Okay, so I admit that John Debney's score for Predators appealed to the fanboy in me.  Aside from the fact that his score embraced the tone of Alan Silvestri's original music from the franchise, there's just something about the orchestral delivery in Debney's work that really gels with me.  But let's step back.

 

Going in, I had anticipated that this Predators score might not have been the type of soundtrack I'd buy into.  After all, the recent Aliens vs. Predators offerings did very little to engage me and neither left the type of impression that would leave me stoked for a follow-up of any kind.  So the good news is that Predators is more a direct sequel to the franchise itself and doesn't dabble in the cross-over world that the studios had under whelmed us with.

 

While the Predators score does indeed have its fair share of atmospheric conditions, it has moments of thunderous power that will leave an imprint on you.  Debney's music crackles with excitement when action abounds and it's great, dark fun to engage in.  Particularly interesting to me was the use and variation of the original Predator theme in this work; it's heard both through subtle references and bold statements to great effect.  I am quite pleased that the original theme is embraced and implemented in this way and equally as pleased that it doesn't override this effort as its own original contribution.  Indeed, Debney's work genuinely takes you inside the movie just by the listening experience.  There are moments of fright, action, and intensity, all delivered in a sharp and crisp manner.  You will also find terrific instances of creativity within the depths of this score, so be sure to pay attention (some of it is keenly subtle).

 

If you generally partake in horror/sci-fi scores, than I think you will really get a lot out of this score.  It's set up nice for repeat listens and has a vintage theme that we can go back to on regular occasions to enjoy.  And that's coming from me, someone who rarely enjoys these types of film scores.

 

Final Score: John Debney adds a distinct layer of quality to Predators with a score that celebrates both the new and the old.  If you're game for a true sequel experience with the music of this franchise, than you will not be disappointed.