Amazon.com

This cute movie by William Dear stars John Lithgow as a family man who befriends a Sasquatch (a.k.a. Bigfoot) and brings the friendly monster's oversized, hairy self into his Seattle home. Mayhem and comedy ensue, but things take a heavier turn when a hunter (David Suchet) gets on the creature's trail. Everything hinges on the relationship between Lithgow's character and Harry (the Sasquatch), and that relationship is really quite effective and touching. Don Ameche is a hoot as an old guy who has dreamed of meeting Bigfoot all his life and finally gets the glorious chance. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (16)

This is a Cute Movie! It Should Be on DVD!
I saw Harry and The Hendersons in a movie theater and I thought it was a cute movie. John Lithgow and the rest of the cast were really good and I think this a nice movie for the whole family. It is about a family who discovers and befriends a sasquatch (Bigfoot) who they name Harry. Lookout for David Suchet (Poirot) as a unscrupulous hunter out to bag Bigfoot. I saw this movie long before I started watching Poirot and I didn't know who David Suchet was back then but he did a good job playing the villain. I recommend this movie and I think it should be put out on DVD (Widescreen).

"Harry" stands tall among most other family-oriented movies!
Hilarious, genuinely touching and perfectly acted entertainment! John Lithgow once again shows just how talented he is in his portrayal of George Henderson, the poor beleagured "owner" of this huge creature that he mistakenly believes that he has killed by accident. Lithgow can, of course, portray a wide range of emotions very well, and his many talents are greatly used in this wonderful story. Melinda Dillon as wife Nancy is the perfect match for George, and does a fabulous job, as always. Watch for a hilarious turn by Lainie Kazan as the goofy, nosey next-door neighbor--what a hoot! Don Ameche brings his usual excellence to the roll of a non-believing believer who has searched his whole life for what poor George has stumbled upon quite by accident. The dinner table scene when he comes face-to-face with the real thing will put a lump in your throat every time you watch it! And if you aren't familiar with David Suchet away from the outstanding "Poirot" series on PBS, wait until you see his turn as the sleazy, nasty hunter determined to bag the ultimate trophy--Harry! Additionally, it's no surprise that awards were won by the individuals responsible for the incredible make-up job that was necessary to convincingly portray the huge, massive Sasquatch. He's incredibly real and absolutely believable. Can't recommend this movie enough--buy it, rent it or borrow it today and watch this one with your family around you. You won't be sorry!

Funny funny movie!
I love this film. Its part of the magic "trio" of cult classic films: including "Kazaam" and "Ghost dad."

This movie is about a family who is visited by big foot. The acting in this movie is amazing! The charcters responded so realisticly.

I know this is supposed to be a comedy, but the actors responded so realistcly to having a big foot living in their house. Thats the way I would have acted if it was really happening to me.

Well, not much can be said about this movie. It basicly speakes for it itself.

ENJOY

Let's Get Harry
Awful "What-If?" movie about bigfoot and a family who takes it in after accidentally running it over with their car. HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS was produced by Spielberg's production company during a period when quite a few movies were being produced in the vain of Disney-esque family fare. The costume/special effects of bigfoot (played by Kevin Peter Hall) are impressive. However, when bigfoot has that smiling,dumb grin on its/his? face (especially in close-ups with teeth showing and all) it is sickening beyond reproach. John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon(A CHRISTMAS STORY), and Don Ameche (COCOON),hold the cast together in this harmless, emotionally light, shallow kiddie movie, but it doesn't go anywhere. Pro-Wrestler and part-time actor "Andre the Giant" (THE PRINCESS BRIDE) played bigfoot on an episode of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN and it was much more satisfying,entertaining and inventive than this forgettable film.

"It's A Major Discovery. We Have To Take It Home!"
HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS is a cross between a cryptozoologist's, X-FILESs, dream film and a Hallmark special off Lifetime. It is THE FAMILY MAN meets THE MOTHMAN. And, if you like big, harry sasquatches and functional, happy families that take them in, well this is the flick for you.

This family film has E.T. written all over it. You've got cute, loveable kids and a furry, caring, mythical creature. The parents just don't know what to do when they slam into the sasquatch while driving through the forest on vacation and apparently kill him in his Bigfoot tracks. However, when they strap the creature to the car-roof to drive him to a local fairy-tale vet's office, he turns out to be not only fictitious, but also very much alive. The rollicking tale and fun that follows can only be stopped by, you guessed it, a Bigfoot hunter with the wrong motivation in mind.

All kidding aside, I loved this flick when I was a kid. We had a VHS copy of the film, and my brothers and I wore it out something nuts. HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS is a family film. It's great for children and people who have yet to accept the fact that unicorns, Bigfeet and the Loch Ness Monster are "pretend." Meanwhile, you and your friends might enjoy picking this monster up from video stores on a rainy night when you just feeling like laughing at extreme silliness. I mean, c'mon guys, we're talking about some folks that run over a sasquatch and take it back to suburbia where it becomes a part of the family. If that won't make you laugh, I just don't know what will. I'm laughing just thinking about it. The part when Harry gets into the car and his head makes the roof bulge up, because he's so tall and big and strong..... golly that's just the best!

Well, John Lithgow (FOOTLOSE; SHREK) may be one of the best banjo players this side of Uranus, but all that fingerpicking sure doesn't get in the way of his fathering/acting skills. He's constantly caught between doing what he thinks would be best for his family and his compassion for imaginary, Harries. However, when Jacques LaFleur (David Suchet - GREYSTOKE; A PERFECT MURDER), a hunter out for Bigfoot blood, starts sniffing the sasquatch trail, Harry and co. are forced to recruit Dr. Wallace Wrightwood (Don Ameche - TRADING PLACES; COCOON), a Bigfoot enthusiast, and flee to the hills to save Harry. Isn't that a unique tail?

While the film is a winner in many ways, one can't escape the fact that Bigfoot is not a real creature! This staggering statement can't be ignored. Throughout the film, you just can't help but laugh and comment, "Hang on just a darn second! Now, that's not real. There's no such thing as Bigfoot." And, then you'd laugh out loud and smack yourself on the knee.

Overall, HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS is a must-own rental for anyone with a flare for cheesy movies about nonsensically impossible creatures and the families they love. ... Read more

Reviews (136)

Good Sequel
Predator 2 is by all means a good sequel. Truly enough, most fans are upset that there is no return of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, but everybody has to realize that the Predator movies aren't like Aliens where Siqourney Weaver always returns to battle aliens. This is different, these Predator movies s aren't based on Arnie, there based on the Predator. Arnold isn't the main character, his charactor's name isn't even in the title, the predator is the main charactor and its name is in the title. Arnold's name is in Terminator and he made a reapearence in that because he was the main character. This series is based on the Predator and those who go in its way, in which this time, the man that faces the Predator is Danny Glover. Anyway, here is the plot.
A new Predator comes to town and This time the story takes place in a city, not a jungle. The predator has an eye out for a cop named Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover from LETHAL WEAPON) ). But instead of just going straight for him, the predator starts having the appetite for drug dealers and starts killing many gangs in the city. Although I am not really sure, but I think the Predator does that to mess w/ Mike Harrigan's head. And things start to become personal when the Predator kills Harrigan's partner. Mike Harrigan thinks that all the havoc is being caused by some major drug lord and will stop at nothing to find out. Harrigan's problems isn't just getting catching this psych, or predator, but another person named Peter Keyes (Gary Busy who also happens to be from LETHAL WEAPON) also tries to crack the case and won't stop at anything to do so. So now, both Harrigan and Keyes battle the Predator and each other. And as far as I am concerned, the two have no intentions on getting along.
That is pretty much everything you will need to know about the movie's plot. This film is not as good as the first one, yet still good. Danny Glover may be no Arnold Schwarzenegger yet he still does as good as Arnie would have done it. I would be rating this a five star movie if the plot would have been a little better. The plot is okay but does have a confusing ending. Overall, I do suggest buying this movie this movie along w/ the first.

"He's in town...with a few days to kill..."
Yep, this description said it all! I have seen this movie too many times to mention and I STILL love watching it! The movie starts out fast and furious and there is so much action in this movie that once it starts, it DOESN'T let you catch your breath!

