The ending of Predator primarily signifies the creature's choice to achieve an honorable death through self-destruction after its defeat by Dutch, rather than being simply killed.
Dutch's Victory and the Predator's Defeat
After a grueling and cunning battle in the jungle, Major Dutch Schaefer manages to outwit and critically injure the advanced alien hunter, the Predator. Dutch gains the definitive upper hand, having effectively neutralized the creature's technological advantages and exploited its physical vulnerabilities.
The Predator's Self-Destruct Mechanism
In a pivotal moment, with the Predator defeated and at Dutch's mercy, Dutch chooses not to deliver the final blow. Faced with this unexpected turn and its own inevitable demise, the Predator activates a powerful self-destruct mechanism embedded within its arm gauntlet. This triggers a massive, localized explosion that obliterates the creature and a significant portion of the surrounding jungle.
The True Meaning: An Honorable Death
The activation of the self-destruct sequence was not a desperate, final attempt by the Predator to kill Dutch. Instead, the context and behavior of the creature throughout the film suggest a deeper, more profound meaning rooted in its species' warrior code. For the Predator, this act was a means of achieving an honorable death.
- Preserving Honor: Rather than submitting to a conventional death at the hands of its prey, the Predator chose to end its own life on its own terms. This act aligns with a warrior ethos where dignity and honor are paramount, even in defeat.
- A Warrior's Code: The Predator species is depicted as valuing the hunt and combat prowess above all else. For a creature so dedicated to the thrill of the hunt and fair combat, being simply dispatched by its prey might be considered a dishonorable end. Self-destruction allowed it to dictate the terms of its final moments, ensuring its legacy as a formidable hunter was preserved, even in failure.
In essence, the ending reinforces the Predator's nature not just as a killer, but as a creature with a distinct, albeit alien, code of conduct regarding battle and death.
