The air hangs thick and heavy, not with jungle humidity this time, but with the stifling, exhaust-choked heat of urban decay. 1997 Los Angeles, as envisioned in Predator 2, isn't a gleaming metropolis; it's a pressure cooker on the verge of exploding, riddled with warring drug cartels turning the streets into free-fire zones. Forget the claustrophobic tension of the Guatemalan rainforest. Director Stephen Hopkins, fresh off A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989), plunges us headfirst into a different kind of hell – a concrete jungle where the Predator finds ample prey amidst the human predators already tearing the city apart. It’s a brutal, messy, and wonderfully excessive escalation.
Welcome to the Meat Grinder
Right from the explosive opening shootout, Predator 2 establishes its relentless pace and grimy aesthetic. This isn't the slow burn of the original; it's a full-blown urban warfare scenario where the alien hunter is just another combatant, albeit the deadliest one by far. The film perfectly captures that late 80s/early 90s anxiety about urban crime, dialing it up to eleven with near-future tech and Voodoo mysticism thrown into the chaotic mix. The constant heatwave, visualized through sweaty brows and shimmering asphalt, becomes a character itself, amplifying the tension and the sense that this city is a simmering cauldron ready to boil over. Filming on location in downtown LA certainly helped cement this oppressive atmosphere, grounding the sci-fi horror in a tangible, gritty reality.
Harrigan's Rage
Where the original had Dutch's stoic professionalism, Predator 2 gives us Lieutenant Mike Harrigan, portrayed with weary intensity by Danny Glover. Still reeling from Lethal Weapon fame, Glover trades Gibson's manic energy for a simmering, righteous fury. Harrigan isn't a super-soldier; he's a good cop pushed way past his limit, defying orders and wading through bureaucratic red tape and gangland carnage to get to the truth. It’s a grounded performance amidst the mayhem, making Harrigan a relatable anchor. We feel his frustration, his exhaustion, and his sheer disbelief as he uncovers the extraterrestrial nature of the killer decimating both cops and criminals. It's a different kind of hero for a different kind of hunt. Apparently, Arnold Schwarzenegger turned down the sequel – partly due to salary, partly a script disagreement, and partly because Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) called – and while you miss Arnie's presence, Glover makes the role entirely his own. Fun fact: Patrick Swayze was reportedly considered before Glover landed the part. Can you imagine?
The supporting cast adds flavour to the chaos. Rubén Blades as Harrigan’s loyal partner Danny, Maria Conchita Alonso as the tough Detective Cantrell, and especially the late, great Bill Paxton stealing scenes as the cocky, ultimately doomed Detective Jerry Lambert ("Want some candy?"). Each adds a human dimension to the escalating body count.
More Teeth, More Tech
The Predator itself, once again brought to imposing life by the towering Kevin Peter Hall, feels subtly different here. Perhaps emboldened by the target-rich environment, this hunter seems almost reckless, certainly more aggressive. The creature effects remain a highlight of practical prowess. The suit feels suitably menacing, the active camouflage still looks cool, and the new additions to the arsenal – the speargun, the razor-sharp Smart Disc, the brutal NetGun – are viscerally effective. The film leans heavily into the gore, so much so that it famously wrestled with the MPAA, requiring significant cuts to avoid the dreaded NC-17 rating. Many of us renting this on VHS likely saw the R-rated version, missing some of the grislier details restored later in unrated cuts. It speaks volumes about the film's commitment to its brutal vision.
Tragically, Predator 2 would be one of Kevin Peter Hall's final major roles. He passed away in 1991 due to complications from AIDS, contracted from a blood transfusion received after a car accident. Knowing this casts a shadow over his powerful physical performance, a reminder of the man beneath the fearsome mask.
Secrets and Skulls
Adding another layer to the mayhem is the shadowy government task force led by Peter Keyes, played with typical unhinged energy by Gary Busey. Their attempts to capture the Predator and its technology create a three-way conflict, further complicating Harrigan's investigation. Busey is perfectly cast as the obsessive agent willing to sacrifice anything (or anyone) for his prize.
But perhaps the film's most enduring legacy for fans arrived in its final act. Inside the Predator's ship, amidst a collection of trophies from countless hunts, eagle-eyed viewers spotted something extraordinary: the elongated skull of a Xenomorph from the Alien franchise. This single, jaw-dropping Easter egg, reportedly added by Hopkins as a fan nod (though Alien vs. Predator comics existed slightly prior), ignited years of speculation and crossover dreams, finally culminating in the AVP films years later. Doesn't that moment still send a shiver of geeky delight down your spine? It was a promise whispered in the dark of the cinema (or the glow of the CRT).
Sweaty, Loud, and Lovable
While Alan Silvestri returned to provide the score, adapting his iconic themes from the first film, the overall atmosphere is less dread-inducing jungle suspense and more high-octane urban action-horror. Predator 2 is louder, messier, and arguably less focused than its predecessor. Its $35 million budget didn't quite translate into the same box office success as the original (grossing around $57 million worldwide), and critical reception at the time was decidedly mixed. Some found the violence gratuitous and the shift in tone jarring.
Yet, viewed through the lens of nostalgia, Predator 2 holds a special place. It’s a quintessential piece of early 90s action filmmaking – excessive, violent, sweaty, and packed with practical effects wizardry. It bravely expanded the Predator lore, showing us more of their culture, technology, and their twisted sense of honour (or lack thereof in this hunter's case). It might not reach the classic status of the original, but it delivers a thrilling, distinct, and unapologetically brutal hunt.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
Predator 2 trades suspenseful isolation for chaotic urban warfare. While it loses some of the original's magic, it compensates with relentless action, a compelling lead in Danny Glover, fantastic practical effects, and crucial expansions to the Predator universe (that skull!). It's a gritty, bloody, and supremely entertaining slice of 90s sci-fi action that might have underperformed initially but has rightfully earned its cult following. It’s the kind of glorious racket best enjoyed loud, preferably late at night, just like we did back in the tape-trading days.