Danny Glover may not be your first choice when thinking 'action hero' but he does a VERY convincing job. Bill Paxton plays a street-smart, wise-cracking cop and delivers a fun character (as usual) that dies (as usual). As, Gary Busey plays the testosterone injected Special Ops officer that thinks he can actually CAPTURE the deadly Predator!

The AWESOME Predator effects (cloaking, vision modes) make this movie shine (not to mention the AMAZING number of bullets fired in this movie, DAMN!) The direction, lighting, fog and camera movement in the final showdown onboard the Predator's ship is pure genius as it makes you feel like you are actually "there" on an alien craft watching this galactic fight to the death, AWESOME!

For any self-respecting 'Predator' fan, this is a MUST SEE!!!

This Predator Didn't Hit Its Mark
I was a huge fan of the original PREDATOR and recommend it to any sci-fi/action movie fan. But when I first saw PREDATOR 2 I was surprised at how big a dissapointment it was to the first movie. Danny Glover was pretty good as Mike Harrigan but he nowhere compares to Arnold, and the rest of the characters were just there to add a few more lines to the script. The one character I did find amusing was Bill Paxton, who, once again, dies acting obnoxious and herioc.
The actual Predator was very impressive and had a lot more weapons than the one in the original, which I thought was cool. My favorite was the Smart Disk, which cut Gary Busey's character Keys in half. Stan Winston did another excellent job with the Predator, as he does in all his movies. The only thing I didn't like was how long it took for Steven Hopkins, the director, to reveal the actual creature. We've already seen it before, what's the point of holding it off until twenty minutes into the movie?
The movie has quite a few good action scenes in the movie which do not disappoint, filled with blazing guns and buckets of blood on the floor. The thing that doesn't make sense is why they had a full minute of pure uneccesary nudity involving a prostitute and a gang member. A second later five Jamacians come in and the Predator just ends up killing them all.
The light and sound in the film are very good for a cruddy movie and Fox did a good job. The extras include two featuretts including talks with the actors and the making of the Predator. There is also a theatrical trailer.
Overall PREDATOR 2 is a fun movie to watch and should be part of any die hard fan's collection.

A good sci-fi
im not much into sci-fi because the acting is usually cheesy and the movie gets tired-some quick. Ive seen this movie plenty of times, the first time being when i was 10. i like this movie equally if not more than the first one. this movie portrays the predtor character more of an hunting race rather than just a crazy alien like the first one. Which brings up a point, someone had posted earlier that they didnt understand how the predator came back to life from the first movie to be on this one. It didnt, this is a different predator, its a race of hunters that travel everywhere in hunt of good game. Also someone commented that the ship blew up on the last seen of this movie, it didnt.... it flew back into space at a high speed. if you look closely at the predator trophy room where they have their skull collection you can see an alien skull on the wall rack. all in all it is a great movie too much blood for my liking but the weapons and predators custom and ship make up for it. many great scenes like the subway fight and the unforgettable scene where the predator attacks a group of people that walked in on a couple while making love!!! Danny glover is simply awesome in this movie. i would recomend buying, but if your still not sure.... its a most diffinet rent!

Not half bad
First off: this movie is nowhere near as good as the first one. But then again, it would be a near impossible task to out do the original. The first movie was perfectly paced, action packed and had Arnold Schwarzenegger as the buff hero with cheesy one-liners. However, this movie is an entertaing ride nonetheless, and the last 20-30 minutes more than make up for the weak story and characters. Danny Glover is a good hero, but is no replacement for Arnold. And the inclusion of Gary Busey and Bill Paxton save this film from obscurity. ... Read more

Reviews (269)

One of the Governator's best...
It sits perched in the trees, invisible to the naked eye. It watches them trek through the rainforest. It stalks them slowly, lunging forward when given the chance but never revealing itself. It follows their patterns and mimics their voices. The leader turns, sporting a serious expression of fear. It is Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger). "If it bleeds, we can kill it," he says, glancing down at the green liquid.

Terror comes in many forms, but so does action, and "Predator" successfully combines both. We already know the fate of our hero, but that does not matter, simply because we enjoy the ride. This is a smart action/horror/thriller that doesn't fall back on cliches, but pushes forward, aware that it may be following such films as "Alien" (1979) but yet only improving upon the presented material. The Predator is a work of genius--originally fitted for Jean-Claude Van Damme and shaped like a giant bug, it was later reworked by creature effects artist Stan Winston (with the help of James Cameron) after Van Damme was fired due to complaining too much about how hot and stuffy his suit was. The villain helps make this movie, and if there were ever a terrifying creature it is the Predator, which is not only visually haunting but an emphasis of how advanced life forms could hunt us like we hunt animal prey.

Kevin Peter Hall hadn't gotten much work then; a few stage performances but nothing serious. He was picked up by John McTiernan because he was taller than Arnold Schwarzenegger and, when placed in the alien suit, he not only looked fierce but he also looked like he could be the one and only true opponent to Arnold, a man who looks like he eats babies for breakfasts. (And perhaps grown humans for lunch.)

Not only is he the perfect opponent, he helps make the movie. A lot of the film's positive elements come from the lush Cambodian jungles, the haunting direction by McTiernan, the ultimate macho combat role by Arnold, the paranoia and startlingly effective idea of the remote settings. Much of it also comes from the fact that the alien, when finally revealed, looks real. It looks real, all right, and also pretty darn horrifying. (Who can forget when it drops its face mask and reveals its true self?)

Major Dutch Schaefer and his elite team of US Commandos are sent deep into the swampy depths of a Columbian jungle, trying to locate a downed chopper carrying a Cabinet Member. "Do your Cabinet Members always fly on the wrong side of the border?" Dutch quips before he and his men are loaded into their means of transportation.

They arrive in the jungle and soon find that a camouflaged creature is ritualistically stalking and murdering them. But this isn't just random slasher style--it picks off its prey on a whimsy, and only attacks fair game (e.g. those with weapons). Soon Dutch and his team realize that getting out of the jungle isn't going to be as easy as they thought.

For me, "Predator" is one of the best action films of all time. It has everything. It isn't messy and over-paced; it takes its time getting where it's going, building up the tension for the audience, and then unleashes a bombardment of action set pieces and visual effects. Another great thing is that it is sort of Hitchcockian in a way; it doesn't show us the killer, at least not at first. It again takes its time, building up the tension, getting us primed. When it finally does show us the creature, we're shocked.

Arnold Schwarzenegger fits the role like a glove; criticize him all you want, Dutch was made for him. Can you imagine Sly or Willis playing Dutch? Not me, either. This is his time to shine. Shine he does.

The series is getting a jumpstarted revival next year with "Alien vs. Predator" (2004). There are doubts as to whether or not it will live up to long-growing expectations, especially with Paul W.S. "Resident Evil" Anderson at the helm, but I remain the optimist as far as I can. The idea of the two species joining together for a feature film was hinted at in "Predator 2" (1990), then hinted at even further with a line of comic books, fan fiction, and great videogames. I, personally, cannot wait.

Predator Preys On Your Sense of Adventure
"The Most Dangerous Game," to which Predator bears a remarkable resemblance is a literary classic and mandatory reading in most ninth grade English classes. So the question arises, why is that story held in such high esteem when this picture is cast aside as mindless tripe? I suppose having Arnold Schwarzenegger's name above the title and Joel Silver's in the producing credits doesn't help, but don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting this movie should have been showered with praise from critics, or awards from Academy members. But a pat on the back for one of the finest action directors working today (John McTiernan of Die Hard fame) might be nice, especially considering this film isn't nearly as dumb as people would have you to believe.

Schwarzenegger stars as the leader of an elite commando force sent into Central America to retrieve U.S. hostages being held in guerrilla hands. Little does he or anybody in his team know (with the exception of Carl Weather's character) that they're actually being manipulated into assassinating a group of Communist dissidents and thorns in the thorns in the side of the C.I.A. This is the only the first back-stabbing and leads to a quite harrowing and action packed combat sequence that wouldn't have looked out of place in Platoon or Saving Private Ryan.

