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Colin And Greg Strause, Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem

by Chris Flippo
12/28/2007

Before I start this review, I just want you to know this write-up is going to seem like a cop-out. That’s because Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem is what some people would call “critic-proof.” This is a term that I’ve noticed is thrown around a lot, but for some movies, it’s the only term that can apply. Most people who are going to see this film are not going to care about the reviews and have most likely already bought their ticket. To put it simply, you’re either in or you’re out. However, my job today is going to tell you guys on the fence what you’re getting yourself into should you sign up. This is the kind of film where you don’t have criticism so much as you offer disclaimers.

If you’re new, let me offer a brief recap. The first Alien vs. Predator (2004) followed several Predators on a rite of passage as they killed Aliens in some frozen pyramid in the Arctic. Several face-hugs and chest-bursts later, the last Predator teamed up with the last human to prevent an alien infestation. Just as it seemed that the Predators won the inaugural fight, an alien bursts through the chest of one of the fallen warriors. Wrap. Cut to sequel.

The new film picks up immediately after the first AVP. The alien stowaway has grown up into a Predator-Alien hybrid and has killed the remaining crewmembers. After the ship crashes in Colorado, the Predator home world dispatches one of their own to act as a cleaner (think of it as an extraterrestrial “Bonnie Situation” from Pulp Fiction and you have the right idea). As you may have guessed, a war between the Aliens and Predators breaks out, and the humans do their best to get out of town in one piece.

Whew. Now with all that out of the way, let’s talk about what the Brothers Strause do with the franchise(s). The siblings may not be particularly gifted when it comes to actors, but I have to admit they know how their way around the effects department. AVP-R wastes no time in getting down to the titular match-up. From the beginning, townspeople are dispatched in every way possible (and in some ways that aren’t).

Which brings me to the biggest warning I have for you: the Brothers Strause have created perhaps the most violent film ever to be released around a major holiday. After complaints about the (oddly) bloodless AVP, Requiem raises the bar for violence for both franchises. Sure, Predator 2 had its share of gross-out moments, but AVP-R has some stuff I would never imagine I would ever see in a movie (or would ever want to). It’s nice to see the franchise return to its roots with a good, old-fashioned R rating, but... wow. I thought I had a pretty good stomach when it came to cinematic violence, but Requiem put that to the test.

A few months ago, I gave a good review for Shoot ‘Em Up (and, trust me, I’m still getting hell for that) because I thought the film worked well in regards to the expectations it had set up for itself. I believe that sometimes we are too eager to compare genre fare to more “grown-up” films. I’m not saying we should give a pass to bad filmmaking, but maybe we should perhaps be a little bit more objective. A lot of critics are going to rip this film apart, calling it a shallow-minded clone of its predecessors. I’m not going to do that today. Besides, it’s Christmas. The film knows what it is, makes no apologies, and wears it all proudly. Like I said, its “critic proof.”

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