People, including myself, had lots of expectations from the original Alien Vs. Predator film back when it was released in 2004. However, despite being a solid entertainer, that film had one problem that kept it from being a truly fun and well-made film, and that was the lack of an R-Rated format. It ended up being riddled with too many intrusive cuts, and random edits that would keep us from seeing gore. However, with the sequel to the original AVP film, Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem ups the ante right away by pushing for a solid R-Rated rating. Now, they had a blank slate for some incredible gore mastery.
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The Movie Review
Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem follows the aftermath of a predator ship crashing back to Earth after an alien infiltrates the craft. The crash releases a new breed of aliens into a small, unsuspecting community, causing chaos and destruction. Meanwhile, a cleaner is sent from the predator’s home planet to cover up the incident and eliminate any evidence. Humans caught in the crossfire must struggle to survive the night as they become caught in the midst of an intergalactic battle between the two formidable species.
While Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem is often criticized for being a B-movie with poor acting and an uninspired script, it is actually a far superior film to the first one in the AVP franchise when viewed objectively. Despite its flaws, Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem manages to make the concept of ordinary residents of a small town fighting against alien predators work, without relying on cheesy props, low-quality sets, or overacted stock characters.
In comparison, Predator 2 suffers from many of these issues and comes across as a far less polished and less engaging film. Not to mention, this is a shorter film overall, so it’s more jam-packed with entertainment, despite it coming as a detriment to character development.
It’s unclear why the filmmakers of Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem decided to include so much meaningless small talk between the characters instead of developing them more fully. This decision ultimately leads to shallow, cardboard cutout characters that are hard to invest in. In addition, there are a number of plot points that don’t make sense, such as the Sheriff leading civilians to a cache of guns and the bimbo character inexplicably knowing where they are.
The Predalien’s decision to wait for the Predator to slowly remove his mask before attacking is also confusing. The aliens’ continued habit of hissing to alert their prey to run is a tired trope that was used in previous films in the series. I mean, that’s bound to happen when you have five different scriptwriters working on the same film…
The Visuals
In an attempt to make Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem more menacing and dark, the filmmakers, unfortunately, sacrificed clear cinematography.
The film is plagued by poor lighting, with scenes often so murky that it’s difficult to make out what is happening on screen. This is a major problem, as the film relies heavily on shadows to create suspense, but the shadows themselves are so dark that they blend in with the rest of the poorly lit scenes.
The cinematography is among the worst I’ve seen in a major studio release, and it severely hinders the film’s ability to engage the viewer. The cast does their best with the material given, but with such poorly crafted visuals, their efforts are largely wasted. The film becomes a chaotic mess of screams and deaths, with no real substance to hold it together.
The Music
One of the few highlights of Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem is its music, which is consistently ominous, eerie, and atmospheric. The score effectively enhances the film’s horror elements, adding an extra layer of tension and unease to the already bloody and nightmare-fueled story.
It’s clear that the filmmakers put a lot of thought into the music, and its prominent use throughout the film helps to elevate the overall viewing experience.
Verdict
Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem is a blood-soaked thrill ride that unfortunately falls short in its character development. The movie’s R-rating is well-earned, as the on-screen gore is truly gruesome at times. However, the characters are given little time to develop before they meet their grisly ends, leaving the audience feeling disconnected from their fates. The editing and fast-paced action can also be confusing at times.
While it’s the shortest film in either the Alien or Predator series, a little more depth in the characters and improved lighting could have made it a more memorable addition to the franchise.
