Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), directed by the Strause brothers, is the second film in the AVP crossover franchise, blending the iconic Xenomorphs from Alien and the Yautja (Predators) from Predator. The film attempts to raise the stakes by moving the battle from distant planets into a small American town, adding a survival-horror element with everyday people caught in the crossfire.
Detailed Summary
Opening: The Hybrid Awakens
The movie picks up immediately after AVP (2004). On the Predator ship leaving Earth, a new hybrid creature is born: the Predalien, a vicious mix of Xenomorph and Predator. It wreaks havoc on the ship, causing it to crash-land near a small town in Colorado.
Arrival in Gunnison
The crash releases Facehuggers into the wilderness, quickly infecting animals and humans. Meanwhile, the Predalien begins to hunt, creating chaos. Local characters are introduced: ex-convict Dallas, his brother Ricky, Ricky’s love interest Jesse, and Sheriff Morales.
The Predator’s Arrival
A lone Predator, known by fans as Wolf, is dispatched from the Predator homeworld to “clean up” the mess. He is not here to save humans but to eliminate all evidence of the infestation, including every Xenomorph—and anyone who gets in the way.
Escalation in the Town
As the Xenomorph population spreads, attacks erupt in homes, sewers, and even a hospital. The Predalien proves especially brutal, killing humans in grisly fashion and impregnating pregnant women with Xenomorph embryos, in one of the film’s most shocking sequences.
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Movie Ending
In the climax, survivors gather at Gunnison’s hospital, which has become overrun by Xenomorphs. Dallas, Ricky, Jesse, and others attempt to escape as Wolf Predator infiltrates the building to confront the Predalien.
A brutal final battle unfolds on the hospital rooftop between Wolf and the Predalien. Both creatures mortally wound each other in a savage duel, leaving neither victorious. At the same time, the U.S. military launches an airstrike on Gunnison, deploying a nuclear bomb that obliterates the town and wipes out almost everyone—Xenomorphs, Predators, and humans alike.
Only a few survivors—Dallas, Ricky, Kelly (a returning soldier), and her daughter Molly—manage to escape in a helicopter, flying away just before the detonation. Their survival feels hollow, given the destruction left behind.
The film closes with a chilling epilogue: government officials present a recovered Predator plasma pistol to a woman named Ms. Yutani, hinting at the rise of the infamous Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a major player in the Alien franchise.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, there are no post-credits scenes. The epilogue with Ms. Yutani serves as the film’s closing stinger before the credits roll.
Type of Movie
This is a sci-fi horror action film, combining creature-feature gore with survival-horror tension. It is darker and more brutal than its predecessor, leaning heavily into horror elements.
Cast
- Steven Pasquale as Dallas Howard
- Reiko Aylesworth as Kelly O’Brien
- John Ortiz as Sheriff Morales
- Johnny Lewis as Ricky Howard
- Kristen Hager as Jesse Salinger
- Ariel Gade as Molly O’Brien
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Brian Tyler, who created a soundtrack blending ominous horror tones with the aggressive percussion and brass typical of Predator films. It aimed to honor both franchises’ musical legacies.
Filming Locations
Filming took place mainly in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with additional shoots in Port Coquitlam and New Westminster. The small-town setting was chosen to emphasize vulnerability—ordinary people facing cosmic horrors without the resources of soldiers or scientists.
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Awards and Nominations
The film did not receive major awards and was generally panned by critics, but it gained recognition at the Scream Awards for its creature design and gore effects.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- The Strause brothers wanted to return the franchise to its horror roots, after complaints that AVP (2004) was too PG-13 and tame.
- Practical effects were heavily used for the Xenomorphs and Predalien to recreate the tactile feel of the original films.
- The film was deliberately dark, both in tone and lighting—though many viewers criticized it for being visually too dark to follow the action.
- The directors had to trim down some gore scenes to avoid the dreaded NC-17 rating.
Inspirations and References
- Directly inspired by the Dark Horse Comics AVP crossover series.
- References to both original franchises: the Predator’s self-destruct device, Alien’s chestbursters, and Weyland-Yutani lore.
- The nuclear strike echoes James Cameron’s Aliens finale, where nuclear fire wipes out the infestation.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
- An alternate ending showed the survivors being captured by the military rather than escaping freely.
- Deleted material included extended gore sequences and more background on Wolf Predator’s arsenal.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film was novelized by Diane Carey, with the book fleshing out character backstories and expanding on the Predator’s perspective. The novel also describes the Predalien’s biology in more detail than the movie.
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Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The Predator ship crash and release of Facehuggers.
- The sewer sequence where the aliens ambush the rescue team.
- The infamous hospital maternity ward scene with the Predalien.
- The rooftop battle between Wolf and the Predalien.
- The nuclear strike that ends it all.
Iconic Quotes
- Sheriff Morales: “This town is under siege.”
- Dallas: “People are dying. We’re on our own.”
- Ms. Yutani (final line): “The world is not ready for this technology.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The name “Yutani” directly ties the Predator technology to Weyland-Yutani, bridging the two franchises.
- Wolf Predator’s trophy wall contains references to past Predator hunts.
- Dallas shares his name with Tom Skerritt’s character in Alien (1979).
Trivia
- The film is the darkest (literally) in the franchise; many theaters reported audience complaints about visibility.
- The directors nicknamed the Predalien “Chet” during production.
- This is the only Alien or Predator movie to feature a nuclear strike on a U.S. town.
- Despite poor reviews, the movie made back its budget, thanks to the strength of both franchises’ fan bases.
Why Watch?
This film is not for the faint of heart—it’s brutal, gory, and relentless. But if you’re a fan of the Alien or Predator series, it offers a darker, bloodier take on the crossover concept. It’s also essential for anyone interested in the development of Weyland-Yutani lore.
Directors’ Other Works
The Strause brothers (Colin and Greg Strause) also directed:
- Skyline (2010)
- Beyond Skyline (2017) – producer credit
