Prey: A Prequel Reboot That Proves There's More Neon Green Blood To Be Spilled
Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, "Prey” is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.
For 35 years, the Predator franchise has struggled to recapture the magic of its first testosterone-fueled trek into the jungle led by a shredded Schwarzenegger and beefy Carl Weathers. Considered by many as one of the greatest action films of the 80s, Predator is a tough film to match simply because, like Alien before it, it takes audiences on such a singular ride with surprises and twists that can’t really be replicated. Every film that’s followed in Predator’s footsteps has essentially faced the same obstacle: anyone who’s seen the original knows what the predator is, its MO, and all the tools at its disposal, but the characters don’t, so we have to wait for them to learn this for themselves. The only feasible way around this is by creating a compelling character and journey, which is something that’s sorely lacking in many of the follow-up attempts.
Fortunately, this is not an issue for the Dan Trachtenberg helmed prequel, Prey. After Shane Black’s frankly embarrassing effort, The Predator, the bar for another franchise entry was practically lowered to the floor. It wouldn’t have taken much for Prey to clear it, but no one really imagined it would have vaulted over expectations with this much vigor, bravado, or authority. Hands down, it’s the closest the franchise has ever gotten to recapturing the magic of the original, and it’s executed at such a level that it’s sure to renew interest from even the most fatigued fan — it literally had us affectionately quoting Godfather 3 — but that said, it’s still too beholden to its predecessor to completely dethrone it.
Excellent tweaks and modifications aside, Prey essentially follows the same exact track and trajectory of the 1987 film, but its ride is so wickedly fun that it’s difficult to be too bothered by this fact. The film offers audiences a fresh angle to an otherwise familiar story, changing the setting to the Northern Great Plains in 1719 to interestingly pit the Comanches against the infamous alien hunter. It also gives the franchise its first female lead, Naru (played with tremendous force by Amber Midthunder), which harks back to Alien’s Ellen Ripley and helps to offset this otherwise male-dominated franchise with some much needed female energy. The emphasis on the Native American Indian and the pivot to a female protagonist are both compelling creative decision that are further bolstered by the film’s simple, small-scale story and engaging hero’s journey, which are laced with tender emotion and gory action beats.
While it’s admittedly nice to be able the stream a quality flick such as Prey in the comforts of your own home, it is somewhat disappointing that 20th Century Studios didn’t allow the film to play in theaters. It was clearly shot with the big screen in mind and would have played so well on a high quality sound system. It also would have been nice for the film to fully commit to the Comanche language (in the same way that Alpha did with its proto-language), instead of offering up a dubbed version as a consolation. It would have better honored the indigenous culture it sought to painstakingly highlight, as well as creating a more immersive experience.
These are all minor grips at the end of the day. There’s a lot to love about the film and its execution, from the Pred’s bone mask and taut action sequences to the brutal kills and rollercoaster ride, but chief among the positives is Amber Midthunder’s badass performance. She does a phenomenal job hitting the necessary emotional register while also dialing in an immensely physical performance — plus she’s accompanied by an adorable and equally badass canine companion Sarii (played affably by Coco the dog) for much of the film. Dakota Beavers, who plays Midthunder’s brother, also deserves a performative shoutout. He has a strong presence and helps bring an emotional aspect to the film’s familial relationship.
The weakest criticism of the film is that it’s “feminist propaganda,” which is mostly just something basement dwellers post on Twitter while they wait for their mom to bring them a refill on their macaroni 'n cheese. As testosterone driven as the Predator films have been, they’re never about masculinity. In fact, a large part of what makes the original so great is how it makes mincemeat of a muscly troop of badass mercenaries. The Predator films have always been about brains over brawn, and Prey’s heroine fully honors that tradition. Screenwriter Patrick Aison peppers her story arc with a lot of highs and lows, complications and obstacles, which all lead to a satisfying payoff that’s cathartic and surprisingly emotional. While Nara is a skilled hunter, she’s not the best hunter, and unlike her male counterparts, she knows medicine, which gives her an added edge. She’s shrewd, observant, and innovative, which is what aides her against the hulking intergalactic hunter.
It’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever get a film that can surpass the thrilling ingenuity of the original Predator, but Prey gets pretty damn close. Trachtenberg and company do a lot of things right, and they make very few missteps. The film is proof that there’s more neon-green blood to be spilled from a franchise that seemed otherwise thoroughly tapped out and dried up. We actually look forward to what the franchise does next — and there will likely be more based off the tease in the film’s credits. We just hope it doesn’t take Trachtenberg another six years to get another film made; he’s clearly got a gift for action thrillers, and we look forward to his next offering.
Recommendation: Whether you’re a fan of the Predator franchise or just looking for a solid action film to stream at home, look no further than Prey! You can check out the film right now on Hulu.
On the hunt for more?! Check out the link below:
The Predator review
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