My memory is that the introduction to the French trappers was Naru searching for the being that skinned the snake (the Predator), and instead discovering dozens of bloody skinned buffalo carcasses. I assumed that was the movie connecting the trappers to the Predator, and saying the Comanches were facing two types of unimaginably alien invaders.
(Considering the daily challenges the tribe faced in hunting for meat, buffalo left to rot would have been shocking.)
I think there might be another battle happening simultaneously that we only see hints of. For example, why does the Predator ship make so many passes before finally dropping someone off? Why is there “lightning in the trees” as seen by Naru when she’s trying to kill the mountain lion? And why is a whole forest burnt to the ground as seen when the trappers “capture” the Predator? The trappers showed Naru that they had tangled with a Predator before (and made it bleed but apparently did not kill it) but they didn’t really know what they were dealing with. But it couldn’t have been the one that Naru is after because that one was off fighting snakes and wolves and whatnot. So maybe the Predator we see in this film is a junior one on a coming of age mission while the big daddy Predators are off battling French trappers who have actual weapons. The end credits show not one but three Predator space ships. That is probably sequel bait but at the same time could be another hint that we were only seeing one small part of a bigger conflict.
@DWMarch, I was wrong, you are right. Apparently, there are deleted scenes or references to multiple predators being dropped. That is a good point about the lightning in the trees. Maybe the french took out one, or mortally wounded it, but never found it, so that’s why they are spooked when it comes back? It’s a different one but they don’t know that? That might also explain the stealth suits of the predator. Sure, a hunting advantage but also no way to tell who you killed.
Late to the game here, but just finished watching it, and damn it’s good.
Not even close, definitely best Predator movie. The best of the other predator movies (controversially predator 2 is my fave) are cheesy 80s action romps that have their awesome moments. This was a flat out great movie, that happened to have a predator.
My main thought is, why couldn’t the new star wars have been this good? Completely reimagining the franchise and going in a different direction, but still keeping true to what makes predator awesome (in fact surpassing the original in that core Predator fighting action). All the while having tons of cool references and allusions to the original that don’t seem forced.