Having played a minor part in the original Predator movie back in 1987, Shane Black directs this latest version of a series that's been pretty much dead and buried since Predators in 2010.
This latest episode has been pretty hammered by the critics since its US release, but I was pleasantly surprised. It rattles along, the jokes aren't so bad - at least it tries to be humorous rather than being unintentionally funny - and the cast is pretty good too.
Boyd Holbrook is perfectly one-dimensional as Quinn McKenna, the gun-totin' hero of the piece. He's a former Army Ranger who discovers the existence of the fierce Predators, and gets banged-up by government agents - headed by Sterling K Brown's Will Traeger - eager to keep the truth and the aliens at bay.
Naturally enough, a captured Predator escapes from the facility where McKenna is being brought, and he and several afflicted military vets in his company take off in pursuit. They're joined by Olivia Munn's Casey Bracket, the token tomboy in the gang.
The plot's as predictable as a rainy day in Manchester, but that doesn't stop it from being fun. And while Holbrook is merely functional in the lead role, the assorted cast do a fine job, with This is Us star Sterling K Brown taking the gold medal for his effortless portrayal of the gum-chewing Traeger.
Yvonne Strahovski of Chuck and The Handmaid's Tale fame pops up now and again as McKenna's ex-wife, as their son plays a pivotal role as the story progresses.
If you're looking to be entertained for a couple of hours and don't mind the odd bit of cartoon-like violence, you could do a lot worse than checking out The Predator. Popcorn and fizzy drink essential.
