The Predator is one of the most well-known monsters of all time, alongside the Xenomorph, appearing not only in movies but also in other works. However, there is more to the hunter from space than just a nasty alien.
The Predator first appeared in 1987 in the film “Predator” by John McTiernan. In the South American jungle, a special forces unit must rescue survivors of a plane crash. The special forces unit is led by Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The mission turns out to be more difficult than expected. A highly advanced alien, the Predator, is hunting the members of the special forces unit.
Unlike monstrous aliens that act instinctively, the Predator was methodical, trained, and intelligent. Behind the first Predator was a man in a suit.
The Man Behind the Mask
Who is behind the Predator? The first Predator seen on the big screen was not a puppet or CGI; he was played by Kevin Peter Hall. Sci-fi fans might know him as Leyor from Starship Enterprise: The Next Generation
. Due to his stature of almost 2.2 m, he previously played Bigfoot in Harry and the Hendersons.
In a behind-the-scenes feature (source: YouTube), Carl Weathers explains that he was the perfect choice and convincingly showed with makeup and costume that Schwarzenegger was in danger in the film. Hall also portrayed a variant of the alien in the second installment. For the costume, Hall didn’t need to be wired.
The most important feature of the Predator is the head, which consists not only of the mask but also of the insect-like skull behind it.
As explained by the Stan Winston School of Character Arts in a blog, the design of the Predator was inspired by paintings of Rastafari warriors that producer Joel Silver had in his office. The Predator consisted of a costume and a mechanical head that included tusks, a mouth mechanism, and an animatronic face.
To move the mouth of the Predator, a servo motor was installed to animate individual parts. Together with the artificial skin that was laid over the mechanical head and the design, the insect-like look of the head was created.
But that was only the beginning of the Predator. Beyond the cinematic representation, a whole universe developed around the sci-fi monster.
More behind-the-scenes on the Predator suit can be found here:
The Predator was so popular that a whole universe formed around him
What exactly is the Predator? The Predators are known in their lore as Yautja. Their home planet is called Yautja Prime. They are an alien species specializing in hunting. The hunt is treated like a sport or a sacred ritual. The prey is observed, stalked, and ultimately hunted.
The Yautja are more technologically advanced than humans and use not only futuristic weapons but also gadgets like a thermal vision helmet and the ability to become invisible. As seen in several films, they also use spears or other rudimentary weapons for hunting. Once they have hunted a target, they take a trophy, often in the form of bones.
Predators are larger and physically stronger than humans, can live significantly longer, and communicate through the iconic clicking sound from their mouths. They presumably reproduce like other mammals, but there has been no detailed explanation of this in any work.
The Yautja have different clans that vary in their hunting strategies and territories. Although they are technologically advanced, their culture resembles ancient warrior tribes. In the book about Alien vs. Predator
, it is also revealed that they worship a war god (via Screen Rant).
Do the Predators have a hierarchy? Yes, within the clans and on Yautja Prime, the worth of an individual Yautja is equated with their hunting successes. In the latest film of the franchise, Killer of Killers, it is shown that there is a king.
The film depicts him starting the battle of three humans in an arena and that he has a special ship. He also commands other Yautja. However, it is unclear whether he commands multiple clans or just one quite large one (source: avpcentral.com).
Every Hunt Has Rules
Are there rules that the Predators must follow? The Yautja have a code of honor that they adhere to, sometimes more, sometimes less. There are rules that should be considered when hunting.
- Innocents may not be hunted. It is unclear what exactly is considered
innocent
, but since one wants to profile oneself with the hunted, it makes sense to only hunt opponents who can defend themselves. - As hunters, Yautja should act in invisibility. Their actions should not be publicly seen.
- As a sacred ritual, a Yautja should only focus on the hunt.
- Weapons and equipment must be reclaimed.
- Killed clan members should be retrieved.
- One should hunt alone or in a small group; large groups are considered dishonorable.
- The hunt should largely be
fair
for both sides. Technology should not prevent the prey from having a chance. - Other Yautja should not be killed unless they have violated clan customs and have been sentenced to death.
If a human manages to defeat a Yautja, they seem to show respect. In Predator 2, Mike Harrigan received a gun from other Yautja after he killed his hunter. In Killer of Killers, three humans who successfully killed a Yautja are taken to an arena to fight each other. The winner would have the honor of fighting the king.
How can I learn more about the Predator? Besides all the movies (the latest was released just this year), there are many games, books, and comics about the Predator. Especially in the comics, there are many stories with various outcomes. There are also crossovers with Marvel heroes, but with the Predator, many quickly think of another alien: Alien: Everything you need to know about the legendary Xenomorph
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