Before ‘Predator,’ There Was This Free-to-Stream Alien Hunter Film: “A fascinating curiosity”
The Predator franchise has found exciting new life in the last few years, largely thanks to Dan Trachtenberg. The filmmaker’s 2022 foray into the world of the galactic hunter, Prey, sparked fresh excitement for a series that hadn’t seen critical success in ages. Flash-forward to 2025, and we had not one but two new Predator movies: Predator: Killer of Killers and Predator: Badlands. Both have been well-received, with Badlands seeing the largest opening weekend at the box office for any film in the series. Beloved as the franchise is, it may surprise you that Predator was not the first alien hunter horror film. That honor belongs to Without Warning.
Though quite different from what John McTiernan would unleash in 1987 with Predator, Greydon Clark’s Without Warning laid the groundwork for the successful franchise…a whole seven years beforehand.
What’s Without Warning About?
During a trip to the lake, two teens discover the gooey victims of an alien creature that has come to Earth to hunt humans for sport. They rush to the authorities of a nearby small town, but only local nut, Fred (Martin Landau), and creepy hunter, Joe (Jack Palance) believe them. Together, they’ll have to work to bring down the murderous visitor or risk becoming space food.
Without Warning Walked So Predator Could Hunt
Shot on a shoestring budget, Without Warning takes a less-is-more approach. It plays less like the action-heavy spectacle that would follow in Predator and more like an early ’80s slasher. The formidable foe takes down most of his victims off-screen, only for them to reappear in a grisly manner. POV shots by none other than legendary cinematographer Dean Cundey (Halloween) put us in the shoes of the alien as it hunts its prey. Foggy atmospherics fill the scenery. Imagine Friday the 13th, but with a creature from space.
Simple as the premise may sound, Without Warning features various surprising connections to Predator. For one, the monster throws organic discs with teeth, not wholly unlike the more advanced weaponry of the Predator. It wore netting over its body before McTiernan’s creature made it cool. And the alien is even played by Kevin Peter Hall (who would later take on the role of the Predator).
What Critics Are Saying:
For Dread, I recently wrote about Without Warning, saying: “…between an impressive crew of big-time talent, a great though poorly executed concept, and one memorable alien played by the late, great Kevin Peter Hall, it remains a fascinating curiosity.”
By no means am I calling Without Warning a lost masterpiece. That said, it makes for a fascinating watch if you’re a Predator fan or just like a good old-fashioned sci-fi horror movie. If that sounds like an entertaining evening to you, stream the film now on Tubi.
Categorized:Streaming News