Reviewed by Will

Synopsis: Major Dutch (Arnold Shwarzenegger) and his elite special forces are sent in to "negotiate" a hostage situation. He meets up with long time
military buddy Dillon (Carl Weathers). Arnold and Co. soon discover the story Dillon fed them was false and the true reason they were there was to uncover a government conspiracy. Their situation worsens when they are told the
pickup location has been changed and they need to hike through the jungles of Central
America! Little do they know there is "something in those tree's" waiting for them, stalking them, hunting them...

These roles are what Arnold truly seems made for. His charisma is what makes his characters so great! Arnold's special forces unit fit the image perfectly, each had a unique personality and a strong on screen presence.

They reminded me of Hannibal & B.A. from the A-team. You have Billy who sports a rather large piece of cutlery and has the uncanny ability to sense "evil", Blain the "sexual tyrannosaurus" with the BIG gun, his Nam buddy Mac who's walking the tightrope of sanity, Dillon the shady military sellout, Pancho the smartass "looker", and Hawkins who supplies the comic relief.

The storyline flows well and has few loose ends, it has a campfire feel to it; 7 men enter a jungle 1 survives...

The creature effects are some of the best I've seen since Alien. The idea of it using the surroundings as camouflage by refracting light is an awesome concept. The setting was fitting to the aliens purpose and helped
enhance the believability of the film. It wouldn't work if the NYPD was put in that situation in Harlem- or would it??

Another interesting aspect was the mask the alien needs or uses to see heat images, once Dutch discovers this the playing field evens out a bit and we see the hunter become the hunted. This isn't a new concept but it's executed with an original spin.

This movie has every thing you'd expect from a Schwarzenegger flick, Jesse "the body" Ventura getting the smack down, we see Apollo Creed lose a limb, and one of the largest displays of fire power ever! And what Shwarzenegger movie would be complete without the inevitable cheesy line. After skewering his enemy on a sharpened tree, he declares: "Stick around!" What a thespian!!

Add this one to your must have sci fi list!!

Rating: 8.5 Rasta-crabman-alien-hunters!!!

More reviews by Will please!

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Last updated: June 29, 2000.