7. Carl Weathers - Predator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2MiFHZ-VpcU This is one of those unforgettable scenes from one of those classic 80s action movies that can totally get away with being funny, even if it wasn't supposed to be. As Arnie and his buddies stalk through the South American forests in search of an indigenous people they can exploit, they eventually encounter the invisible titular alien, who says hello to Carl Weathers' Dillon by shooting his arm off. But that's not it; Dillon's dismembered limb continues to squeeze the trigger, haplessly firing machine gun bullets nowhere near the predator, an ultimate depiction of just how futile their quest to fell this strange beast really is. Given the film's somewhat pulpy, some might say campy, homoerotic tone, it can definitely get away with things like this; despite being genuinely tense and thrilling, it's also got an underlying morbid sense of humour, even if we probably weren't meant to be howling with laughter at this frankly pretty savage - and technically accomplished - death scene.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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