The Nextlander Watchcast 011: Predator (1987)
🕑 Added 2022-09-12 16:00:15 +0000 UTCRuuuuuunnnnn! Get to zah podcaaaahhhhst! Because we've got ourselves a special guest! Giant Bomb's Dan Ryckert joins the Nextlander crew as we introduce Brad to an all-time action classic in 1987's Predator!
NOTE: One of our individual audio tracks got messed up in this recording, so this was edited using the master mix with everyone's tracks. It all sounds just fine, but wanted to give the heads-up in case anyone noticed a difference. Enjoy!

CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) - NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate in versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.
(00:00:52) - Intro.
(00:02:19) - Our personal histories with this week's film: Predator!
(00:10:42) - Our precious Bradley had his first viewing! What did he think?
(00:15:13) - Holy shit what a meaty cast!
(00:17:31) - We can't resist talking about that damn rebel base assault.
(00:19:48) - So what's the set-up?
(00:26:17) - Some background and history on the film's production.
(00:37:37) - Effects talk.
(00:40:24) - Break!
(00:40:48) - We're back, and it's time to actually talk about the movie (actually we mostly talk about man beef).
(00:45:51) - Time to Run Through the Jungle.
(00:46:52) - Where's our prequel story about Jim Hopper (Hooper? Harper?).
(00:48:12) - Back to the action, and that rebel base assault (and ol' Painless).
(00:51:03) - Goodnight Hawkins. You're telling ribald jokes in hell now.
(00:55:17) - The Predator says You Can't See Me.
(00:56:51) - Bye bye Blain.
(00:59:46) - Mac is coming unglued.
(01:01:13) - Surely setting some ground-based traps will protect us from the thing in the trees, right?
(01:04:37) - Time to bait the trap with some Arnold meat.
(01:06:46) - Pour one out for Mac.
(01:09:26) - Let's give Dillon a hand for his efforts. In fact, let's give him a whole arm.
(01:10:31) - And then there were four. Also, are Predators nerds?
(01:14:16) - It's just about time for Arnold and the Predator to go mano a mano.
(01:19:44) - Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.
(01:23:12) - Love a good curtain call in the credits. Plus some final thoughts and rankings.
(01:28:35) - Outro.
Comments
Jason B
Podcasts like these reassert why I will support Nextlander's Patreon ad infinitum. It is the purest distillation of those ridiculous, yet essential, discussions that latchkey kids (like me) of that era undertook after watching this "totally rad" movie. The recurring argument b/w Dan and Vinny as to whether the Predator was the worst kind of extraterrestrial sniping coward was absolutely classic -- why would a bad ass 7'3" crab mutant with wrist blades timidly kill soldiers of The Best Rescue Team from 30 miles away? It demands contemplative discussion, and Dan/Vinny intrepidly broached this subject. Laughed while listening to this podcast while walking my dog. Kudos to the Nextlander crew!
Brad Grenz
Yeah, it's definitely the counterweigth.
takeshikitano3
Love that y'all just played the full audio of the scene where they blindly shoot into the jungle lol
Dr. Judge, Private Eye
Personally I love how much it just goes for it. Does it always succeed? No. Are there absolutely some cringey 90s moments? Yes. But it's such a fun so-bad-it's-great movie.
Eric W
Doesn't the predator get crushed by the counterweight for the trap that it avoided? Also, this movie posits that laughter, in addition to violence, is truly universal.
nextlander
At a certain point while watching it I realized the guns were basically a character unto themselves and therefore deserved their own dialogue quotes.
Genji-Gloves
I laughed at work hearing the audio to the relentless gunfire of the squad killing a forest and forgot how long it goes on for. Great podcast. Great film choice.
raptorkitchen
Hell yeah ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Snek
Great episode! Having rewatched Predator 2 recently for the first time since the 90’s, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on it next. I thought it had a few cool moments and a lot of…well, not as cool moments.
nextlander
I put the year on every movie title because you never know, they might just do a remake someday.
Robert Forster
Why are you specifying 1987? I don’t think there has ever been a remake?
Dr. Judge, Private Eye
I think this is one of the earliest examples I can think up of an "action movie with something on its mind." Loved hearing you lot talk about how much it ruled, and cannot WAIT for Predator 2 in 2 weeks.