The Predator releases in less than a week across the globe and whilst the initial trailer did nothing for me at all, the latest red band trailer and extended TV spots had managed to pique my interest again.

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However, after the first set of reviews have surfaced today for Shane Blacks attempted reboot of the franchise, my expectations have once again taken a dramatic downturn. Here is a small selection of comments from various film review sites for your perusal.

“The Predator is a flawed actioner, but a strong cast and some Shane Black magic give it a sparkle that has been lacking from recent attempts to revive the killer aliens. It’s not Black at his best, but it’s a fun diversion as long as you don’t think about it too hard. [3/5]” – SOURCE: IGN

“I am still hopefully that TIFF’s Midnight Madness section will bring us worthy revivals. Despite negative rumors, I look forward to the Halloween sequel forty years in the making. And for all I know diehard fans of Predator and its progeny find plot ridiculousity heartwarming. As for me, while I did genuinely laugh at several jokes, the only thing that warmed me was when I was finally able to run for the exit. [C-]” – SOURCE: THR

“If you’re a fan of the franchise – or even just the first film — you’ll go into The Predator excited and hopeful. But despite Shane Black at the helm — perhaps even because of — the film is over-ambitious, moving a long way away from what made the Arnie actioner so successful in the first place. While Shane Black is clearly keen to recapture the mood of the original, and transplant it into a bigger and bolder story, everything feels off – as if it’s been put through the teleportation machine in The Fly and come out the other side amalgamated and mashed up. It’s essentially Brundlefly, if you will. Only Olivia Munn really emerges intact – with a refreshingly strong and engaging woman character who’s probably Black’s biggest, and not insignificant, success here. [1/5]” – SOURCE: Slash Film

“Limbs fly, guts splash, and heads roll. It sounds ghastly, but almost all of the violence is played for laughs. The Predator is no longer a scary unstoppable force. It’s a punchline. There’s also plenty of fan service – at least two classic lines from Predator are repurposed here, to (mostly) amusing effect. Is this bent towards comedy a problem? Purists (do Predator purists even exist?) might find fault. Some may long for the franchise to return to its serious roots. After you exit the theater into the real world, the flaws of The Predator become more and more apparent. The plot doesn’t make sense. A lot of the jokes fall flat. There’s a pointless sequel set-up. But while you’re watching the movie, it’s hard not to get caught up in all the fun. Black and company are having a blast here, and it’s infectious. [6.5/10]”