"Bigger doesn't mean a BETTER hunter" Spot on, man.

Arnold: “What the hell are you?” Predator: “What the hell are you?” This exchange is deeper than most realize.

The clicking noises using the mandibles and their teeth is one of those amazing details they had in the original that the sequels just didn't care or didn't understand. It just shows they don't understand what made the Predator such an iconic character and that's why most sequels fail.

I always wondered why so many of the sequels seemed to double down on making the Predator more and more of a monster when I'm pretty sure the point is that they *look* like monsters, but their danger is very human. They're hunters driven by their own culture and beliefs. They can leap insane distances and have super strength, sure, yet a lot of their power comes from their advanced technology, hunting strategies, and the ability to learn about their prey. As was brought up in the video, there's a significance to the medical kit scene. It not only shows how self-sufficient the Predator can be, but also how concentrated and aware it is. Once it was injured, it understood its limitations; humans could be far more dangerous than anticipated and if it continued with the strategy it was using, it would die. So, the Predator runs away, hides in the trees, and treats its injuries with better knowledge on its prey.

I get annoyed when they forget the Predators are semi-arboreal. Also none of the Predators after the Predator 2 had Kevin Peter Hall's distinctive grace and body language.

"These are borderline Disney eyes" Thanks for reminding us who owns Predator now. 😣

The thing that sticks out to me from the first Predator, especially compared to AvP, is the gums, strangely enough. The gums in the first look fleshy and wet with tiny blood vessels (although if they were blood vessels, they probably should be green instead of red) but the gums in the others (especially AvP) just look like cheap, dry pink rubber.

You didn't ruin it for me, I always thought every sequel had terrible predator face design but you managed to articulate exactly why.

Nothing ever topped the original's skin pattern and texture either. It looks so natural.

This is easily the best and most refreshing critique of The Predator as it appears in every modern iteration I've seen in awhile. I can't believe I never noticed such an obvious design flaw/inconsistency. Beforehand, I only ever faulted the designs featured in the post 1990 installments for being cheap looking/lacking the texture and realism of the original.

For all those saying it would be the same as humans looking different, that’s just wrong - you could have predators that look different, no one would have a problem with that. The problem is that these designs completely change how the face works. If a human had lips that hung open and couldn’t close, that wouldn’t be normal variance. You can make a predator look however you want, it would just be nice if the design made sense.

For the smaller changes, I always assumed it was like how we all look very different, some have bigger lips, underbites/overbites, smaller/bigger ears, wider/squintier eyes, ect. But I think the first 2 predators looked better because they look more intimidating, and I get they tried to make scar less scary because they’re younger and he’s supposed to be more of a side protag, but they still should’ve kept them scarier. And the outwards buckling/folds look weird

RIP Kevin Peter Hall... you never knew the pain we would find ourselves today.

Somehow I never realized how weirdly out of proportion all the follow up films made the heads of the predators. They all feel like a dude playing dress up and definitely take away from the sleek hunter look and feel that was present in the original film. Great vid as always.

10:49 Reason why Scar roared at her was to purposefully try and scare her.

all comments saying "all predators can look different just like humans do" its not an excuse for messing up bone structure and proportions in the face of an alien species, we humans can look different but males and females maintain structure and proportion. We can change in colors and different other features but our skulls all look practically the same. stop excusing bad looking and cheap masks. If they wanted to introduce new Yuatja races they could just make them have different skin color, hair, taller, different complexion, etc...

It's incredible how so many SFX teams in the past 20 years haven't been able to recreate something so iconic that Stan Winston took 6 weeks to design and build.

The original looked like it was a real organic creature.Now they look like just as a guy wearing a cheap rubber mask.

I'd be so curious to get an update regarding Prey and what you think of it's design. I appreciate that they at least brought it back down to size. The guy in there said he was trying to create his own unique character and it shows. There's a lot more personality in the movement and because it's smaller it moves with great haste, leaping through the trees with ease which is exactly what the Predator in the first movie did only we actually get to see it this time.

I absolutely appreciate the (lack of filter) honesty... Like so much sequals froget the roots, keeping a subtle amount of unique details rather then a huge amount of repetitive details... thats what i struggle with in my art as well

Ok, Im'ma say it. The whole kit in Predator 1 looked better than the sequels. Mask, forearm sleeves, shoulder cannon, all of it. The original version has never been topped.

Predator is a good example of not stopping when they should have. Right at 2.

I shudder to think about how you reacted to the feral Predator's face in Prey (2022).

Now that Prey has been out for a while, we need an updated video on this topic

I couldn't put my finger on why the Yautja were looking more odd in the head, this explains it, thank you for getting rid of that subconscious itch

The sequels are all revisited tropes that miss the point. The first Predator removes his mask because he sees Dutch as truly worthy of a fight. He lifts the mask upwards and slowly, then he roars to commence the duel. In subsequent movies the Predators are obliged to remove theirs mask so they can make a loud scary roar with their ugly open mouths, they do not understand what made that first face reveal a powerful moment.

