Why we think The Predator fizzled

Shane Black brought the 80s back to cinemas in high style this past weekend with The Predator, a sequel to the hit 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger flick which Black co-starred in.

The film had everything we in The Basement love -- boat loads of action and explosions, gore, profanity and lots of it, and machismo to spare. Mike S and I love the hell out of the movie, as did those of us with similar sensibilities.

So why did it score a dismal 34 per cent among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, a C with opening day audiences, and will likely underperform at the box office? Even the crowd we saw it with seemed to have a great time with this movie.

One critic called The Predator "offensively bad" with a "repugnant sense of humour." I think, and I'm biased this way, most critics and audiences missed the point completely.

Black, who co-wrote the film alongside another 80s filmmaker, Fred Dekker, basically took the kind fo exploitive action/horror/sci-fi movies that were made in the 1980s and delivered it into modern multiplexes. Unfortunately, our modern era is overly sensitive, self righteous in its political correctness, and takes itself -- and its entertainment -- too seriously.

Back in the day, movies like The Predator were steeped in gore, ultra violence and politically incorrect humour. And you know what? Audiences ate that shit up! No one took any of it seriously, because we all knew it was bullshit, and a great escape from the drudgery of day-to-day life. You paid your money, turned your brain off for two hours, and had a kick ass good time.

That what Mike S and I had with The Predator this past Saturday night, but I think the current movie-going public doesn't have the right mindset to do that. That's too bad, as this is a great bit of Saturday night escapism.

Here's hoping today's society learns to check its self righteousness at the door, chill the fuck out, and enjoy a flick like The Predator for what it is.

Didn't hear Mike S and I's thoughts on The Predator? Give our review a listen below.

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