The ending ofPredatorsees the titular alien hunter taking off his mask to battle Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch, but what is the meaning of this gesture? Now the formula of thePredatormovie franchiseis so established it’s almost easy to forget how unexpected the original was. It starts as a bombastic Schwarzenegger action movie, before slowly morphing into a dread-soaked slasher as Arnie’s Dutch watches his elite soldiers get picked off one by one.Predator’s1987 endingsees Dutch getting back to basics and exploiting the hunter’s weaknesses to kill it.
Dutch essentially goes fullRamboduring the final act, setting up traps and ambushes for the Jungle Hunter. It all comes down to a punch-up between Dutch and the towering alien though, and in an uncharacteristic move for Arnold, he gets his ass handed to him for most of their bout. Of course, he still wins the day, thoughSchwarzenegger later rejected all thePredatorsequels. The title hunter takes off his mask before their fight too, which has become a signature move in every sequel.
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The Predator Wanted A Fair Fight With Dutch In The Original 1987 Movie
The Jungle Hunter wanted to test Dutch’s might
Throughout the story, the hunter is testing Dutch’s group to see who is the strongest. The alien is looking for worthy prey to stalk, and the team leader soon emerges as the only one who will put up a major fight. He even has a chance to outright kill Dutch after all his improvised traps fail, but instead, the hunter strips himself of his weaponry and gear, ending with his bio-mask being removed.The predator does this to give Dutch a fighting chance against him in a one-on-one fight, having marked him as a dangerous foe.
The bio-mask has many functions, including helping the hunter breathe in different atmospheresand enhancing his vision. He’s putting himself at a marked disadvantage by taking it off, but if he fought Dutch with all his usual gear, the fight would have been overrealquick. It should be noted that even sans its equipment, the Jungle Hunter is still a formidable enemy, with one of the few punches Dutch lands barely fazing it. The alien also towers over the hulking soldier, so the term “fair fight” can only be loosely applied.
Arnold Schwarzenegger eventually reprised his role as Dutch in the 2020Predator: Hunting Grounds.
It’s almost dumb luck that Dutch triumphs - though the hunter setting off its self-destruct device feels like a petty move.LaterPredatormovies would expand the lore of the alien clan greatly, and how much honor means to themin combat. Within the context of the original, all the alien wants is to fight something that could just as easily kill it in return.
Why Predators Wear Masks In The Franchise
Predator bio-masks are essential gear in any hunt
No Predator hunt would be complete without their trademark masks, which serve a range of functions. Outside of helping them breathe,the bio-masks contain a range of visual modes to help them see in almost every environment.InPredator, the only mode deployed is thermal vision, though later entries would add far more. The mask also contains a laser targeting device to aim the creature’s shoulder-mounted plasmacaster.
… the Jungle Hunter removing his mask was, in its own way, a mark of respect towards Schwarzenegger’s Dutch.
Other bio-mask features include the ability to record and playback audio, and it controls both the wrist gauntlet and thePredator’sinvisibility cloak. In short, the hunters are vulnerable without their masks, and the Jungle Hunter removing his was, in its own way, a mark of respect towards Schwarzenegger’s Dutch. Hopefully, as it lay dying following the end of their duel, the hunter took some solace in realizing Dutch really was the superior predator.
Predator
Cast
A team of elite commandos led by Major Dutch Schaefer is sent on a rescue mission deep in the Central American jungle. However, they soon find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior with advanced technology and a penchant for collecting human trophies. As the creature picks them off one by one, Dutch must rely on his wits and combat skills to survive the ultimate test of man versus alien.
Predator is an action sci-fi franchise created by Jim and John Thomas, beginning with the original film released in 1987. The franchise follows a warrior alien race known as the Yautja who travel the far reaches of space looking for worthy prey to hunt, constantly bringing them to Earth due to the sheer amount of conflict harbored on it. The series has spun off into comic books and animated features and has even enjoyed several crossover events via film and video games with the Aliens franchise.