This video aged well. Prey gave him justice as a character

I love that you pointing it out actually really makes not only sense, but on the ones that could be fixed really did improve them greatly.

Kevin Peter Hall is a fucking Legend. He was Harry, from Harry and the Hendersons, too. His creature roles have a physicality, stance, and posture that shines through the makeup, prosthetics, and suit. There are lots of people in schools, Hollywood, politics, and major corporations that can be called a predator, but Kevin is the only man that can be called THE predator.

"Bigger doesn't mean a better hunter" True dat. I would WAY rather be hunted by the T-rex from Jurassic Park than the velociraptors. I can think of quick ways to hide myself from a T-Rex, I cannot do this so easily with velociraptors.

Great video it makes so much sense now I didn’t catch this problem but now you’ve pointed it out. And I love that detail on how they make the clicking noise with there mandibles and they get it all wrong in the movies after the first one

Recently in prey we saw how that mistake is repeated, but Michael Vincent clarified that at first the Feral Predator was going to have its jaws closed, and you can see that in one of its concept art

The first two movies were both done by Stan Winston and portrayed by Kevin Peter Hall, I love the subtle differences they both put into the creature. Different skin tone, slightly different face, the different armour and mannerisms, but they both looked and felt like the same species. After that it all went down hill fast and crash landed in a shit heap.

I really like the design of the city hunter. I always thought that the extra spikes on the lower mandible Meant that he was older, Also the fact that he was allowed to hunt in a city and having more advanced weapons meant he was more experienced. not to mention, the predator species would have a pretty big problem on their hands if he had to detonate himself in the middle of a major metropolitan area.

youve changed my perspective and now i cant unsee or unlearn it . spot on

second vid of yours i have watched, had to sub and it hasnt even started. you are one of us

Did you know that the voice actor of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, created the iconic clicky noise? Peter said he tried to imitate the sound he heard during his youth, of dead crabs baking in the sun.

Several symptoms of sequel-itis seem to be at play: - The Godzilla effect, where the antagonist creature shifts to protagoist/ally. This also happened in the original (excellent) Dark Horse Comics AvP series, but was handled much better. - The production designer(s) feeling they have to "make it their own," point their stamp on the existing design ("give the predator a spiky face, bigger mandibles, yeah!"... No, please). - Practical considerations beating out aesthetic one, such as the actor/stunt man probably complaining about their field of vision, so the eye sockets get bigger and we see of the predators' eyes (which makes them less threatening). - Not Doing Research. The FX team was probably like, "Yeah, we saw the earlier movies, we can totally do what they did!" Except without researching Stan Winston's design decisions, why the original Predator looks the way it does, the logic behind Stan's choices, the end result is what we get on the screen for the sequels.

You need to do a newer version adding Prey this was great work

Please share your take on the new Feral Predator from Prey! Great video I agree on everything said!

It’s in the way Winston’s team sculpted the Predator’s mandible skin flaps. It was casted in a specific shape to give the mouth a more organic quality. Whereas in the sequels it was done differently which makes the skin look saggy and rubbery.

"I bet he's thinking about another woman" CorderyFX:

Exactly a predator without his med kit is like Batman without his utility belt

I didn't think anything of it before, but I can't unsee it now. Personally I'd like to see a version of the Predator with a head that fixes all of the problems it would have, such as poor eyesight from the sunken eyes, or problems eating from having only 6 sharp teeth and a throat hole that looks too small to swallow things whole.

this is such a small feature that i feel like will never be fixed, i feel like back in old films the monster had these things that made it feel real in a way, like lips and a unique method of breathing and all that, but nowadays it is just "make monster scary" but no one gets what i scary any more, so it flops

Goddamn we need more practical effects in our movies

You’re absolutely right about the face! Would love to hear what you have to say about Prey! I loved it and think it’s the second best movie of the franchise, behind the original.

Thank you! This has always bothered me and I’m glad someone made a video on it and put it into words

It's actually a good guess the one from Predators has a broken jaw. He was a prisoner in the camp after all, one could argue he was beaten by the outcasts before or even after he was captured. It could've been fixed in the movie if some blood were added, just to give a hint that his face was actually broken. Very good analysis mate!

A real eye opener (or mouth opener hehe) for the details that really makes the character work in an organic way.

Man. You put into words what I could never quite put my finger on. Thank you!

The clicking of the 1st movie. That was so unique and kinda creepy. I loved that sound effect. It’s so unsettling lol jungle predator is my favorite look.

