The Predator (1987) Movie - What Secrets Lurk Behind It?

The making of the Predator movie of 1987 has many secrets. Here are some of them.

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THE PREDATOR MOVIE - WHAT SECRETS LURK BEHIND IT?
The making of Predator (1987) is full of fascinating secrets, mysteries, and behind-the-scenes stories that make it a legendary piece of action and sci-fi cinema. Directed by John McTiernan, the film faced an incredible number of challenges and became a classic partly because of its daring production choices and resourceful crew.

One of the biggest secrets involves the film’s famous alien creature. Originally, Predator’s alien looked quite different, and believe it or not, Jean-Claude Van Damme was initially cast to play the creature! Van Damme expected a role that would showcase his martial arts skills, but the alien suit was clunky, heavy, and limited his movement. Frustrated and feeling like he wasn’t getting the opportunity to shine, Van Damme ultimately left the project. The original alien design also didn’t work visually; it looked more like a giant insect, which didn’t quite match the tone of the film. The design was scrapped, and legendary effects artist Stan Winston, known for his work on The Terminator, was brought in to completely overhaul the look. While sketching on a flight, Winston was inspired by a suggestion from his seatmate, James Cameron, who mentioned how he’d like to see a creature with mandibles. Thus, the iconic Predator design was born.

Filming in the jungles of Mexico posed unique challenges. The cast and crew faced extreme heat, humidity, and the threat of dangerous wildlife, but they also had to battle with severe stomach issues from unclean drinking water. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred as Major Dutch, lost nearly 25 pounds during the production due to the harsh conditions. In fact, the jungle was so dense that they had to clear paths through the foliage just to get equipment to the set. As for the iconic thermal vision of the Predator, creating it was a painstaking process. The technology to actually capture heat signatures didn’t exist in a way that could be easily filmed, so the team used a special thermal camera and red-tinted filters to create the effect in post-production. It was an innovative and time-consuming process that required precise layering of visual effects.

The cast themselves were a force to be reckoned with, and they kept things competitive. With Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura all on set, the testosterone was high. Ventura reportedly discovered that his biceps were actually smaller than Schwarzenegger’s after the wardrobe department tricked him into believing otherwise, sparking a friendly rivalry. The production turned it into a game, and even the crew was drawn into the competitive spirit. Ventura famously wore a shirt that read “I Ain’t Got Time to Bleed” between takes, and this line made it into the movie, becoming one of its most memorable quotes.

One of the greatest challenges came when trying to make the Predator’s cloaking effect convincing. The effect of the creature disappearing into the background was done without CGI. Instead, a red suit, since red contrasted with the green jungle, was worn over the Predator suit, and then the footage was superimposed to create the illusion of invisibility. The process was highly innovative for its time, creating the creature’s eerie “camouflage” effect.

The making of Predator was anything but easy, but the hardships, mishaps, and unexpected twists ultimately helped shape it into the film fans know and love. Its mix of creative resourcefulness, unrelenting conditions, and sheer luck turned Predator into one of the most memorable sci-fi thrillers of all time, leaving fans with secrets and stories that continue to intrigue to this day.