While all this is going on, comsuming more than a half hour of briskly paced screen time, we still have yet to see the alien. McTiernan utilizes a clever tactic orginated (or at least to the best of my knowledge) by Steven Speilberg in Jaws by shooting from the predator's point of view. By doing this we only get glimpses of the monster, as he has the ability to turn himself invisable at will, which makes the final confrontation all the more terrifying. Also noteworthy is Kevin Peter Hall as the villainous creature who is a constant menace and manages to make a very impressive impression even though we never see his face.

For about the last hour of the movie he stalks Arnie and his rebel company, picking them off one by one as is customary in these kinds of films. To me the parrallels to "Dangerous Game" are quite obvious, simply substitute an alien in place of the hunter who preys on humans. The symbolism of the book and the movie is quite clear, or at least in my mind, and is that hunting for sport is inherently wrong. But even the predator has a code of conduct that human hunters have yet to adopt, he doesn't take advantage of another species inferiority or good nature. To me, being as I'm such an animal lover, I'd root for the alien a lot sooner than I would Ted Nugget or his band of ignorant rednecks.

Now I'm willing to concede that maybe I'm so intent on justifying my appreciateion for this film that I might be imposing onto it hidden meanings that aren't really there, but even if that is the case it does little to depreciate my enjoyment of one of the most exciting science fiction movies that I've ever seen. Sure the acting is merely adequate and the writing could use some sprucing up, especially in fleshing out the characters a little more, but the directing is superb and the finished product is about as good as anything you have the right to expect considering the genre.

And that's not to mention the special effects. Done by Stan Winston, who won recognition as being the best in his field after his work creating the digital dinosaurs in Speilberg's Jurassic Park, he does an equally impressive job here. The "creature features" never get too corny and at the same time aren't so good as to distract from the rest of the film. It's a fine line to walk and I can't think of anybody who does it any better.

This is the second four star review I've given a Schwarzenegger movie in as many months (the other being for True Lies) and I'm quietly coming back around to being a big fan of his early work for the first time since I was thirteen.

the best alien action film out there
when I first saw the first Predator film,I was happy to see the strong male role running for his life. Yet I do think why this editions for the Alien and Predator films are coming out so close to each other is for the summers next cross over. Alien vs Predator. But to the film, the first predator was by far the best. Sending in comandos into a rain forest and each one being killed off is truly a scary sight and yet the movie is full of action. Predator is by far one of my favorit films and I will go by this film when it comes out three days before the opeaning of AVP.

great Sci Fi film
This has got to be one of the coolest monster movies ever made! The cast is great and the creature is THE coolest (technologically advanced) alien ever! Don't listen to the 2 bad reviews. One of those guys can't even spell a simple word like "cigar", I doubt he has much taste in movies if he can't pass high school english. It's ironic that all of the low scores (besides the two drop-outs) are given not because of the movie, but because of the poor DVD treatment Fox has given it so far. I can only hope that the upcoming Alien Vs Predator will be as good as it looks. It's been a long time coming and they had better not screw it up. Anyway, get this movie. Just make sure you wait for the spec. edition coming out July 23rd! Go Yautja!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movie
Predator is the Arnold Schwarzeneggers greatest movie ever.A very good sample to sci-fiction in early 80's.South american terorists has captured a small group of americans and CIA is not going to send special forces to rescuing them only one man can do this job dutch and his team.Very famous actors played in this movie Arnold Schwarzenegger,Carl Weathers,Bill Duke,Jesse Ventura. if you love this movie than you must watch another great movies of schwarzenegger which is the commando,terminator ... Read more

Description

A group of college students become so involved in their "Dungeons and Dragons" -like game that it may prove deadly. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

"Kate...Kate, I think I killed somebody!"
Those haunting words. One only a young Tom Hanks, with his emotionally cracking voice, could pull off. It's a wonder as to how many varieties of plaid shirt was worn during the 80's as well as the varying sizes of bad hair. I mean really, every scene was getting ready for a hoe down. But, I digress. Hanks, of course would go to greater triumphs (Bachelor Party, The Man with One Red Shoe, The Money Pit) but this was the stick at the beginning of the popsicle my friends. Who else but Hanks could say, "What's a fecalite?" with coviction, or am I quoting the book. Who cares, "brilliant" dialogue nontheless. A young unknown Chris Makepeace (as opposed to the old unknown Chris Makepeace) delivers a performance worthy of praise by extras everywhere. Bravo, Chris, bravo. That being said, he's head and shoulders abouve the rest of the cast, except Hanks, whom he stands at elbow height (at least in this movie). In conclusion, 'Mazes and Monsters' is an enjoyable diversion after a pizza, a few random encounters with some elves and an heated debate as to who is the better captain, Kirk or Picard? Delicious!

"I am the Maze Controller""
Mazes and Monsters is one of the few Tom Hanks movies I do like, that big piano routine in BIG is what I used to think of when I thought of Tom Hanks. But not after seeing this RPG related movie on TBS nearly 19 years after its release on TV. His performance was incredible, not mention that outfit he was sporting in the final scene, I mean could those shorts have been any shorter????, I beg you to imagine. "Freelic, It must have been a wise and powerful holy man that restored you to the living", says Tom. Now come on you either loved that line if you ever played D&D, or you thought it was just plain ridiculous if you never have, either way it made the movie. I recommend that anybody who has ever rolled a twenty side die buy this movie, and anybody who loves Tom should at least see it. Josh

Campy Halloween Party Fun for MST3K fans!
What I wouldn't give to see what the gang from MST3K could do to this one. You will shriek in horror and howl hysterically! This not-so classic fright-fest starred Tom Hanks well before he had a copious choice of film projects. The plot is dreadfully simple, and simply dreadful. A Fantasy Role-Playing game drives a college dweeb to insanity when the players take it too far for his fragile little psyche to withstand, proving that even the highest of the Hollywood echelon had to just pay the rent sometimes. This mock-worthy made for TV movie aired in 1982 and had audiences wondering why they were watching this crap in the first place. Mazes and Monsters did for Dungeons and Dragons what Reefer Madness did for marijuana. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll kiss 75 minutes of your life good-bye! Get this for your next party with your wittiest friends and have some hearty laughs. You'll be glad you did.

Now let this be a lesson for you.
Yep, first there was "Reefer Madness" (1936) ASIN: 6305396493 telling of the pitfalls of smoking reefers. Now there is mazes and monsters madness. An undetectable force that you are powerless to resist.

Tom Hanks as usual fits comfortably in any role he plays. The theme may be a little dated, but it is still fun to watch and speculate "There but for fortune go I".

As you have guest the story is about a role-playing game that gets out of hand. Tom Hanks plays a person that might not be quite stable and the addition of this game feeds his fantasies. This leads to a mysterious disappearance. This is more of a physiological movie than a blood and guts type. Before people say what is real or not, different people will come to this movie from different backgrounds, and go away a little closer.

Bad quality movie!
This video is very bad quality.. looks like a home video recording! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Hidden Gem of a Horror Movie!!!
I saw One Dark Night watching T.V. one night. It was about 1:00 A.M. and nothing was on so flipping through the channels I stumbled on to one of the best horror movies I've seen. I'd never heard of this film nor had I seen it anywhere. To this day I still look in my local video stores for it but nobody has it.

When you consider the setting for the film, a mausoleum, you know it's going to be creepy. Just the thought of sleeping overnight in a mausoleum makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. One dark night is a perfect movie to watch on a late evening or on Halloween night; it's a cinematic example of what Halloween is all about. Containing lots of spooky elements that you look for in horror films:
Mausoleums, Telekinesis, graveyard scenes, and coroner scenes,including a very strange and eerie scene where 6 dead girls are found in the recently deceased man's appartment all piled together with their staring eyes wide open! The background music is quite effective too in adding to the moviegoer's experience. Granted this isn't an Oscar nominated film but it is a great horror film never the less and well worth watching, if you can find it. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who loves the horror genre you shouldn't be disappointed.

Great 80's Horror Flick
I remember when I first saw One Dark Night at Cassenelli Square in Tri-County, Cinti OH. It scared the heck out of me! Practically everyone in the theater was frightened by it.