I've been saying the same things for years. I've modeled a lot of predator heads and designed some of my own in CG over the years, and always said, since Stan Winston, no one has managed to do the mandibles right. The city hunter, okay, the checks don't have as much flesh. Different ethnics group of the same species, by the looks of it. I love the city hunter design. Not quite as much as the original. But man, still awesome. After that, it's just dafuq?

Couldn't agree more. Original predator looks amazing still after 34 years

I always thought that individuals just had different faces, like, yknow, people do?

I've made a Predator suit of my own, and done many sketches of it and we were obsessed with the first movie when it came out. I 1000000% agree with you!. For me the KEY thing that makes him look intimidating in the first movie compared to the rest, is that the top mandibles/fangs are raised and very close to the eyes and slightly covering them, which gives the effect of snarling, just like a lion or similar animal would do to show aggression. The rest of the Predators they have made, simply look surprised and not intimidating at all. This is why I've come up with my own concept Predator that I may try build some day. Once I'm done the drawing I'll share a link and get your input maybe?!. Anyways great video, it definitely needed to be said for sure!. Stan Winston is still the man to beat!..

Predator was my dads favorite all time movie and I remember when he showed me the movie, I still remember the feeling of seeing predator take off his mask for the first time, To this day it was the greatest movie scene I ever saw. Thanks dad ❤️

I loved this. One of my most favorite cinema creatures is The Predator and yes they need to get it right already.

Great breakdown! I never even noticed, but will never be able to unsee. Looking forward to your take on the awful redesign of the 'subspecies' in Prey now that it's out

Thank you for mentioning the 1st aid kit scenes. OMG that is a major pet peeve when not shown. I figured they'd realize that after the 2nd one, it's needed. As much as I hate Requiem, they at least got a vital thing right.

I always preferred the rich dentist idea. After all the tagline was "Man is the deadliest prey" Makes sense some hunter would take on some of our hardest guys. The way they went in the comics that they were a race of hunters just didn't sit right with me you gonna need scientists, physicists, and chemists, etc for all that tech right? Also, I'm with you on they just turning him into a scary monster gob with the strength of Ben Grimm and humans are just 9 pins for him to kill by sneezing!

I just recently rewatched Predators and was thinking about this... and then I wake up to find this video. Bless you, CordryFX.

fantastic coverage - i'll never be able to unsee this

OMG, thank you so much for this!! I was thinking and saying the same thing for years!!! finally someone is on the same page..

You've basically made a video about something I've always been annoyed with - and I agree 100% with everything - Nothing will ever top the entire look of the original Predator head to toe

As a HUGE Predator fan, I’ve always noticed this issue but was always told “They’re different just like the differences in humans”. So what the hell do I know.

I just watched all of them back to back, I knew there was something not quite right with the face design, you nailed it

This is such a great and informative video. Great job mate!

"and that it's on the planet hunting autism" gave me a damn good laugh.

You totally hit it on the nose. There's a reason the original predator face is the best

10:47 "I just need you to be... 'Happier... and with your mouth open."

Man I never noticed the mouths until you pointed it out. My issue with them was always the heads seeming to get wider and longer and just too big for their bodies. Oh and would be cool too see a video like this about the Feral Predator from "Prey"

"The Predator" plot is literally Peter Griffin's "Bigger Jaws".

I actually liked how you changed the mandibles, that little change actually makes them look more intimidating vs the actual studios.

Awesome video! I have always thought that the original Predator looked so much better for some reason but could never pinpoint why. Granted I never thought about it too much, but still lol

Good job man. Both the analysis and animated edits of the sequels are exactly right. 👍

I like that you photoshopped each iteration in an attempt to fix it. It's easy to say 'this is bad' or 'I feel like this is wrong', but that does little at the end of the day. Going over exactly what is wrong and how we might fix it is how we improve.

I actually kind of like how each predator looks distinct from one another in the different movies. It makes each one feel unique in its own way, kind of like how Jason Vorhees looked different in each film. That being said, I do agree that the way they handled the mandibles in the sequels really made no sense. I think you did a good job photoshopping how they should look while still keeping their unique features intact.

I always hated the mouth in any sequel attempt, especially the skin flap between the top and bottom mandibles, the way it folds outward always grated on me.... Great video, glad to see I wasn't the only one who noticed these things, The original Predator is still my all-time favourite movie

Well, the algorithm chose the absolute perfect timing to show me this video. It's weird, I've never noticed these things before, maybe because the Predator unmasking has never really been the same "event" since the first one, but maybe because I wasn't really looking for it, just content with it not being fully CGI and thought that the same kind of species can have varieties. I mean, people have more or less pronounced cheeks and chins, but yeah, the extent to which the predators vary just goes way overboard sometimes, especially in Predators with the trio of assholes. I'll be curious to see what comments you have on the latest one.

