Over 18 years after Predator 2, after the two crossover films, a new Predator film was made — produced by Robert Rodriguez and directed by Nimrod Antal; the project saw the light after a long pre-production hell, which had lasted since the completion of the first script draft in 1994. As it was once passed to them, Amalgamated Dynamics passed the creature effects torch to Gregory Nicotero’s KNB Efx. Unclear in its position in the series, Predators introduces a whole new kind of Predators, labeled at one point during production as ‘Black Super Predators’. In the film, the difference between the new kind and the ‘Winston’ Predators is compared to that “between wolves and dogs.”
The implication is that the new Predators are more feral, imposing and most of all stronger than the others. “Robert Rodriguez, when we first started the project, used a really great analogy”, explained Nicotero, “He said the classic Predator is a cassette tape, and the new Predators are the iPod version; so, that kind of triggered a lot of visual things in my head, in terms of making them taller, making them sleek and keeping the armor really close to the body. So that they are not bulky — because we wanted to get the idea that they are fast — and that they are elegant, and that they are efficient. Even in terms of stuff like the dreadlocks and the classic Predator come out and give them that kind of Rasta look, but we swept all the dreadlocks back. We made the face a lot longer. We just wanted everything about him to look more elegant, like a black widow. We wanted it to just be really deadly looking.” At one point in production, it was suggested to show female Predators in the film; various concept art pieces by Michael Broom testify this. The idea was ultimately discarded.
‘Falconer’.
The new species, or subspecies, of Predators — whose final designs were conceived by John Wheaton — retains the basic design outline, but otherwise applies some significant changes. There is a new, seemingly less complex and more adherent armor style; metallic, 3-toed boots are attached to their legs. All the Predators have a single, extendable scimitar-like blade on their right forearm gauntlet — similar to that of the Chopper Predator from Alien Vs. Predator, but attached differently. Interestingly enough, none of the new creatures wear the netting typical of the other designs. The Predators also display new textures and color schemes, inspired by various reptiles. Similarly to Alien Vs. Predator, three of these creatures appear in the film as antagonists — each with their own, distinct visual characteristics that aid in differentiating them as characters.
From left to right: ‘Berserker’, ‘Falconer’, and ‘Tracker’.
- ‘Berserker’ (also labeled as ‘Mr. Black’) is the head of the trio. His mask, dark copper-toned, is adorned by the jawbone of a prey. His shoulder cannon also splits apart and rotates when activated. His skin, unlike the other two, displays a color scheme based on grey and black, rather than yellow, with several red highlights in the body and dreadlocks.
- ‘Falconer’ (also labeled as ‘Baltimore,’ for currently unknown reasons) was conceived as a strategist, and his predatory bird-inspired mask was conceived to reflect that aspect. Unique to this Predator is a flying, tracking machine in the shape of a Falcon, with two wings, a heat thruster and an extendable blade on its left side.
- ‘Tracker’ (also labeled as ‘Flusher’) wears a mask with two tusks attached to it. Peculiar to it is a more protective armor, conceived to aid it in handling the thorn and horn-covered hounds. Interesting to note is a collar with Predator mandible bones hanging from it.
Of the three Predators, only ‘Berserker’ unveals its face, to roar in victory in front of the defeated enemy. It is here that the differences between the two Predator kinds becomes most evident. The ‘Berserker”s head is generally more elongated, with the dreadlocks moved further back, and devoid of the ‘thorned crown’ that adorned the edges of the forehead in the ‘Winston’ designs. Interesting to note is the ‘bas-relief’-esque quality of the skin, with what seem to be multiple, overlapping layers. Yet again, the Predator is not shown with the proper mandible closure. The animatronic head was enhanced with digital imagery in post-production.
‘Tracker’.
In early script drafts, the new Predators’ blood was black, as opposed to the original glowing green. This was due to the intention to show that they genetically experimented on themselves to ‘evolve’ into better Hunters. Both ideas would ultimately be discarded in the final film: the blood was a slightly different shade of green, and the ‘evolutions’ were limited to the Hunters’ weaponry and armor — as exposed through dialogue in the film.
The ‘Berserker’ and ‘Baltimore’ Predators were played by 6’8″ tall veteran creature performer Brian Steele, whereas the ‘Tracker’ Predator was played by 6′ 7″ tall Carey Jones. When two or more Predators were to appear together in the film, stunt performers were used and made as tall as Steele — again — via camera tricks.
Among the numerous homages to the original film, Predators also features a design recreation of the original Hunter. KNB Efx was aided in the objective by Stan Winston Studios member Shannon John Shea. Labeled by the crew as the ‘Classic’ predator, it is undoubtely a very faithful attempt at reproducing the first ‘Winston’ Predator; it is not, however, an exact copy of that design: among other cosmetic differences, the skin displays lighter color schemes; yet again, it is unable to close the mandibles as the original creature (and seems to be unable to close its own mouth).
Interestingly enough, his –damaged — mask features a more angular outline. Performer Derek Mears, who plays the ‘Classic’ Predator (and the ‘Tracker’, as a stuntman in certain scenes) and whose body the mould was based, is 6’3″ tall — but, in contrast with the work done for the mentioned character, was not filmed with camera tricks making it appear taller. This omission resulted in the ‘Classic’ Predator appearing just slightly taller than 6′ tall Adrien Brody — far shorter than the towering 7’2,50″ original performer Kevin Peter Hall.
For more images of the Predators, visit the Monster Gallery.
For more information on the Predators’ hounds, read the article [COMING SOON].
For more information on the ‘River Ghost’, read the article [COMING SOON].
