Movie Review: Alien vs. Predator - Requiem

Take some Aliens. Toss in a Predator. Slap them into a small defenseless town. How do you screw this up?

Ask Colin and Greg Strause.

Alien vs. Predator Requiem is the incomprehensible sequel to an equally bland mash up from 2004. Fans of both franchises are sure to be distraught over the sequel, which destroys rules and plotlines set up by other films.

The Aliens have a 24-hour gestation period before bursting out in style through some poor sucker's chest as we were told in the previous Alien movies. Here, it’s about 24 seconds. Alien blood is acidic and can tear someone's arm off. Later in the movie, it can’t cut through glass.

Fans of the Predator fare slightly better, though things are equally unexplainable. Actually, nothing is explained, and if you’re only slightly familiar with the series, you’ll be lost as to what’s going on. Why does the Predator dissolve some victims, and skin others? Why does the Predator head to Earth in the first place — to save humans or for revenge? Why do they only send one Predator?

The movie's incredible pacing (not in a good way) leads to zero character development. Some little girl disappears for upwards of 20 minutes, then inexplicably returns for no apparent reason. It’s hard to follow any action when it involves humans since they have no backstory or reason for being. You don’t care that they’re being killed unless it’s brutally gory. The blood is more memorable than the people themselves.

Loads of action is the style here (along with the boatloads of gore), but it’s as ridiculous as the character development. The rapid fire cuts and ridiculously low lighting means trying to follow the fights is pointless. It’s as if they were embarrassed by the practical, suit-based special effects and attempted to hide them as often as possible. From what can be made out, there’s no reason for it, and the Predator/Alien hybrid looks great.

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Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

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