Not just the face tbh... the movement of the Pred is also completely wrong in the sequels. The second movie was ok... In the original, the Predator was agile and moved like an acrobat. You even see it jumping between trees like a monkey. But, every other incarnation of the Pred, they're like 30 stone bodybuilders with arthritis... hell even the AvP movies added camera shake when they run. Kevin Peter Hall was a perfect actor for it as he was really thinly built... yet all the actors they've used since are like, ex-wrestlers who are over 7ft tall but weigh about 20 stone before they even put the costume on.

The clicking was totally improvised by Peter Cullen, best known as voice of Optimus Prime.

I’ve literally been talking about this since seeing AVP in theaters. And you explained it beautifully

I could never work out what was wrong with the later predators. Good find. Spot on.

I wish we had more film makers that would add lore to their universe but yet have it actually serve a purpose and not just be something for that one movie.

You want people to give a shit about the movies they make, I don’t think that’s nit-picky. It’s not life-changing, but it IS a super bummer to watch an excellent IP get sucked dry by people who don’t get it, or seem much to want to.

Its pretty funny you mention bigger doesnt mean better hunter - Because you’re absolutely right. Hunter gatherers were a lot stockier than pastoralists or farmers because of the distance they needed to chase their food.

I didn’t think anyone noticed this like I did Now I can clearly see how destroyed I was seeing the new faces and how the original one took so much nostalgia and praise. I hope this same frame of face comes back Thanks for making this

The 12 year old in me wants to say "yeah but, yeah but", because Im such a Predator freak and I get the feeling to protect it, but you have to give the guy his dues, he's right, this hasn't ruined it for me, but even the Predator can't defeat Hollywood..

I think that what they were going for in predators, was to make the predator look exhausted and tired. He's probably been hanging there for a long ass time without food water or anything. And maybe, as you said, his jaw is even broken because somehow he must have lost a fight to be hanged up there

I sculpt clay figures, I’ve been doing it since I was very young and one of my favorite movie creatures to ever sculpt was the predator. So I don’t know how I was smart enough to always do this but I have always sculpted the predators faces closed where they’re supposed to be so when I open it up or move them around they look exactly like how they should not having the skin buckle up. And I’ve always felt the predator movies after the first two did look weird and this video really helped me to finally realize why the designs just had that extra bit of what the fuck to them!

Thank you for this, this has been one of my biggest gripes with the sequels.

I used to work in animation and this is one of the biggest issues I have with current movies. There is not character design. Nobody ever thinks how form follows function and each character should be built to accommodate what it’s supposed to do on screen. If for example it’s supposed to run very fast, don’t make a fat short legged monster.

One of my favorite little details from the original is a moment when Arnold gets a good punch in on the Predators face, they take a minute to show him recoil then he moves his mandible and it makes like a squish noise, just like a person sucking on their own lip after getting punched. It's the little details like that that "humanized" him per se.

I literally burst out laughing when the AVP predator took off his mask. His eyes look cuddly for some reason, his teeth looked like holloween vampire teeth and the skin flaps looked way off. Totally looked like cosplay.

Ok I love the Berserker Predators design but I can agree that the head is far too large along with the mandibles.

Wow, I thought I was the only one who realized that their faces looked so different and less frightening since the ORIGINAL 1987 Jungle Hunter. The face redesign takes away so much from the initial shock of the unmasking. Thank you so much for making a video pointing out this BIG MISTAKE.

I always thought the Predator in Requim was the best part of the movie. His backstory of being a seasoned elite trusted with the task of hunting the abomination of the Predalien. As for the super Predators in Predators I always had the understanding they were cannibals. Which explained why they looked the way they did. They hunted and ate other Predators basically becoming sick deformed versions of their species. Also kinda explained why their brains were exposed, they were rotting away. As for the latest movie with the autism hunting engineered Predator, I absolutely hated it. Taking the Predators away from their established lore of being honorable hunters that only killed things worthy or ethical. Say what you want about Predator 2's Predator but he had a moral compass, when he didn't kill the pregnant chick. To "Urgh! Now we wanna engineer our DNA to make us super beefcakes that are superior to everything so now hunting isn't a rite anymore but rather sadism in that you have no chance in killi- Nani!?! The kid with autism killed me with my own weapons?! Oh the irony" the only saving grace to that plot point would be that the Predators are going through a cultural shift in how they hunt have a reason they are seeking to change themselves on a genetic level for reasons beyond turning themselves into super hunters. Like maybe a disease is spreading through their species and is wiping them out so now the only way to save them would be through genetic modification. Not perfect but a little better imo in that they keep their staple as honorable hunters.

This is a great video and shows perfect, how the art of animatronics has got lost over the years. There is almost only CGI and no need for puppets, miniatures or animatronics. Good craftsmanship has to be learned and used.

The stare and mouth twitch’s are so fucking creepy , his eyes and the shape of his head to me reveal intelligence and grotesquely regal