The effects of one smiling grandmotherly corpse which glided so effortlessly, just inches above the ground, added to the creepiness of the film. Imagine being stuck, late at night, in a mausoleum! This kind of movie is not made anymore, today's movie's, even sci-fi, are computerized.

With this movie, a lot of time and attention was given to detail, and plot as well as creepiness. The scene of a little girls corpse emerging from her coffin, still holding the baby doll she was buried with, I'll never forget! It just simply falls from her arm after her body begins to 'glide'. The movie definetley gets an A for horror, and B for plot!

A night you will remember until the day you die!
I must admit that although most people don't seem to hold this film in high regard (I don't think it's even considered a cult classic)this is absolutely the best horror movie I have ever seen! It was released to east coast theaters in the United States on March 4, 1983. I was thirteen-years-old when I saw it with my parents that weekend and this movie left quite an impression on me. It touched me in a way no other film has before and I will never forget it. Not that it frightened me, no far from it, but I became obssessed with it and still am to this day at the age of thirty-four, one year older than Tom McLaughlin was when he directed it. I believe it was filmed in the fall of 1982 and took only twenty-eight days to make. It was shot on location in LA using the Hollywood Cathederal Mausoleum for interior shots. A set was built of marble and plywood for the special effects and the filming of the corpses coming out of their tombs. It had an excellent cast: Meg Tilly fresh from her role in "Tex" and whom I developed a crush on after seeing the movie, the handsome David Mason Daniels who bears a slight resemblance to Christopher Reeve and for whom I developed a kind of hero worship at that young age (where are they now
,I wonder whatever happened to him, he was a good actor), Adam West(of the '60's batman series), Melissa Newman ( Paul Newman's daughter), Robin Evans as Carol ( a former model and later a "Rip tide" girl(1984)), Leslie Speights as Kitty ( I wonder whatever happened to her too?), Elizabeth Daily ( Valley Girl(1983)) and of course a great writer director, Tom Mclaughlin. I have nothing but praise for this film and am eagerly awaiting its release on DVD with special features. I've heard some companies are interested in releasing it, I sure wish they would hurry up and do it! The VHS copies available look really crappy, but if you can manage to rent it( highly unlikely no video stores I know of have it) it's well worth it, I promise you! Buy this film and you will not regret it, watch it in the dark alone , with friends or better yet with your girlfriend or boyfriend. It is definitely a night you will remember until the day you die!

Totally disappointing
This is not a masterpiece. This is a rechewed remake of so many films on the subject : telekinesis, vampirism, living deads, and a night in a cemetery. A few changes are introduced here and there to give new shades of black to this kind of stale mixture which will not give you the visionary power of some Dune's melange. There are some moments when the springs of fear work and the grossness of many situations and scenes is by far enough to make you feel a little bit sick in the stomach. But if you like grossness and moderate gore, go ahead and practise nauseae at infinitum by playing the tape over and over again. Kids will like it as if it were a recollection of some summer camp night time ghost story around some camp fire in the depth of some forest.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Classic Dark Night Film , Ahh Where's the DVD Guys?.
So let me be the first one to tell you this is one cult classic flick that will scare you well most of you, those who will admit that it did. if you like supernatural thriller films then this one for you, it all begins with a daughter of a scientist that has strange dreams of Girls & Guys being murdered in a weird way . there's a pair of Ladies in high school that call themselves the sisters that are accepting a new recuit in the group , but first she has to pass their childish test. will she survive? rent it to see HEY GUYS WHERE'S THE DVD OF THIS TITLE PLEASE RELEASE THIS. it's been long enough . it's PG For mild Language & strong violence , Mild brief nudity in one scene. It stars Adam west ( Batman fame & one lady that was in better off dead as the singer of the band & now voices cartoons namely tommy of the rugrats Elizabeth Daily. so enjoy this one dark night haaaaa if you can stand it . :) this is a real horror movie not a one passing as one Highly Recommended for a Good Scare . ... Read more

Reviews (269)

One of the Governator's best...
It sits perched in the trees, invisible to the naked eye. It watches them trek through the rainforest. It stalks them slowly, lunging forward when given the chance but never revealing itself. It follows their patterns and mimics their voices. The leader turns, sporting a serious expression of fear. It is Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger). "If it bleeds, we can kill it," he says, glancing down at the green liquid.

Terror comes in many forms, but so does action, and "Predator" successfully combines both. We already know the fate of our hero, but that does not matter, simply because we enjoy the ride. This is a smart action/horror/thriller that doesn't fall back on cliches, but pushes forward, aware that it may be following such films as "Alien" (1979) but yet only improving upon the presented material. The Predator is a work of genius--originally fitted for Jean-Claude Van Damme and shaped like a giant bug, it was later reworked by creature effects artist Stan Winston (with the help of James Cameron) after Van Damme was fired due to complaining too much about how hot and stuffy his suit was. The villain helps make this movie, and if there were ever a terrifying creature it is the Predator, which is not only visually haunting but an emphasis of how advanced life forms could hunt us like we hunt animal prey.

Kevin Peter Hall hadn't gotten much work then; a few stage performances but nothing serious. He was picked up by John McTiernan because he was taller than Arnold Schwarzenegger and, when placed in the alien suit, he not only looked fierce but he also looked like he could be the one and only true opponent to Arnold, a man who looks like he eats babies for breakfasts. (And perhaps grown humans for lunch.)

Not only is he the perfect opponent, he helps make the movie. A lot of the film's positive elements come from the lush Cambodian jungles, the haunting direction by McTiernan, the ultimate macho combat role by Arnold, the paranoia and startlingly effective idea of the remote settings. Much of it also comes from the fact that the alien, when finally revealed, looks real. It looks real, all right, and also pretty darn horrifying. (Who can forget when it drops its face mask and reveals its true self?)

Major Dutch Schaefer and his elite team of US Commandos are sent deep into the swampy depths of a Columbian jungle, trying to locate a downed chopper carrying a Cabinet Member. "Do your Cabinet Members always fly on the wrong side of the border?" Dutch quips before he and his men are loaded into their means of transportation.

They arrive in the jungle and soon find that a camouflaged creature is ritualistically stalking and murdering them. But this isn't just random slasher style--it picks off its prey on a whimsy, and only attacks fair game (e.g. those with weapons). Soon Dutch and his team realize that getting out of the jungle isn't going to be as easy as they thought.

For me, "Predator" is one of the best action films of all time. It has everything. It isn't messy and over-paced; it takes its time getting where it's going, building up the tension for the audience, and then unleashes a bombardment of action set pieces and visual effects. Another great thing is that it is sort of Hitchcockian in a way; it doesn't show us the killer, at least not at first. It again takes its time, building up the tension, getting us primed. When it finally does show us the creature, we're shocked.

Arnold Schwarzenegger fits the role like a glove; criticize him all you want, Dutch was made for him. Can you imagine Sly or Willis playing Dutch? Not me, either. This is his time to shine. Shine he does.

The series is getting a jumpstarted revival next year with "Alien vs. Predator" (2004). There are doubts as to whether or not it will live up to long-growing expectations, especially with Paul W.S. "Resident Evil" Anderson at the helm, but I remain the optimist as far as I can. The idea of the two species joining together for a feature film was hinted at in "Predator 2" (1990), then hinted at even further with a line of comic books, fan fiction, and great videogames. I, personally, cannot wait.

Predator Preys On Your Sense of Adventure
"The Most Dangerous Game," to which Predator bears a remarkable resemblance is a literary classic and mandatory reading in most ninth grade English classes. So the question arises, why is that story held in such high esteem when this picture is cast aside as mindless tripe? I suppose having Arnold Schwarzenegger's name above the title and Joel Silver's in the producing credits doesn't help, but don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting this movie should have been showered with praise from critics, or awards from Academy members. But a pat on the back for one of the finest action directors working today (John McTiernan of Die Hard fame) might be nice, especially considering this film isn't nearly as dumb as people would have you to believe.

