ALIENS VS PREDATOR - REQUIEM (2007)

Summary:

Picking up immediately after the events of 2004's *Alien vs. Predator*, *Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem* thrusts audiences into a relentless, no-holds-barred conflict between two of cinema's most iconic monsters, with humanity caught squarely in the crossfire. After a Predator scout ship carrying a chestburster crashes in the quiet town of Gunnison, Colorado, a terrifying new hybrid creature – the Predalien – emerges. This terrifying entity, a Xenomorph born from a Predator host, quickly begins to infect the local population, leading to a full-scale Xenomorph outbreak.

As the town descends into chaos, a lone, battle-hardened Predator known as "Wolf" arrives on Earth, dispatched to eradicate the Xenomorph infestation and destroy any evidence of its existence. While Wolf relentlessly hunts the aliens, a small group of human survivors, including an ex-con, a returning soldier, and the local sheriff, desperately fight for their lives against both the extraterrestrial horrors and the increasingly desperate measures taken by a military determined to contain the outbreak at any cost. The film is a brutal and visceral horror experience, showcasing the raw, unadulterated terror of both species.

Keywords: Aliens vs Predator Requiem, 2007, Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz, Sci-Fi Horror, Action, Predalien, Xenomorph, Predator.

Plot:

The story of *Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem* begins in the immediate aftermath of the previous film, *Alien vs. Predator*. A Predator scout ship, carrying the body of Scar, the last surviving Predator from the Antarctic hunt, is returning to the Predator homeworld. Unbeknownst to the other Predators, a Chestburster has gestated inside Scar's body. As the ship travels through space, the Chestburster violently erupts from Scar’s chest, quickly maturing into a terrifying, larger, and more powerful Xenomorph known as the Predalien, possessing traits from both species. The Predalien swiftly attacks the other Predators on board, causing the ship to crash-land in the dense forests outside Gunnison, Colorado.

On Earth, a young man named Ricky Howard is being bullied by a local thug, Dale, and his friends. Ricky's older brother, Dallas, an ex-con recently released from prison, arrives and confronts Dale. Later, Ricky and his friend Buddy are riding through the woods when they discover the crashed Predator ship. Curiosity gets the better of them, and they investigate, only to be brutally killed by the Predalien and a newly spawned Xenomorph that emerged from the ship. Their father, who comes looking for them, also falls victim to the creatures. The Predalien then makes its way into the sewers beneath Gunnison, where it begins to rapidly infect the homeless population, using them as incubators to create a new hive of Xenomorphs.

Meanwhile, a distress signal from the crashed ship reaches the Predator homeworld. A highly experienced and scarred Predator, identified as "Wolf" (due to his missing eye and battle-worn appearance), answers the call. Wolf is a cleaner, a solitary hunter tasked with eradicating Xenomorph outbreaks and destroying all evidence. He travels to Earth, landing near Gunnison, and quickly tracks the signal to the crashed ship. Discovering the bodies of the Predators and the absence of the Chestburster, Wolf understands the grave nature of the situation: a Predalien is loose, and an outbreak has begun. He retrieves a plasma caster and a whip from the wreckage, then uses a self-destruct device to obliterate the ship and its immediate surroundings, attempting to cover up the evidence.

Back in town, Sheriff Eddie Morales begins investigating the disappearance of Ricky and Buddy. Dallas, worried about his brother, also joins the search. The first human casualties from the Xenomorphs are discovered, horribly disfigured and hanging upside down in the forest, similar to how Predators display their kills. As the bodies pile up, the town’s residents begin to realize something horrific is happening. Kelly O'Brien, a military woman returning home to her young daughter Molly, also finds herself trapped in the escalating horror. Her husband, Tim, is among the first to be killed by a Xenomorph in their home.

Wolf, meanwhile, is systematically hunting the Xenomorphs in the sewers and various locations throughout Gunnison. He uses his advanced weaponry and tracking skills, often clashing with humans who mistake him for an enemy. He dispatches several Xenomorphs with his plasma caster, shurikens, and whip, even using a dissolving liquid to destroy evidence of their presence. The Predalien, however, proves to be a formidable opponent, exhibiting superior strength and cunning, and possessing the ability to directly implant embryos into pregnant women, leading to even faster Xenomorph propagation.

