[@danjonmills]

Er, everyone on the planet loves Predator. ON THE PLANET....

[@kingcosworth2643]

@@danjonmills I think he means all of his choices.

[@nathanslay6342]

Damn right!!

[@angelsofblood9879]

I think the length of the film is very helpful. The movie gives the commandos a chance to show why they are tough, so we have an idea how deadly the predator is when he starts to pick them off. A testament to the actors that had to work in that much heat and humidity!

[@Wolfhound223]

It really has stood the test of time.... QUALITY.

[@10Cnote]

Predator, Rambo, Commando & Terminator are on a list of the best action movies of all time and Predator will always be up there. Listening to behind the scenes interviews is so cool and the fact that Arnold inspired the entire cast to workout every morning at 3am.

[@DeltaEcho303]

I was 12 when Predator came out. My friends and I bought tickets for "The Chipmunk Adventure" and sneaked in to see it instead. Decades later, my kids were watching The Chipmunk Adventure on cable and I started laughing my head off.

[@williamcopeland4110]

I love your videos, Drinker. You righly pointed out that the cast of this movie had more testosterone than 80% of the millennial and gen z population combined.

[@mikedangerdoes]

Rather than an example of production hell, this seems more an example that adversity often results in masterpieces.

[@rankynnineteen]

This movie, terminator 2 and aliens are childhood staples! So glad even after "production hell" they were able to make this movie!

[@BrentLeVasseur]

I remember seeing that film in the theater for the first time with my grandfather as a kid, and he absolutely loved it. He had a huge grin on his face for the whole thing. It was truly epic. So it’s a wonderful childhood memory for me. And I loved everything about that film, especially the music by Allen Sylvestri.

[@erikwilliams1562]

Same, I was 6 or so at the time and I still remember it. Even then that weird sitcom credits threw me off. Didn't know why they did that until a few years back 😅

[@Karn0010]

Nice seeing a Production Hell. Always entertaining to see how batshit crazy it can be making some of these movies. Also nice seeing that not all production hells end in misery. Predator is everything modern Hollywood wishes it was.

[@glizzymcguire4849]

Predator is one of those movies that if I see it playing while flipping through channels, I’ll watch it no matter how much is left.

[@sparkymularkey6970]

One of my favorite movies of all time! I absolutely loved Prey, too. So glad that it has breathed new life into the franchise.

[@TheKamilkrawczak]

You can feel the stickiness, the sweat, heat and dirt. That's why it's a legendary movie.

[@SteveBueche1027]

Critical thinking is a lost art. Thanks for being intelligent Sir.

[@The6stringpenguin]

Why be critically thinkin’, when you could be CRITICALLY DRINKIN’!

[@Dowlphin]

@@The6stringpenguin Critical drinking is a moist fart.

[@arunmoses2197]

*critical drinking

[@samwlloyd]

Today I'm 52 years old and this movie is still my most favorite Action movie of all time. I Will watch it again right now!

[@exn641US]

What really sent Predator over the top was the expansion of Dolby surround sound. Studios were just starting to incorporate surround sound into movies. Predator took full advantage of the new technology. All of the nuanced sounds of the film really came to life in the theater. Everyone who watched it for the first time in theaters walked out with melted brains from the surround sound experience. Predator was ASMR before ASMR.

[@bobbyharris3764]

Give current Hollywood just 1% of the backbone and problem solving skills of that generation and we are having very different conversations in this channel. The work ethic and dedication of the cast (from even it's super stars) just rubs me in all the right ways. Strip away towering privilege and it's unreal what can be accomplished. Thanks for this one drinker ~

[@jamesguy926]

This is one of the few instances where I feel having production difficulties added to the film, instead of taking away from it. The harsh jungle environment exasperating the actors gives a very realistic desperation and survival element during the film's second half. Another point that Drinker didn't touch on was the sheer drive and ruthlessness of producer Joel Silver. He wasn't just a money maker; he was fully committed to the film and was always on set to keep things on schedule and make the movie as action-packed as possible. His larger-than-life presence definitely played a part in motivating the crew through the tough jungle shoot.

[@SirBlackReeds]

He's also one of the two men that made The Matrix a success.

[@Grambling88]

'There's something in those trees' one famous line of many in this classic movie. Predator will be enjoyed by many generations to come.

[@speedbagboxer7451]

What makes this film stand out in my opinion isn’t the fight scenes, the guns and explosions, or even predator himself. It’s the quite moments in the film where the cast is slowly putting together what’s actually happening to them. At first they’re all clueless. But as the film moves forward, the cast slowly starts to put the pieces together. Like when Anna speaks of the legends spoken in her village, of the demon who makes trophy’s of men. Or when it’s blood is spotted on the leaves. Or when Dutch realizes it’s using the trees. It’s these moments that make the movie for me.

[@petery6432]

The different reactions to it are some of the best parts of the movie. Mac is mad at it for killing his best friend, leading to him running off after it alone. Billy has concluded that they're all gonna die, leading to him deciding to face the predator head on rather than getting picked off like the others. Dillon's skeptical about the alien nature of this creature, adding more tension between him and everyone else.

[@danielmontilla1197]

Drinker, you're the perfect man for covering the Herzog-Kinski duo's strain of hellishly produced masterpieces. Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre Wrath of God are begging for an episode of Production Hell

[@MrDick-kz8qc]

This

[@connycontainer9459]

That's been done more than enough. Nothing new to add.

[@SirBlackReeds]

And Cannibal Holocaust.

[@theimaginist3310]

Love Carl Weathers. He brought out some of the best performances in Schwarzenegger and Stallone. I still think that the back and forth between Dutch and Dylan is some of the best acting Arnold has ever done.

[@danfuller9621]

Let's not forget Alan Silvestri's haunting and powerful soundtrack. The music helped make this movie awesome.

[@cattysplat]

The fact that they are still making sequels and reboots of Predator movies to this very day shows what an impact this movie made, not least on the film industry that keeps greenlighting them despite coming nowhere near the original's greatness. People forget that most of Arnold's action movies early on were roles where he was basically over the top spouting one liners in an accent so thickly Austrian you could barely understand him. From Predator onwards you could tell he massively stepped up his game in acting and speech, which made his movies far more accessible than just the drunk jock movies people considered them before. From then on he just exploded in popularity in the 90s.

[@Achillez098]

Mad respect to actors and film crew from the era where you couldn't rely on CGI. Back in those days, they had to put their real lives in danger, and put up with miserable conditions to bring us entertainment/

[@quixoticeefster2955]

Amen. Could you imagine many of the entitled, thin-skinned actors of this generation gutting out the conditions of a Predator or Apocalypse Now type of shoot?

[@LucianDevine]

@@quixoticeefster2955 Heh, they'd end up making it a CGI garbage-fest with triple the budget that ends up making a third of the box office.