Schwarzenegger stars as the leader of an elite commando force sent into Central America to retrieve U.S. hostages being held in guerrilla hands. Little does he or anybody in his team know (with the exception of Carl Weather's character) that they're actually being manipulated into assassinating a group of Communist dissidents and thorns in the thorns in the side of the C.I.A. This is the only the first back-stabbing and leads to a quite harrowing and action packed combat sequence that wouldn't have looked out of place in Platoon or Saving Private Ryan.

While all this is going on, comsuming more than a half hour of briskly paced screen time, we still have yet to see the alien. McTiernan utilizes a clever tactic orginated (or at least to the best of my knowledge) by Steven Speilberg in Jaws by shooting from the predator's point of view. By doing this we only get glimpses of the monster, as he has the ability to turn himself invisable at will, which makes the final confrontation all the more terrifying. Also noteworthy is Kevin Peter Hall as the villainous creature who is a constant menace and manages to make a very impressive impression even though we never see his face.

For about the last hour of the movie he stalks Arnie and his rebel company, picking them off one by one as is customary in these kinds of films. To me the parrallels to "Dangerous Game" are quite obvious, simply substitute an alien in place of the hunter who preys on humans. The symbolism of the book and the movie is quite clear, or at least in my mind, and is that hunting for sport is inherently wrong. But even the predator has a code of conduct that human hunters have yet to adopt, he doesn't take advantage of another species inferiority or good nature. To me, being as I'm such an animal lover, I'd root for the alien a lot sooner than I would Ted Nugget or his band of ignorant rednecks.

Now I'm willing to concede that maybe I'm so intent on justifying my appreciateion for this film that I might be imposing onto it hidden meanings that aren't really there, but even if that is the case it does little to depreciate my enjoyment of one of the most exciting science fiction movies that I've ever seen. Sure the acting is merely adequate and the writing could use some sprucing up, especially in fleshing out the characters a little more, but the directing is superb and the finished product is about as good as anything you have the right to expect considering the genre.

And that's not to mention the special effects. Done by Stan Winston, who won recognition as being the best in his field after his work creating the digital dinosaurs in Speilberg's Jurassic Park, he does an equally impressive job here. The "creature features" never get too corny and at the same time aren't so good as to distract from the rest of the film. It's a fine line to walk and I can't think of anybody who does it any better.

This is the second four star review I've given a Schwarzenegger movie in as many months (the other being for True Lies) and I'm quietly coming back around to being a big fan of his early work for the first time since I was thirteen.

the best alien action film out there
when I first saw the first Predator film,I was happy to see the strong male role running for his life. Yet I do think why this editions for the Alien and Predator films are coming out so close to each other is for the summers next cross over. Alien vs Predator. But to the film, the first predator was by far the best. Sending in comandos into a rain forest and each one being killed off is truly a scary sight and yet the movie is full of action. Predator is by far one of my favorit films and I will go by this film when it comes out three days before the opeaning of AVP.

great Sci Fi film
This has got to be one of the coolest monster movies ever made! The cast is great and the creature is THE coolest (technologically advanced) alien ever! Don't listen to the 2 bad reviews. One of those guys can't even spell a simple word like "cigar", I doubt he has much taste in movies if he can't pass high school english. It's ironic that all of the low scores (besides the two drop-outs) are given not because of the movie, but because of the poor DVD treatment Fox has given it so far. I can only hope that the upcoming Alien Vs Predator will be as good as it looks. It's been a long time coming and they had better not screw it up. Anyway, get this movie. Just make sure you wait for the spec. edition coming out July 23rd! Go Yautja!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movie
Predator is the Arnold Schwarzeneggers greatest movie ever.A very good sample to sci-fiction in early 80's.South american terorists has captured a small group of americans and CIA is not going to send special forces to rescuing them only one man can do this job dutch and his team.Very famous actors played in this movie Arnold Schwarzenegger,Carl Weathers,Bill Duke,Jesse Ventura. if you love this movie than you must watch another great movies of schwarzenegger which is the commando,terminator ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classic Cult TV.
This series was loosely based or, or ripped-off from Buckaroo Banzai. It was an off beat TV series about oddball superheroes, along the line of Mystery Men. Good clean fun that paved the way for Max Headroom in the US.

Gibt es den Film auch in deutsch?
Gibt es den Film auch in deutsch?

great show
I think this is one of the best shows that television had to offer. Being a sci-fi fan it disappointed me to see this show cancelled.

excellent action movie with terrific acting.
I was truly moved. My expectations were surpassed by a cast of terrific actors. I especialy was drawn to the talents of Mark Thomas Miller. His scene at the beach tore my heart out. Also the action was riviting. The scene with Mark throwing lightning and singing at the same time gave me goose bumps. Anyone who wants to see an actor with great looks and alot of talent should watch Mark in this movie. Brad Pitt is a wimp next to this hunk. Where is he now? I wish I could see him in more movies. Courtney Cox is in the movie too.Also Kevin Peter Hall and Dean Paul Martin are cute, but I heard they died. Also the director was James Parriot.

very entertaining
I have to say i seen this movie when it first hit video and now i try to find it at the video stores and no one has it this movie is silly and funny and it is not the best out there however it is one that i will keep to watch over and over ... Read more

Reviews (269)

One of the Governator's best...
It sits perched in the trees, invisible to the naked eye. It watches them trek through the rainforest. It stalks them slowly, lunging forward when given the chance but never revealing itself. It follows their patterns and mimics their voices. The leader turns, sporting a serious expression of fear. It is Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger). "If it bleeds, we can kill it," he says, glancing down at the green liquid.

Terror comes in many forms, but so does action, and "Predator" successfully combines both. We already know the fate of our hero, but that does not matter, simply because we enjoy the ride. This is a smart action/horror/thriller that doesn't fall back on cliches, but pushes forward, aware that it may be following such films as "Alien" (1979) but yet only improving upon the presented material. The Predator is a work of genius--originally fitted for Jean-Claude Van Damme and shaped like a giant bug, it was later reworked by creature effects artist Stan Winston (with the help of James Cameron) after Van Damme was fired due to complaining too much about how hot and stuffy his suit was. The villain helps make this movie, and if there were ever a terrifying creature it is the Predator, which is not only visually haunting but an emphasis of how advanced life forms could hunt us like we hunt animal prey.

Kevin Peter Hall hadn't gotten much work then; a few stage performances but nothing serious. He was picked up by John McTiernan because he was taller than Arnold Schwarzenegger and, when placed in the alien suit, he not only looked fierce but he also looked like he could be the one and only true opponent to Arnold, a man who looks like he eats babies for breakfasts. (And perhaps grown humans for lunch.)

Not only is he the perfect opponent, he helps make the movie. A lot of the film's positive elements come from the lush Cambodian jungles, the haunting direction by McTiernan, the ultimate macho combat role by Arnold, the paranoia and startlingly effective idea of the remote settings. Much of it also comes from the fact that the alien, when finally revealed, looks real. It looks real, all right, and also pretty darn horrifying. (Who can forget when it drops its face mask and reveals its true self?)

Major Dutch Schaefer and his elite team of US Commandos are sent deep into the swampy depths of a Columbian jungle, trying to locate a downed chopper carrying a Cabinet Member. "Do your Cabinet Members always fly on the wrong side of the border?" Dutch quips before he and his men are loaded into their means of transportation.

They arrive in the jungle and soon find that a camouflaged creature is ritualistically stalking and murdering them. But this isn't just random slasher style--it picks off its prey on a whimsy, and only attacks fair game (e.g. those with weapons). Soon Dutch and his team realize that getting out of the jungle isn't going to be as easy as they thought.

For me, "Predator" is one of the best action films of all time. It has everything. It isn't messy and over-paced; it takes its time getting where it's going, building up the tension for the audience, and then unleashes a bombardment of action set pieces and visual effects. Another great thing is that it is sort of Hitchcockian in a way; it doesn't show us the killer, at least not at first. It again takes its time, building up the tension, getting us primed. When it finally does show us the creature, we're shocked.

Arnold Schwarzenegger fits the role like a glove; criticize him all you want, Dutch was made for him. Can you imagine Sly or Willis playing Dutch? Not me, either. This is his time to shine. Shine he does.

