It’s been 35 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger battled a lone Predator in the jungles of America. It was a battle of wits and explosions, with both the Predator and Schwarzenegger’s Dutch battling for superiority. Just who was the apex predator? Man or alien? That was the question that the original film asked. It was a satisfying battle and the Predator became an iconic creation, with unique visuals, sound effects and weapons to the point that the creature is now ingrained within popular culture all across the world. So naturally, sequels were soon put in development.
After a lot of stops and starts we’ve never had a worthy sequel to the original film, with different filmmakers and actors putting their stamp on the franchise but something was missing. The hunt and the battle between brains and brawns were skimmed over and instead the series became an action franchise. The less said about the Alien crossover films, the better! It’s only been around 4 years since the last attempt to revive the franchise, but that hasn’t stopped the studio from finding new and unexplored areas to take the Predator. Then, out of nowhere comes this prequel, Prey, a film that honours the original and almost surpasses it!
How is it possible that a prequel, or spin-off depending how you see it, can be as good as the original? The reason is that filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg once overheard that the original film had a battle between a Native American and the Predator. Sadly he was disappointed that this was not true and the film contained no such scene. So with years of his life passing by, the idea of a film based on a Native American battling a Predator with nothing but bear-traps and arrows, was an enticing one. The result is fantastic! Amber Midthunder plays Naru, in her first big screen role, and she owns the screen. Her presence is felt throughout the film and she feels so human with flaws, skills and enough character building that you desperately want her to win this fight.
The fight in question is between a lonely Predator that crash lands on Earth in 1719. This version of the Predator isn’t as advanced as the original and instead is more primitive and feral, making him all the more dangerous. Throughout the start of the film he lurks in the shadows, leaving trails of dead animals and footprints in the mud. The tension is felt from the moment the locals start noticing something is wrong and Naru is the only one with the brains to see what is truly happening - they are being hunted. What follows is a film that favours suspense over action and as a result the film is more rewarding. All the characters feel like they have a role to play and the death’s in the film feel as brutal as they should be when encountering a Predator of course.
There are very few flaws with the film, but personally I wish I saw this on a big screen as watching it on TV and streaming it took away some of the spectacle, but that is no fault to the filmmakers. The film isn’t overly long but it does take a while before we actually get to the point where the Predator makes an appearance. Saying that, this is more of Naru’s film than the Predator’s film so that is also understandable.
★★★★☆
4/5
Prey is a fantastic addition to the legacy of the Predator character. Featuring some unique visuals, some fear-inducing stalking sequences, and smart cinematography, this is a film that stands above the rest. The idea of focusing on a young woman, Naru, and on the culture of Native America is a smart one as it is heavily under-explored on the big screen. Nothing feels fake with all the effects feeling practical and heavy and as a result, we get a film that delivers on its promise. By the end, you’ll be looking over your shoulders too.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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