The situation escalates dramatically when the Predalien infiltrates the local hospital, where it targets and infects multiple pregnant women, turning the maternity ward into a horrifying breeding ground. This leads to a massive surge in the Xenomorph population, which quickly overwhelms the hospital staff and patients. As chaos erupts across Gunnison, the National Guard, led by Colonel Stevens, is called in. However, they are ill-equipped to handle the alien threat and suffer heavy casualties. Stevens, under orders from a shadowy government organization, plans to contain the outbreak at any cost, even if it means sacrificing the town's population.

A group of survivors, including Dallas, Kelly, Molly, Sheriff Morales, Jesse (Dallas’s ex-girlfriend Carrie’s friend), and Dale (who has now joined forces with the group), attempt to escape the besieged town. They gather at a local diner, where they are ambushed by a horde of Xenomorphs. A brutal battle ensues, with many survivors falling. Wolf arrives during the battle, providing a momentary reprieve by fighting off some of the Xenomorphs, though he remains focused on his primary mission: eliminating the Predalien and its offspring. The survivors realize their only chance is to reach a helicopter at the town's power plant.

As they make their way to the power plant, they are constantly pursued by Xenomorphs. Wolf, still tracking the Predalien, follows them. The climax of the film takes place atop the power plant, where Wolf finally corners the Predalien. A brutal, prolonged, and destructive battle ensues between the two apex predators. Wolf, despite his experience and superior weaponry, is severely wounded by the powerful Predalien. During their fight, the Predalien manages to tear off Wolf's arm and impale him with its inner jaw. Wolf, in a final act of defiance, activates a self-destruct device on his wrist, knowing he cannot defeat the Predalien alone.

Simultaneously, Colonel Stevens, having been given the order, authorizes an airstrike on Gunnison, effectively nuking the entire town to eradicate the alien threat, regardless of the remaining human survivors. The "safe zone" promised to the townspeople was a lie. Dallas, Kelly, Molly, and Sheriff Morales, along with a few others, manage to escape in the helicopter just moments before the bomb detonates, incinerating Gunnison and everything within it, including Wolf and the Predalien. The explosion creates a blinding flash and a massive mushroom cloud, wiping the town off the map.

The surviving humans are rescued by a military detachment. Colonel Stevens confiscates Wolf's plasma caster, which was retrieved from the wreckage. He then delivers the weapon to Ms. Yutani, a representative of the powerful Weyland-Yutani Corporation, hinting at the corporation's continued interest in alien technology and foreshadowing future events in the *Alien* universe. The film ends with the grim realization that while the immediate threat was neutralized, the knowledge of these dangerous species now rests in the hands of a corporation known for its ruthless pursuit of bioweapons, ensuring the cycle of horror will continue.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Steven Pasquale as Dallas Howard
• Reiko Aylesworth as Kelly O'Brien
• John Ortiz as Sheriff Eddie Morales
• Johnny Lewis as Ricky Howard
• Ariel Gade as Molly O'Brien
• Kristen Hager as Jesse
• Sam Trammell as Tim O'Brien
• Robert Joy as Colonel Stevens
• Gina Holden as Carrie Adams
• Ian Whyte as Wolf (Predator)
• Tom Woodruff Jr. as Alien / Predalien

Crew:

• Directors: Colin Strause, Greg Strause
• Writer: Shane Salerno
• Producers: John Davis, David Giler, Walter Hill
• Music: Brian Tyler
• Cinematography: Daniel Pearl
• Editors: Dan Zimmerman
• Production Design: Tony Wootton
• Costume Design: Simonetta Mariano

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: December 25, 2007 (USA)
• Language: English
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Action
• Running Time: 94 minutes (Theatrical Cut)
• Accolades: Received largely negative critical reception upon release, with nominations for several negative awards, including a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel or Sequel.