The series is getting a jumpstarted revival next year with "Alien vs. Predator" (2004). There are doubts as to whether or not it will live up to long-growing expectations, especially with Paul W.S. "Resident Evil" Anderson at the helm, but I remain the optimist as far as I can. The idea of the two species joining together for a feature film was hinted at in "Predator 2" (1990), then hinted at even further with a line of comic books, fan fiction, and great videogames. I, personally, cannot wait.

Predator Preys On Your Sense of Adventure
"The Most Dangerous Game," to which Predator bears a remarkable resemblance is a literary classic and mandatory reading in most ninth grade English classes. So the question arises, why is that story held in such high esteem when this picture is cast aside as mindless tripe? I suppose having Arnold Schwarzenegger's name above the title and Joel Silver's in the producing credits doesn't help, but don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting this movie should have been showered with praise from critics, or awards from Academy members. But a pat on the back for one of the finest action directors working today (John McTiernan of Die Hard fame) might be nice, especially considering this film isn't nearly as dumb as people would have you to believe.

Schwarzenegger stars as the leader of an elite commando force sent into Central America to retrieve U.S. hostages being held in guerrilla hands. Little does he or anybody in his team know (with the exception of Carl Weather's character) that they're actually being manipulated into assassinating a group of Communist dissidents and thorns in the thorns in the side of the C.I.A. This is the only the first back-stabbing and leads to a quite harrowing and action packed combat sequence that wouldn't have looked out of place in Platoon or Saving Private Ryan.

While all this is going on, comsuming more than a half hour of briskly paced screen time, we still have yet to see the alien. McTiernan utilizes a clever tactic orginated (or at least to the best of my knowledge) by Steven Speilberg in Jaws by shooting from the predator's point of view. By doing this we only get glimpses of the monster, as he has the ability to turn himself invisable at will, which makes the final confrontation all the more terrifying. Also noteworthy is Kevin Peter Hall as the villainous creature who is a constant menace and manages to make a very impressive impression even though we never see his face.

For about the last hour of the movie he stalks Arnie and his rebel company, picking them off one by one as is customary in these kinds of films. To me the parrallels to "Dangerous Game" are quite obvious, simply substitute an alien in place of the hunter who preys on humans. The symbolism of the book and the movie is quite clear, or at least in my mind, and is that hunting for sport is inherently wrong. But even the predator has a code of conduct that human hunters have yet to adopt, he doesn't take advantage of another species inferiority or good nature. To me, being as I'm such an animal lover, I'd root for the alien a lot sooner than I would Ted Nugget or his band of ignorant rednecks.

Now I'm willing to concede that maybe I'm so intent on justifying my appreciateion for this film that I might be imposing onto it hidden meanings that aren't really there, but even if that is the case it does little to depreciate my enjoyment of one of the most exciting science fiction movies that I've ever seen. Sure the acting is merely adequate and the writing could use some sprucing up, especially in fleshing out the characters a little more, but the directing is superb and the finished product is about as good as anything you have the right to expect considering the genre.

And that's not to mention the special effects. Done by Stan Winston, who won recognition as being the best in his field after his work creating the digital dinosaurs in Speilberg's Jurassic Park, he does an equally impressive job here. The "creature features" never get too corny and at the same time aren't so good as to distract from the rest of the film. It's a fine line to walk and I can't think of anybody who does it any better.

This is the second four star review I've given a Schwarzenegger movie in as many months (the other being for True Lies) and I'm quietly coming back around to being a big fan of his early work for the first time since I was thirteen.

the best alien action film out there
when I first saw the first Predator film,I was happy to see the strong male role running for his life. Yet I do think why this editions for the Alien and Predator films are coming out so close to each other is for the summers next cross over. Alien vs Predator. But to the film, the first predator was by far the best. Sending in comandos into a rain forest and each one being killed off is truly a scary sight and yet the movie is full of action. Predator is by far one of my favorit films and I will go by this film when it comes out three days before the opeaning of AVP.

great Sci Fi film
This has got to be one of the coolest monster movies ever made! The cast is great and the creature is THE coolest (technologically advanced) alien ever! Don't listen to the 2 bad reviews. One of those guys can't even spell a simple word like "cigar", I doubt he has much taste in movies if he can't pass high school english. It's ironic that all of the low scores (besides the two drop-outs) are given not because of the movie, but because of the poor DVD treatment Fox has given it so far. I can only hope that the upcoming Alien Vs Predator will be as good as it looks. It's been a long time coming and they had better not screw it up. Anyway, get this movie. Just make sure you wait for the spec. edition coming out July 23rd! Go Yautja!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movie
Predator is the Arnold Schwarzeneggers greatest movie ever.A very good sample to sci-fiction in early 80's.South american terorists has captured a small group of americans and CIA is not going to send special forces to rescuing them only one man can do this job dutch and his team.Very famous actors played in this movie Arnold Schwarzenegger,Carl Weathers,Bill Duke,Jesse Ventura. if you love this movie than you must watch another great movies of schwarzenegger which is the commando,terminator ... Read more

Reviews (28)

"Kate...Kate, I think I killed somebody!"
Those haunting words. One only a young Tom Hanks, with his emotionally cracking voice, could pull off. It's a wonder as to how many varieties of plaid shirt was worn during the 80's as well as the varying sizes of bad hair. I mean really, every scene was getting ready for a hoe down. But, I digress. Hanks, of course would go to greater triumphs (Bachelor Party, The Man with One Red Shoe, The Money Pit) but this was the stick at the beginning of the popsicle my friends. Who else but Hanks could say, "What's a fecalite?" with coviction, or am I quoting the book. Who cares, "brilliant" dialogue nontheless. A young unknown Chris Makepeace (as opposed to the old unknown Chris Makepeace) delivers a performance worthy of praise by extras everywhere. Bravo, Chris, bravo. That being said, he's head and shoulders abouve the rest of the cast, except Hanks, whom he stands at elbow height (at least in this movie). In conclusion, 'Mazes and Monsters' is an enjoyable diversion after a pizza, a few random encounters with some elves and an heated debate as to who is the better captain, Kirk or Picard? Delicious!

"I am the Maze Controller""
Mazes and Monsters is one of the few Tom Hanks movies I do like, that big piano routine in BIG is what I used to think of when I thought of Tom Hanks. But not after seeing this RPG related movie on TBS nearly 19 years after its release on TV. His performance was incredible, not mention that outfit he was sporting in the final scene, I mean could those shorts have been any shorter????, I beg you to imagine. "Freelic, It must have been a wise and powerful holy man that restored you to the living", says Tom. Now come on you either loved that line if you ever played D&D, or you thought it was just plain ridiculous if you never have, either way it made the movie. I recommend that anybody who has ever rolled a twenty side die buy this movie, and anybody who loves Tom should at least see it. Josh

Campy Halloween Party Fun for MST3K fans!
What I wouldn't give to see what the gang from MST3K could do to this one. You will shriek in horror and howl hysterically! This not-so classic fright-fest starred Tom Hanks well before he had a copious choice of film projects. The plot is dreadfully simple, and simply dreadful. A Fantasy Role-Playing game drives a college dweeb to insanity when the players take it too far for his fragile little psyche to withstand, proving that even the highest of the Hollywood echelon had to just pay the rent sometimes. This mock-worthy made for TV movie aired in 1982 and had audiences wondering why they were watching this crap in the first place. Mazes and Monsters did for Dungeons and Dragons what Reefer Madness did for marijuana. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll kiss 75 minutes of your life good-bye! Get this for your next party with your wittiest friends and have some hearty laughs. You'll be glad you did.

Now let this be a lesson for you.
Yep, first there was "Reefer Madness" (1936) ASIN: 6305396493 telling of the pitfalls of smoking reefers. Now there is mazes and monsters madness. An undetectable force that you are powerless to resist.

Tom Hanks as usual fits comfortably in any role he plays. The theme may be a little dated, but it is still fun to watch and speculate "There but for fortune go I".

As you have guest the story is about a role-playing game that gets out of hand. Tom Hanks plays a person that might not be quite stable and the addition of this game feeds his fantasies. This leads to a mysterious disappearance. This is more of a physiological movie than a blood and guts type. Before people say what is real or not, different people will come to this movie from different backgrounds, and go away a little closer.

