You know that feeling when you realize a movie character is way more complex than you remembered? Most people watch Predator for the big guns and the invisible alien. But honestly, if you look closer, Carl Weathers in Predator is doing the heavy lifting for the entire story.
He’s not just the guy who gets his arm blasted off. He’s Al Dillon. The "pencil pusher." The old friend who sold his soul to the CIA and then had to find it again in a humid, blood-soaked jungle.
The Handshake That Launched a Million Memes
It starts with that arm. You’ve seen it. Even if you haven't watched the movie in a decade, you know the meme. Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Dillon meet in that dusty room, and they don't just shake hands. They flex. It’s a bicep-to-bicep collision that feels like two tectonic plates hitting each other.
"Dillon! You son of a...!"
That moment is iconic, but there was a weird competitive energy behind the scenes too. Carl Weathers once talked about how he had to "beef up" because Arnold was carrying around something like 80,000 pounds of weights on set. Carl would sneak into the gym at 4:00 AM just to get a pump before anyone saw him. He wanted to look like he belonged in that world of giants.
It worked.
📖 Related: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
But the handshake is a lie. Well, it's a lie in the story. Dillon is there to manipulate Dutch’s team into a "rescue" mission that’s actually a CIA hit job. Weathers plays this perfectly—he’s got this slick, slightly untrustworthy vibe under the macho exterior.
Why Weathers Was More Than Just "The Other Guy"
Most 80s action movies had a "token" guy or a sidekick who was just there to die. Dillon is different. He’s the moral pivot point of the whole film.
Think about the tension. Dutch is the "pure" soldier. Dillon is the "corrupt" agent. When the truth comes out that the mission was a setup, the betrayal feels personal because Weathers and Arnold have such natural chemistry. They were friends in the Vietnam War (specifically Da Nang, according to the lore), and you can feel that history.
Carl Weathers brought a certain intelligence to the role. He wasn't just a linebacker with a script. He understood that Dillon was a man who had traded his field boots for a tie and was now realizing he wasn't as tough as he used to be.
Early on, Dillon almost gives away their position in the jungle because he’s "rusty." It’s a small detail, but Weathers sells that insecurity. He’s trying so hard to be one of the boys again.
👉 See also: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
The Secret Workout War
The stories from the set in Mexico are legendary. It wasn't just about the acting; it was a total testosterone fest.
- Arnold would start working out at 3:30 AM.
- Carl would try to beat him by going at 3:00 AM.
- They’d spend the day running up and down 3.5-mile hills in the heat.
- Everyone was trying to be the "alpha," but they ended up becoming a tight-knit unit.
Weathers actually preferred this kind of "character-driven" action. He didn't want to just shoot guns; he wanted to play the conflict of a man who realized he'd turned his friends into "expendable assets."
The Most Metal Death in Action History
Let’s talk about the end for Al Dillon. It is arguably the most brutal and redemptive moment in the film.
Mac is losing it, and Dillon goes after him. He doesn't have to. He could have stayed with Dutch. But he chooses to go. It’s his way of making up for the lie.
Then it happens. The Predator’s plasma caster takes his right arm clean off.
✨ Don't miss: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
It’s a nasty practical effect for 1987. But look at what Weathers does. He doesn't just fall over. He keeps firing with his other hand. It’s a desperate, defiant last stand. When the Predator finally impales him with those wrist blades, Dillon’s scream is the thing that warns the rest of the team.
He died a soldier’s death, not a bureaucrat’s.
There’s a cool bit of symbolism there, too. Remember the arm-wrestling match at the beginning? Dillon loses to Dutch. Later, he loses that same arm to the Predator. It’s like the movie is stripping away his "macho" CIA facade piece by piece until he's just a man facing a monster.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're looking back at Carl Weathers in Predator or trying to understand why this performance still resonates, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the eyes: In the scene where Dutch confronts Dillon about the "setup," watch Weathers' face. He’s not playing a villain; he’s playing a guy who thinks he’s doing the "necessary" evil. It’s nuanced.
- The Physicality: Notice how Dillon carries himself differently than the rest of the squad. He’s a bit more rigid, a bit more "office-coded" initially, which makes his eventual breakdown into a raw jungle survivor more effective.
- The Legacy: Weathers didn't just stop at Predator. He took that "tough but vulnerable" energy into everything from Action Jackson to The Mandalorian.
Basically, the next time you see that handshake meme, remember that it represents a character arc that actually matters. Carl Weathers took what could have been a generic role and turned it into the soul of a sci-fi masterpiece.
To fully appreciate the performance, re-watch the scene where Dillon and Mac are stalking the creature through the brush. The fear on Weathers' face is real. He wasn't afraid to look scared, and that’s why we’re still talking about him in 2026.
Check out the original 1987 theatrical cut rather than the "waxy" DNR-heavy Blu-ray releases to see the actual sweat and grit on the actors' faces. It makes the jungle feel as oppressive as it was for the cast.