Sci-Fi Horror Film Series Should Learn From MonsterVerse
The Alien Vs. Predator movies should’ve been automatic slam dunks, but 2007’s Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem did poorly enough that there has yet to be another entry in the franchise. I think now that both the Alien and Predator franchises are seeing revivals, AVP could do the same, but only if they learn one important lesson from the MonsterVerse—turn down the volume on the humans, and turn up the volume on beasties your audiences paid to see.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Releasing earlier this year, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire failed to revolutionize filmmaking, but among even its most negative reviews, critics seemed to agree on one thing: the film made the right choice by focusing on the monsters rather than the human characters.
After all, I may love Dan Stevens. You may love Dan Stevens. But I’m willing to bet neither of us would enter the theater playing a MonsterVerse movie saying to our friends, “Man, I can’t wait to see Dan Stevens.”
My favorite MonsterVerse movie is Kong: Skull Island. Guess what? If someone asks me my opinion of Kong: Skull Island, I’m not going to start with, “Well, first of all, I thought Tom Hiddleston was very nuanced while embodying—” No.
My first words will be about the giant ape fighting the helicopters or the giant ape fighting the reptilian monsters—it will include the giant ape. The word “nuance” will not be within a thousand miles of my thoughts.
This is what the makers of the old AVP movies, and any future AVP movies, should learn from the MonsterVerse.
AVP Filmmakers, No One Cares About Your Characters’ Stories
Listen, I’m not a psychic. I’m not a genius. I’m not all-knowing. But you know what? I know that I can still accurately tell you that no one in 2007 walked into a theater showing Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem thinking, “I sure hope this movie tells the story of a bullied teenager and the girl he loves.”
But that’s what they got, and so AVP needs to learn from the MonsterVerse.
Requiem isn’t alone, of course. If you watch 2004’s Alien Vs. Predator, you will wait over half the movie for the fight between the two beasties to start. That’s largely due to the time taken to introduce the large cast who are mostly about to be, one-by-one, abruptly slaughtered.
It’s About The Alien And The Predator
Sure, AVP creators—like in the MonsterVerse you’re going to need a human or two, but we came to watch intergalactic game hunters stalk nightmarish biomechanical killing machines.
We came to see Predators gargle acid-blood like Scope. We came to see the Xenomorphs corner an unlucky Predator and tear him apart like a Thanksgiving Turkey.
You need one human or two to ground the story? Fine. You do not need an entire town of diverse people with their own dreams and losses and backstories. This isn’t Alien Vs. Predator Vs. The Stand.
And By The Way… Why Earth?
There is one big advantage the AVP franchise has over the MonsterVerse it should really start taking advantage of.
Where are Xenomorphs from? Space. Where are Predators from? Space. Where is Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem set? Colorado.
You’ve got a big make-believe galaxy to play with and you pick Colorado? No offense—great skiing, I’m sure—but come on! If you can put it in space, put it in space. This isn’t a Friday the 13th sequel, your audience will believe it.
Let There Be Carnage
Listen, I’m not thickheaded. I know they probably figured the spectacle of an AVP conflict needed to be grounded with humanity like in earlier MonsterVerse entries. But there are some movies that need character, and some that need carnage. AVP is the latter.