Bad quality movie!
This video is very bad quality.. looks like a home video recording! ... Read more

Reviews (269)

One of the Governator's best...
It sits perched in the trees, invisible to the naked eye. It watches them trek through the rainforest. It stalks them slowly, lunging forward when given the chance but never revealing itself. It follows their patterns and mimics their voices. The leader turns, sporting a serious expression of fear. It is Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger). "If it bleeds, we can kill it," he says, glancing down at the green liquid.

Terror comes in many forms, but so does action, and "Predator" successfully combines both. We already know the fate of our hero, but that does not matter, simply because we enjoy the ride. This is a smart action/horror/thriller that doesn't fall back on cliches, but pushes forward, aware that it may be following such films as "Alien" (1979) but yet only improving upon the presented material. The Predator is a work of genius--originally fitted for Jean-Claude Van Damme and shaped like a giant bug, it was later reworked by creature effects artist Stan Winston (with the help of James Cameron) after Van Damme was fired due to complaining too much about how hot and stuffy his suit was. The villain helps make this movie, and if there were ever a terrifying creature it is the Predator, which is not only visually haunting but an emphasis of how advanced life forms could hunt us like we hunt animal prey.

Kevin Peter Hall hadn't gotten much work then; a few stage performances but nothing serious. He was picked up by John McTiernan because he was taller than Arnold Schwarzenegger and, when placed in the alien suit, he not only looked fierce but he also looked like he could be the one and only true opponent to Arnold, a man who looks like he eats babies for breakfasts. (And perhaps grown humans for lunch.)

Not only is he the perfect opponent, he helps make the movie. A lot of the film's positive elements come from the lush Cambodian jungles, the haunting direction by McTiernan, the ultimate macho combat role by Arnold, the paranoia and startlingly effective idea of the remote settings. Much of it also comes from the fact that the alien, when finally revealed, looks real. It looks real, all right, and also pretty darn horrifying. (Who can forget when it drops its face mask and reveals its true self?)

Major Dutch Schaefer and his elite team of US Commandos are sent deep into the swampy depths of a Columbian jungle, trying to locate a downed chopper carrying a Cabinet Member. "Do your Cabinet Members always fly on the wrong side of the border?" Dutch quips before he and his men are loaded into their means of transportation.

They arrive in the jungle and soon find that a camouflaged creature is ritualistically stalking and murdering them. But this isn't just random slasher style--it picks off its prey on a whimsy, and only attacks fair game (e.g. those with weapons). Soon Dutch and his team realize that getting out of the jungle isn't going to be as easy as they thought.

For me, "Predator" is one of the best action films of all time. It has everything. It isn't messy and over-paced; it takes its time getting where it's going, building up the tension for the audience, and then unleashes a bombardment of action set pieces and visual effects. Another great thing is that it is sort of Hitchcockian in a way; it doesn't show us the killer, at least not at first. It again takes its time, building up the tension, getting us primed. When it finally does show us the creature, we're shocked.

Arnold Schwarzenegger fits the role like a glove; criticize him all you want, Dutch was made for him. Can you imagine Sly or Willis playing Dutch? Not me, either. This is his time to shine. Shine he does.

The series is getting a jumpstarted revival next year with "Alien vs. Predator" (2004). There are doubts as to whether or not it will live up to long-growing expectations, especially with Paul W.S. "Resident Evil" Anderson at the helm, but I remain the optimist as far as I can. The idea of the two species joining together for a feature film was hinted at in "Predator 2" (1990), then hinted at even further with a line of comic books, fan fiction, and great videogames. I, personally, cannot wait.

Predator Preys On Your Sense of Adventure
"The Most Dangerous Game," to which Predator bears a remarkable resemblance is a literary classic and mandatory reading in most ninth grade English classes. So the question arises, why is that story held in such high esteem when this picture is cast aside as mindless tripe? I suppose having Arnold Schwarzenegger's name above the title and Joel Silver's in the producing credits doesn't help, but don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting this movie should have been showered with praise from critics, or awards from Academy members. But a pat on the back for one of the finest action directors working today (John McTiernan of Die Hard fame) might be nice, especially considering this film isn't nearly as dumb as people would have you to believe.

Schwarzenegger stars as the leader of an elite commando force sent into Central America to retrieve U.S. hostages being held in guerrilla hands. Little does he or anybody in his team know (with the exception of Carl Weather's character) that they're actually being manipulated into assassinating a group of Communist dissidents and thorns in the thorns in the side of the C.I.A. This is the only the first back-stabbing and leads to a quite harrowing and action packed combat sequence that wouldn't have looked out of place in Platoon or Saving Private Ryan.

While all this is going on, comsuming more than a half hour of briskly paced screen time, we still have yet to see the alien. McTiernan utilizes a clever tactic orginated (or at least to the best of my knowledge) by Steven Speilberg in Jaws by shooting from the predator's point of view. By doing this we only get glimpses of the monster, as he has the ability to turn himself invisable at will, which makes the final confrontation all the more terrifying. Also noteworthy is Kevin Peter Hall as the villainous creature who is a constant menace and manages to make a very impressive impression even though we never see his face.

For about the last hour of the movie he stalks Arnie and his rebel company, picking them off one by one as is customary in these kinds of films. To me the parrallels to "Dangerous Game" are quite obvious, simply substitute an alien in place of the hunter who preys on humans. The symbolism of the book and the movie is quite clear, or at least in my mind, and is that hunting for sport is inherently wrong. But even the predator has a code of conduct that human hunters have yet to adopt, he doesn't take advantage of another species inferiority or good nature. To me, being as I'm such an animal lover, I'd root for the alien a lot sooner than I would Ted Nugget or his band of ignorant rednecks.

Now I'm willing to concede that maybe I'm so intent on justifying my appreciateion for this film that I might be imposing onto it hidden meanings that aren't really there, but even if that is the case it does little to depreciate my enjoyment of one of the most exciting science fiction movies that I've ever seen. Sure the acting is merely adequate and the writing could use some sprucing up, especially in fleshing out the characters a little more, but the directing is superb and the finished product is about as good as anything you have the right to expect considering the genre.

And that's not to mention the special effects. Done by Stan Winston, who won recognition as being the best in his field after his work creating the digital dinosaurs in Speilberg's Jurassic Park, he does an equally impressive job here. The "creature features" never get too corny and at the same time aren't so good as to distract from the rest of the film. It's a fine line to walk and I can't think of anybody who does it any better.

This is the second four star review I've given a Schwarzenegger movie in as many months (the other being for True Lies) and I'm quietly coming back around to being a big fan of his early work for the first time since I was thirteen.

the best alien action film out there
when I first saw the first Predator film,I was happy to see the strong male role running for his life. Yet I do think why this editions for the Alien and Predator films are coming out so close to each other is for the summers next cross over. Alien vs Predator. But to the film, the first predator was by far the best. Sending in comandos into a rain forest and each one being killed off is truly a scary sight and yet the movie is full of action. Predator is by far one of my favorit films and I will go by this film when it comes out three days before the opeaning of AVP.

great Sci Fi film
This has got to be one of the coolest monster movies ever made! The cast is great and the creature is THE coolest (technologically advanced) alien ever! Don't listen to the 2 bad reviews. One of those guys can't even spell a simple word like "cigar", I doubt he has much taste in movies if he can't pass high school english. It's ironic that all of the low scores (besides the two drop-outs) are given not because of the movie, but because of the poor DVD treatment Fox has given it so far. I can only hope that the upcoming Alien Vs Predator will be as good as it looks. It's been a long time coming and they had better not screw it up. Anyway, get this movie. Just make sure you wait for the spec. edition coming out July 23rd! Go Yautja!

