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AVPR: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Director: Colin Strause, Greg Strause

Time Out rating

Average user rating

94 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Fans of the ‘Alien vs Predator’ sub-franchise will be relieved to learn that Colin and Greg Strause’s ‘AVPR’ is only nominally a sequel to Paul WS Anderson’s (un)original ‘AVP – Alien vs Predator’. Although it picks up where ‘AVP’ left off, this is not a toned-down futuristic action movie, but a gory sci-fi/horror film featuring new incarnations of the extra-terrestrial monsters. Sadly, this semi-sequel is even more spasmodic, boring and incoherent.

After a hybrid Predator-cum-Alien runs amok on a Predator spaceship, it crash-lands near a small American town. As the cross-fertilised ‘Predalien’ slimes its way through the sewers, a battle-scarred Predator is sent to clean up the mess. Caught in the cross-fire between the alien antagonists are the disposable, wooden townsfolk – played by second-string actors from TV shows such as ‘24’, ‘Rescue Me’ and ‘ER’ – whose sole function is to run around like headless chickens until they are gruesomely dispatched. The sheriff is ineffectual, so hopes rest with ex-con Dallas (Steve Pasquale), his semi-delinquent brother Ricky (Johnny Lewis), and an aggressively maternal Iraq War veteran, Kelly (Reiko Aylesworth) – a poor substitute for Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley.

Scriptwriter Shane Salerno’s dialogue is unspeakable, the visceral horror all too familiar, and the ideas distinctly second-hand. Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, who shot the original ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ and the recent re-make, occasionally generates scares by hiding the creatures in dark shadows. But the visual effects-trained Strause brothers know that it’s all about the last waltz. So the mayhem inevitably culminates in a dance of death featuring the mutant, dreadlocked Predalien and a leaner, smarter Predator.

Author: Nigel Floyd 2008-01-15 15:54:50

Time Out London Issue 1952 - January 14th 2008

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User reviews of this film

Darkknight said...

Posted on Jan 23 2008 05:54 I'm a very big Alien and Predator fan. After the tepid and dull AVP 1 I had high hopes for AVP Requiem. It's a terrible film. The only saving grace it has is Woodruff and Gillis' creature designs. Terribly lit, abysmally acted and scripted ("people are dying, we need guns"...groan). amaturely directed. With a pedigree like the Alien films (even Resurrection had some merit) and the two Predator films this one leaves the movie goer feeling ripped off. Please don't let hacks like Salerno and the Strauses touch another Alien or Predator film again.

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Chris C said...

Posted on Jan 22 2008 19:46 The Predator is the best thing about the film. I laughed out loud when he throws the alien to the ground and gives it a right-hander to the gut... no messin'
The aliens, as always are formidible, but the more we see of them, the less affect they will have on us, although there were a couple of uncomfortable moments as they surprise the humans. The Predalien laying eggs through it's mouth straight into the humans mouths was a horrible cheat and should've have had more thought put into it.
The humans are clichéd and predictable. The audience is not stupid- put more thought into the next one and give us a stronger protagonist human.
The gore got trite after the deaths started, but in a way i suppose it was essential for the effect.
Despite it's flaws, it is a success for us fans.

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Sancho Encona said...

Posted on Jan 22 2008 19:16 I love the idea of this movie two bad ass aliens come to earth and duke it out is cool. But why so much gore, it might as well of rained blood and body parts. I suppose when you haven't got any new ideas, throw in some flashy deaths for no reason, revolt the audience and lower the rating to a suitably unsuitable level and you might come away with some money. Shame on the people that made this a 15.

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Ross b said...

Posted on Jan 22 2008 09:55 I wached the film it was ok not as good as the first one
but i think that the film had a lot more gore in it and better acting in it thanks ..

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andrea said...

Posted on Jan 21 2008 17:40 A enjoyable move for the most part. Except for the interesting ending and the one human female character the other humans were a waste of film. Very good special effects,fast pace. The effects look expensive. Worth watchin if you like the Aliens or PvA movies. Those of you looking for thought provoking or any form of mental gymnastics, its not really for you. As they are probably writing or filming thd sequal as i type, can i ask for more length and content in the future. For those of us who can read a little, maybe it can be based on the Preditor home world with subtitles. The rating is for the Preditor, the effects & the mother.

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jamez100 said...

Posted on Jan 21 2008 17:00 i didn't see the film as a horror i saw it as a gore, thriller. anyway i thought the film was awsome but te ting i dont understand is that when the predator 'wolf' is sitting in that huge chair looking thing on his home planet, before he goes to earth, is that the thing on alien when the astonaughts go into that alien spaceship so i hope someone could give me an answer.

