“When making art, we create a mirror in which someone may see their own hidden reflection.” - Rick Rubin, The Creative Act

This book is a solipsistic study of one man’s life through the lens of a single 80s action movie.

I don’t think a person could watch something as many times as he did and just see what’s on screen.

At some point, you must start seeing yourself.

Whereas the movie stays the same, he gets older. The experience of the movie changes with him, his age, and his perspective.

Frequently, there is a sort of madness and self indulgence takes hold. It’s often repetitive—which makes sense if you view repetition itself as the source material.

It vacillates between the myopic and telescopic. Often, it’s like staring at the dots that make up an impressionist painting. At other points, it’s like watching the city lights you see from an airplane.

What it almost never does is view the movie in the way that a normal person would watch it the first 3 times.

It reminded me a lot of the documentary Room 237 in which obsessives process the movie The Shining in granular detail and extrapolate grand interpretations.

I devoured this book in just under 24 hrs, and that is incredibly uncommon for me. Monson’s Predator is truly what the title says it is: a memoir -in part- of the author’s life thus far, and his obsession with the movie, “Predator,” itself. I cannot imagine watching a movie over 140 times and still love it. I’d get sick and tired of it well before that number. However, this book was well written (and narrated!) and it kept my attention from page 1.

Besides the memoir part of the book, the author also attempts to break down masculinity and what it is to be a man. Although I am not of male species, I thoroughly enjoyed how much info and research Monson put into the helicopters, guns, and actors in this movie. Also, did you know that “Predator” was originally a book authored by LGBT+ activist, Paul Monette? I had no idea, and LOVED that Monson included Monette multiple times in this book. Without Monette, there is no Predator. Full stop.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who has seen “Predator” more than twice and enjoyed the film, anyone who likes Schwarzenegger, guns and ammo, and masculine subjects. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to someone who solely enjoys memoirs because the memoir part of this book is somewhat minor. Overall, great work by Ander Monson. Two thumbs up.

And that cover art though!!

(I received this audiobook ALC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you!)

One of my guilty pleasures is 80s and 90s horror including some action horror. Predator both the 1987 original and Predators (2010) are two of my go to favorites. There is a campy wink wink nod nod to these movies that lets the viewer know they are providing an entertaining experience and providing a little subtle social commentary. Plus, who doesn’t love to laugh at the ridiculousness of early Arnold.

I requested this ARC because of the connection to a movie that has been at the back of my mind for years. I didn’t know what to expect and if I’m being honest had pretty low expectations. Luckily for me (and maybe for you) this book is so much more than a love letter to the Predator franchise.

Monson weaves an impressively in-depth (he has watched the movie 146 times including multiple frame by frame viewings) analysis of the movie, the context, the connections beyond the movie and how this movie is a lens into toxic masculinity.

Monson goes beyond the movie, analyzing multiple versions of the script and the novelization of the movie written by poet Paul Monette as his life partner was dying of AIDS. The connections to acceptance of violence, homophobia in a movie that is visually homoerotic, comments on trophy hunting, gun violence, gaming culture, to name a few threads, are well defined and thoughtful.

Monson is very honest about who he is, and how he is reckoning with his past choices. Does he need to use the F-slur for LGBTQ+ as much as he does when discussing his own assholery as a tween and teen. Probably not, but I get what he is attempting to do.

This is a fun audiobook for those that know the movie or that want to witness a man (white/CIS/straight) turn a critical eye to the media that helped to shape his early definitions of masculinity.

The narrator captures the feel and voice of the work from start to finish. I had to keep reminding myself that it was not the author reading.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the narration on this book was spot on! He did a fantastic job and was really easy to listen to for hours. The story was really interesting and made connections to many aspects of Predator that I had never even given a second thought to. The author is able to break down the film, scene by scene, and relate it in detail to his life as a whole. I would definitely recommend to fans of the movie or memoirs, as this does a really good job covering both genres!