Arnold Schwarzenegger's best movie
Predator is the Arnold Schwarzeneggers greatest movie ever.A very good sample to sci-fiction in early 80's.South american terorists has captured a small group of americans and CIA is not going to send special forces to rescuing them only one man can do this job dutch and his team.Very famous actors played in this movie Arnold Schwarzenegger,Carl Weathers,Bill Duke,Jesse Ventura. if you love this movie than you must watch another great movies of schwarzenegger which is the commando,terminator ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Very funny comedy. If you don¿t expect horror.
This movie is often in the horror section in the video stores. Therefore, some people who expect a horror movie might get disappointed. I would call this a comedy and it is a really funny comedy that spoofs a number of horror movies, for instance, the shower scene in Psycho (1960). The actors are actually quite good and the characters are funny, like Diane, who always lists her arguments "A...B...C..." and Dr. Pennyworth who starts to talk about the frog he found when he was young all the time. And the angry General Turnbull. And some other stupid funny things like that everybody gets almost hypnotized every time Richard Clark takes off his glasses. Well, it's to funny to tell you have to see it yourself! I very much recommend this movie to everybody who likes funny comedies and especially to you who likes horror movies and comedies! Give it a chance!

Quick! Grab The Xylophone And The Kazoo!
This rare film, made with lots of personal sacrifice from the cast and crew, is well worth the effort to seek out. "Monster In The Closet" is a satire of formulaic monster movies, and is done with great wit and charm on a low budget. The story concerns a mysterious set of serial murders in which all victims are killed in their closets. Early victims include the horror movie institution, John Carradine, this time as a cranky blind man who gets eaten.

A spittoon-toting Sheriff (Claude Akins) tries to defeat the monster while ignoring scientific counsel from scientists Denise Dubarry and Henry Gibson. Gibson is particularly entertaining as a half-baked forgetful professor who thinks he can communicate with the creature via a xylophone (he can, as it turns out, not that it does him any good), and is forever prattling on about a frog he once found. The male lead is Donald Grant, who does a great job as the naive 'Pretty Boy' reporter sent to cover the story as harassment by veteran reporter "Scoop" played by Frank Ashmore. I have never been as pleased in a movie as when Grant stands up to Ashmore.

When the creature finally does show up it is a gross looking kind of excrement monster with a second sub-head in a spoof of "Alien", which actually can be communicated with. In the end not only does Gibson get to chat with the creature via the xylophone, but Grant gets to chat via kazoo, as well. The Army seems powerless to do anything, a romance subplot flourishes, and we get to what would seem to be the climactic scene of the film. There is a great twist in the last 15 minutes, which I did not see coming, and probably most other people won't either. Suffice it to say, it is silly, involves a lot of property mutilation that I would not want to explain to my Homeowner's policy issuer, love, self-sacrifice (sort of), and hope springing eternal. (And ultimately a lot of expensive remodeling.)

The film is a great, cheesy, fun movie to watch (best with friends) and I highly recommend it. Troma distributes it, but did not produce it, so it is not typical Troma fare. It is not particularly violent (except the scenes of violent closet disruption and some Army efforts at the grade school) or gory (well, OK, the monster mouth is pretty nasty), has little objectionable except one fairly gratuitous scene of Stella Stevens in an excellent "Psycho" parody, and is just plain fun.

Watch a great low budget movie and see why B Movies can be so much fun. Grab "Monster In The Closet" today!

MONSTERS IN THE CLOSET stars Fergie of Black Eyed Peas
Stacy Ferguson, also none a Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Kids incorporated star from 1983-1989, and former member of Wild Orchid, has a short role in this movie. Shes the lil blonde girl. Shes so cute in it lol. Its a must have for any fans of fergie. She was like 11 in it lol.

Its a great movie and people should by it anyway. even if you rnot a fergie fan.

I'm the guy in the movie...
I'm Donald Grant... Richard Clark in the movie. We made this thing back in 1983. I compare the production of the film, to what I've heard about the first 'Rocky'. Most everyone sacrificed their time and livlihood for the months of pre-production, actual production, and post, to get Monster done. I really only understood the magnitude of everyone's sacrifice after the project was completed.
It took about 15 weeks to shoot, what could have taken about 6 weeks. Monster was not 'produced' by Troma. They picked it up for distribution, and took production credits only after the actual producers exhausted their resources, and were forced to do what they could to get the film done. Director Bob Dahlin really had a vision. He plucked me out of nowhere (commercial actor from the SF bay area) and put me as the lead in the film. Being his first major film,with him at the helm... he was (I believe) overly cautious - thus the long shooting time. He and the producers, busted keester to get this thing done.
I believe it is the first movie in the history of the Teamsters, that the unions allowed them to defer pay. Everyone involved in this film did it on faith and confidence in Bob and the script.
In hindsight, I believed the producers should have accepted help from the majors (who were courting them all along), so that it could have gotten the full theatrical release that it was due. Bob and the producers were understandibly reluctant to give up any control.
Monster is a great little movie, with a tremendous cast of veteran actors. I learned a tremendous amount from all of them, and developed lifelong firendships with a few of them. dongrant@arczip.com

B-Film Tribute and Lots of Troma Extras
The Monster in the Closet is a wonderful send up of classic man-in-a-rubber-suit b-movies of the 50's. In this one, a mysterious monster suddenly appears in a closet in a small town North of San Francisco and proceeds to start killing people. It is able to move from closet to closet unseen.

Richard Clark is a hopeless reporter who is sent out to cover the nutty story. What he finds is a true story of horror and terror that can shock the world. He is suddenly in the middle of the biggest story ever.

A wonderful cast helps keep the movie right on track. Claude Akins is the tobacco-spitting Sherif and Henry Gibson is an Einstein-like scientist plus many others.

The movie is rated PG although Stella Stevens has a nude scene and many of the disks extras (there are dozens) are obviously R rated. But if you have ever loved those campy B flicks, you will really want to see this one. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Very funny comedy. If you don¿t expect horror.
This movie is often in the horror section in the video stores. Therefore, some people who expect a horror movie might get disappointed. I would call this a comedy and it is a really funny comedy that spoofs a number of horror movies, for instance, the shower scene in Psycho (1960). The actors are actually quite good and the characters are funny, like Diane, who always lists her arguments "A...B...C..." and Dr. Pennyworth who starts to talk about the frog he found when he was young all the time. And the angry General Turnbull. And some other stupid funny things like that everybody gets almost hypnotized every time Richard Clark takes off his glasses. Well, it's to funny to tell you have to see it yourself! I very much recommend this movie to everybody who likes funny comedies and especially to you who likes horror movies and comedies! Give it a chance!

Quick! Grab The Xylophone And The Kazoo!
This rare film, made with lots of personal sacrifice from the cast and crew, is well worth the effort to seek out. "Monster In The Closet" is a satire of formulaic monster movies, and is done with great wit and charm on a low budget. The story concerns a mysterious set of serial murders in which all victims are killed in their closets. Early victims include the horror movie institution, John Carradine, this time as a cranky blind man who gets eaten.

A spittoon-toting Sheriff (Claude Akins) tries to defeat the monster while ignoring scientific counsel from scientists Denise Dubarry and Henry Gibson. Gibson is particularly entertaining as a half-baked forgetful professor who thinks he can communicate with the creature via a xylophone (he can, as it turns out, not that it does him any good), and is forever prattling on about a frog he once found. The male lead is Donald Grant, who does a great job as the naive 'Pretty Boy' reporter sent to cover the story as harassment by veteran reporter "Scoop" played by Frank Ashmore. I have never been as pleased in a movie as when Grant stands up to Ashmore.

When the creature finally does show up it is a gross looking kind of excrement monster with a second sub-head in a spoof of "Alien", which actually can be communicated with. In the end not only does Gibson get to chat with the creature via the xylophone, but Grant gets to chat via kazoo, as well. The Army seems powerless to do anything, a romance subplot flourishes, and we get to what would seem to be the climactic scene of the film. There is a great twist in the last 15 minutes, which I did not see coming, and probably most other people won't either. Suffice it to say, it is silly, involves a lot of property mutilation that I would not want to explain to my Homeowner's policy issuer, love, self-sacrifice (sort of), and hope springing eternal. (And ultimately a lot of expensive remodeling.)

The film is a great, cheesy, fun movie to watch (best with friends) and I highly recommend it. Troma distributes it, but did not produce it, so it is not typical Troma fare. It is not particularly violent (except the scenes of violent closet disruption and some Army efforts at the grade school) or gory (well, OK, the monster