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Colin said...

Posted on Jan 21 2008 13:45 This film Rocks! Its no nonsense brainless sci-fi action at it's best.
Yeah it has little story, but who cares. We just want to see this two heavy weights clash in slime drenching, blood splatting duals to the death.
The films kicks off straight away, no build up, just straight into the action. After the Predator ship crashes to earth (just outside pieceful Gunnison. Colorado), you a get a brief instroduction yo the human (less significant) characters in the film. Then the Predator arrives and its not long before all f**kin hell breaks loose.
Never have we seen the shear mayhem that the Aliens are capable of such a short period of time as they run riot through the streets and sewers of this sleepy little town.
The Predator (named The Wolf) steals the show. The films seems to focus on him as the lead character. Armed with some very cool weapons and little charm he picks off the Aliens at the opportune moments. The fight scenes are superb with Predator fighting 2 or 3 Aliens at once in some scenes.
Go and see this movie....take your brain out and be prepared for some great entertainment!!

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Dan_H said...

Posted on Jan 21 2008 01:37 Saw this on Friday, am a HUGE Alien & Predator fan, thought the first one was good and bad but this was much better, I really enjoyed it right the way through.
I glimpsed at a few critics reviews before watching and wasn't in the least bit surprised with "their" views.
If you are a fan you'll love it, what a treat.
Enjoy!

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Laura said...

Posted on Jan 20 2008 19:36 To all you people/ comic readers who are dissing the others who havent watched the film yet.. it seems to me that your the only sad ones with no lives, i mean come on, atleast they dnt spend about half an hour coming up with long paragraphs on how much more you know about aliens and things that dont excist, that have absolutley no meaning or purpose.. I mean get off there backs, watch the film an go out an do something intersesting... am i missing something like!

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Adam webb said...

Posted on Jan 20 2008 18:26 this film is like tottaly awsum i mean its ravinous, i love it like i love my future kids

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Jeff DaMan said...

Posted on Jan 20 2008 17:38 The AvP outing was superb!
Why?
Well, it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a gory/sci-fi explosion of gratuitous nastiness!
If a reviewer wants good acting, look elsewhere.
I love Hamlet, but spag bol guts, spleen, brains and eye popping yuk also suffices in this delightful slimy mess of a flick.
Watch it and move on.
regards
Jeff
x

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LordMarcus said...

Posted on Jan 20 2008 01:04 Let me start by saying that I really wanted this to be the best film that I was going to see all year. I really wanted to say that all the reviews by the professional critics were wrong and that this is a 'must-see' film. I can't. The (human) acting was pretty wooden, the dialouge was too cheesy and as for the directing, don't get me started. Having said that, this is, after all, quite a watchable film if you are a fan of the Alien/Predator franchises. the fight scenes between the Predator and the Aliens and PredAlien are impressive, and there is blood and gore aplenty, as you would expect from an AvP movie.
All in all, if you are a fan of the Alien, Predator and/or AvP franchis(es) or cheesey horror genre you'll probably love it. I for one can't wait for the DVD, if for no other reason than to complete my Alien/Predator collection.

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gordy said...

Posted on Jan 19 2008 19:23 ok, people, listen.
FOR ALIEN AND PREDATOR FANS THIS FILM IS GOLDEN. its not tooooo great for those who dont know about the two creatures, but it is, ultimantly, a brilliant film. Another alien film will probaly follow this..

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Phillby said...

Posted on Jan 19 2008 17:54 For god's sake you idiots, a REVIEW is something you write After you've seen the film. Don't you have any friends to talk to? I am a fan, but was disapointed with a blatant lack of effort by anybody other than the special effects guys. Gaping holes in the story line and no acting and blatent plagerism mean this film will soon be forgotten. If you must watch it I suggest you bang your head off a wall first - wish I had!!!!

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CJAY said...

Posted on Jan 19 2008 17:08 Just watched the movie. It is Wwaaayyy much better than the first AVP. We know the Alien and Predator so well by now that we don't need a huge back story. So, what this film does is cut straight to the horror. Its gruesome and gory, has Facehuggers, acid blood and plenty chest bursting. It does a good job at connecting the first AvP to this and the Alien storyline (Weyland-Yutani anyone??). The Predators world is pretty amazing too and it's great to see a much broader Predator perspective this time too. This film does the best it can to satisfy your desire to watch these 2 iconic creatures and unlike the first AvP, this is made for a much more adult audience as they always should have been.

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