Predator 2 is the sequel to the 1987 classic Predator. This time, instead of the jungle, the alien hunter comes to the heart of Los Angeles. Directed by Stephen Hopkins, the movie blends sci-fi, action, and horror elements into an urban nightmare.
Detailed Summary
The Predator Comes to Los Angeles
The film is set in the near future of 1997 (remember, the movie was released in 1990). Los Angeles is overrun by gang wars, heatwaves, and escalating crime. Amid this chaos, a Predator arrives in the city, attracted by the violence. Unlike the first film, which had a small military team in the jungle, here the hunter has an entire metropolis as its hunting ground.
Detective Mike Harrigan Takes the Lead
Our protagonist is Detective Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover), a tough, fearless LAPD officer known for bending the rules. When several drug lords are found gruesomely slaughtered, Harrigan suspects something beyond ordinary gang violence. He clashes with federal agent Peter Keyes (Gary Busey), who tries to keep him away from the investigation.
The Predator’s Hunt Expands
The Predator systematically hunts both Colombian and Jamaican gang members in violent and spectacular fashion. One of the most memorable early scenes takes place in a penthouse where the Jamaican gang attempts a ritual killing, only to be ambushed and slaughtered by the Predator. Harrigan begins connecting the dots and realizes something unseen and inhuman is killing people.
The Subway Massacre
One of the film’s standout sequences happens on a subway. As gang members and heavily armed commuters draw weapons during a tense ride, the Predator strikes, killing indiscriminately. Harrigan’s partner, Detective Leona Cantrell (Maria Conchita Alonso), survives, but another officer, Jerry Lambert (Bill Paxton), dies trying to fight back.
Keyes Reveals the Truth
Eventually, Harrigan learns the truth: Keyes and his secret government task force have been tracking the Predator. They plan to capture it alive and study its technology. They set a trap using high-tech equipment and cold suits to mask their body heat. Predictably, the plan fails, and the Predator wipes out most of Keyes’ team.
Movie Ending
Harrigan chases the Predator into the heart of the city. After a brutal rooftop battle, the chase continues into the Predator’s ship hidden underground. There, Harrigan confronts the creature in close combat, ultimately killing it with the Predator’s own weapon.
In a shocking twist, a group of elder Predators appear from the shadows. Instead of killing Harrigan, they honor him for defeating one of their own, giving him a centuries-old flintlock pistol as a trophy. The pistol is engraved with the year 1715, suggesting the Predators have been hunting humans for centuries.
Harrigan escapes just as the ship takes off, leaving him with the knowledge that Earth has been a hunting ground for far longer than anyone realized.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Predator 2 does not include a post-credits scene. However, the gift of the flintlock pistol serves as a powerful narrative hook, later revisited in expanded Predator lore and comics.
Type of Movie
Predator 2 is a sci-fi action horror thriller with heavy elements of urban crime drama. It mixes the slasher-horror style of the Predator with gritty cop-movie energy.
Cast
- Danny Glover as Detective Mike Harrigan
- Gary Busey as Special Agent Peter Keyes
- Bill Paxton as Detective Jerry Lambert
- Maria Conchita Alonso as Detective Leona Cantrell
- Rubén Blades as Detective Danny Archuleta
- Kevin Peter Hall as The Predator
Film Music and Composer
The music was composed by Alan Silvestri, who also scored the original Predator. His mix of pounding percussion and ominous brass keeps tension high while maintaining thematic ties to the first film.
Filming Locations
The movie was primarily shot in Los Angeles, which was essential for creating the oppressive, chaotic atmosphere of a city in decline. Some sequences were filmed on constructed soundstages for the subway and Predator ship scenes. The urban jungle of L.A. replaces the actual jungle of the first film, making the environment itself feel hostile.
Awards and Nominations
Predator 2 did not win major awards. It received mixed critical reviews at release but has since gained cult status among sci-fi fans.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Danny Glover was cast intentionally as a contrast to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The idea was to show an “ordinary man” standing against the Predator.
- The heatwave seen in the movie mirrored the real Los Angeles summer during filming.
- Kevin Peter Hall reprised his role as the Predator, despite the heavy and exhausting costume.
- Director Stephen Hopkins had to fight studio concerns about the extreme violence and graphic imagery.
Inspirations and References
The film expands the mythology of the Predator race, building on the 1987 original. The flintlock pistol is a nod to historical hunting traditions, implying that Predators have always sought out worthy prey across different eras.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While no alternate endings are widely known, several violent sequences were cut or toned down to avoid an NC-17 rating. Early drafts hinted at more Predator backstory, but these were left for comics and later films.
Book Adaptations and Differences
A novelization of the film was released, which included expanded descriptions of the Predator’s thoughts and the elders’ culture. It offered more depth than the movie had time to show, particularly about the Predator clan hierarchy.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The Predator’s attack on the Jamaican gang in the penthouse.
- The subway massacre sequence.
- Harrigan’s showdown with the Predator inside the spaceship.
- The reveal of the Predator elders and the gifting of the flintlock pistol.
Iconic Quotes
- Harrigan: “It’s your move.”
- Keyes: “We’re gonna trap it. We’re gonna kill it.”
- Harrigan to Predator: “You’re one ugly mother—” (a callback to Schwarzenegger’s line from the first film).
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The Predator’s trophy room includes a Xenomorph skull, teasing the Alien vs. Predator crossover years before it became a reality.
- The flintlock pistol, engraved “Raphael Adolini 1715,” would later be explored in Predator lore and comics.
- The Predator’s use of different vision modes (ultraviolet, infrared, etc.) shows their advanced hunting adaptability.
Trivia
- This was Kevin Peter Hall’s final role before his untimely death in 1991.
- Bill Paxton became one of the few actors to be killed by a Predator, an Alien, and a Terminator.
- The subway scene required weeks of filming in hot, cramped, claustrophobic conditions.
Why Watch?
If you loved the original Predator but want to see the alien hunter in a completely new environment, Predator 2 is worth your time. It expands Predator lore, delivers gritty ’90s action, and gives us one of the most unique endings in the franchise.
Director’s Other Movies
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
- Judgment Night (1993)
- Blown Away (1994)
- The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
