Nicholas Thurkettle

Originally published August 12, 2004

Alien vs. Predator
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Screen story by Paul W.S. Anderson and Dan O’Bannon & Ronald Shusett, Screenplay by Paul W.S. Anderson, based on the “Alien” characters created by Dan O’Bannon & Ronald Shusett and the “Predator” characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas
Producers: Gordon Carroll, David Giler, Walter Hill, John Davis
Stars: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewen Bremner

In a perverse way it’s refreshing to see a slasher movie where the characters are soberly instructed “nobody go anywhere alone”, then the filmmakers don’t even bother contriving the usual dumb excuses before they start doing just that. The moment they leave the boat they’re wandering to and fro, disdaining the buddy system and inviting a brutal comeuppance for it. I guess it saves time.

It is with a heavy heart that I dub Alien vs. Predator a slasher movie, but in spite of its science fiction trappings it’s little more than a machine for sticking characters in the dark then pitilessly offing them. It is such a shame, because the movie franchises it marries up, both of which have seen better days, were at their best when they took their time and showed us people we cared about.
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