Prey
review by Bobby Blakey
Ever since the original Predator film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987 the now iconic creature has spawned numerous films, comics and merchandise. I am a massive Predator fan and love all the films despite issues with some of them. Sadly with the failed performance of the latest entries I assumed it might be the end, but thankfully 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachenberg and writer Patrick Ason had other plans and bringing the latest entry into the franchise Prey.
Prey follows Naru, a skilled female warrior who fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth. The film stars Amber Midthunder, Dane Diliegro, Dakota Beavers, Stefany Mathias, and Sormee Kipp. This new film looks to be not only bringing something fresh and new to it all, but going back to the roots of the original film as well.
I know that pretty much every Predator movie since the original has been met with scrutiny with understandable reasons, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit to loving them all. I know they don’t all work, but getting to see the Predator unleash his fury just makes me happy in any context so I was eager to see what they had cooked up for this fresh new take. The simplistic trailers have been intriguing and the idea of it being in the past with Native Americans just seemed like the right thing to do with the mythology of it all and boy does it work on pretty much every level.
There have been a lot of talk about it living up to and in some ways better than the original and I agree with it. The film is simple in nature with the focus being on this young girl trying to find her place as the warrior she is destined to be within her tribe. It is an interesting enough story at first
just watching her train and fight to earn respect from the male members of the tribe, but infuse the Predator and it is off the reservation pretty quick in the best way possible.
This time around it lets things brew a bit and build towards the payoff. The original film took its time to reveal the creature and let the characters evolve into panic, fear and confusion to what they were dealing with. This was intense enough featuring the muscle bound action heroes of the 80s taking it on, but bring in a small girl for the same hunt and there are all new stakes and fears. Never do they make her feel like a week victim and instead allow her to manifest into a power young woman while still being vulnerable and scared of the unknown.
The action takes a bit to start, but once we get into it things go from slow and methodical to insane awesomeness. They have crafted the kind of Predator film I had hoped they would with the franchise when they started doing new entries. Different hunts, time periods, people etc. The film follows all the fun rules of a Predator film and offers up some clever ways of doing familiar things all while feeling all its own. The cast are all great, but make no mistake this is Amber Midthunder’s film and she kicks all kinds of ass.
Of course with this franchise you have to have a cool Predator and it might be my favorite design even over the original and I love that one. It has its own character while being in the same design framework and offers up even some primitive elements to go along with the story and hunt it is taking on complete with a skull helmet that is all kinds of cool. Midthunder and the Predator come to blows as expected in the final act and it is awesome making the entire journey worth it and really pays off for fans.
I loved this film and while glad and understand why it is only on Hulu, it would be so much better on the big screen where it deserves. While there isn’t so much an after credit scene, stick through the credits and pay close attention to the cave painting art that is retelling the story and see the final image that could be indicating more for the future or just the usual we know from the Predator legend.
In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes and more. Join the hunt and grab your copy of Prey available now on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD from 20th Century Studios.
