SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hr., 40 Min.
Released by 20th Century Studios in 2022, Dan Trachtenberg directed this Lawrence Gordon/Davis Entertainment Company production off a script by Patrick Aison. Aison and Trachtenberg had co-written the original story devised as a prequel to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s original 1987 Predator film.
In the Great Northern Plains of 1719, a Predator (DiLiegro) is dropped off on Earth seeking local adversaries worthy of battle. Unlike its future successors, this Predator’s technology appears somewhat less sophisticated; nonetheless, such alien weaponry still far surpasses arrows, spears, and rudimentary guns. In addition to a metallic shield, other devices this Predator deploys include a laser targeting device and a stealth cloaking field to generate invisibility.
Meanwhile, the Commanche Nation’s young Naru (Midthunder), a young medicine woman in her late teens or early twenties, desires to prove her equality. Foremost, she prefers being a hunter despite the scoffing male peers of her tribe. Helping retrieve a wounded tribal member overnight, a wounded Naru is the first to sense that something fearsome and evil is lurking out there on the Plains. Her instincts determine it’s neither a lion nor a bear, but something infinitely more dangerous. Yet, even Naru’s solder brother, Taabe (Beavers), dismisses such vague suspicions as likely a figment of her imagination.
Naru seeks her culture’s ancient hunting rite reserved for males: to be both predator and prey against a formidable quarry. Intending to protect her tribe, Naru and her faithful canine, Sarii (Coco), set out on her fateful destiny to find and destroy the monster.
On her quest, she survives a quicksand bog and later evades a mauling death from a ferocious bear. Yet, both the bear and previously a wolf are no match for the Predator’s own intense savagery. Located by Taabe’s search party, Naru’s extraordinary claims of what she has recently witnessed are again dismissed and/or met with wary skepticism.
Both the Commanche search party and a nefarious French hunting expedition are subsequently decimated in battle. Witnessing the Predator destroy wave after wave of human challengers, Naru realizes that sheer numbers and conventional weapons aren’t the answer. It’s up to her to improvise an unexpected yet insightful means of attack. Naru’s fate will be decided by a last desperate showdown after nightfall with her prey.
Primary Cast:
Naru: Amber Midthunder
Taabe: Dakota Beavers
Predator: Dane DiLiegro
Aruka: Michelle Thrush
Wasape: Stormee Kipp
Sarii: Coco
Waxed Moustache: Nelson Leis
Big Beard: Mike Paterson
Raphael: Bennett Taylor
Sumu: Stephany Mathias
Chief Kehetu: Julian Black Antelope
Commanche Tribal Members: Corvin Mack; Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat; Skye Pelletier; Samiyah Crowfoot; Seanna Eagletail; Tymon Carter; Ginger Cattleman; & Samuel Marty
Additional Commanche Tribal Member: Uncredited
Additional French Trappers: Uncredited.
REVIEW:
Starting with 1990’s Predator 2, the franchise’s bloodthirsty formula became increasingly unimaginative over the next three decades. These lazy thrill rides (much like Schwarzenegger’s other iconic franchise, The Terminator) opted to peddle convoluted shoot-em-up’s where grisly, sci-fi action was evidently the sole justification. Yet, writer-director Dan Trachtenberg would ingeniously devise an ideal follow-up to 1987’s Predator. In this instance, his prequel re-imagines the ‘thrill of the hunt,’ as an instinctive urge to overcome one’s own worst fears surpasses macho glory.
With actress Amber Midthunder as his reliable lead, Trachtenberg’s Prey fulfills a void few filmmakers would have imagined: a sci-fi/horror thriller set inside a historical period piece. Perhaps it isn’t coincidental that the Canadian forest scenery and a vaguely similar instrumental score are often reminiscent of 1992’s Last of the Mohicans. This same kind of timeless adventure vibe works for Naru’s hunt.
Off-note is some fairly obvious CGI enhancing the scenic Canadian backdrops. The Predator’s fight choreography also appears too predictably intricate. Hence, Prey continue a dubious franchise tradition of demonstrating a cool multitude of ways the alien can easily eviscerate its victims. Trachtenberg at least tactfully keeps much of this icky carnage at a distance or partially off-screen. Lastly, Midthunder’s impressive martial arts scenes come off as implausible for a petite woman’s self-defense versus multiple attackers three centuries ago. Given the film production’s complexities, such minimal quibbles mean Trachtenberg’s well-structured and mostly original plot succeeds, as intended.
Ultimately, Trachtenberg and a game Midthunder ensure that their Prey is mighty good for the story it tells.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
This High-Definition Blu-Ray’s technical specifications are English 7.1. DTS-HDMA, 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Subtitles are available in English SDH, Spanish, French; additionally, a full-length Commanche audio track is included. An optional audio commentary track includes director Dan Trachtenberg; actress Amber Midthunder; film editor Angel M. Catanzaro; and the film’s director of photography, Jeff Cutter.
The bonus features consist of:
- a “Making of Prey” vignette;
- three deleted scenes (including an alternate opening scene), with Trachtenberg’s voiceover explanations;
- reminiscent of Comic-Con, there is a Prey “FYC (For Your Consideration)” Panel Discussion including Trachtenberg, Midthunder, and other key production members.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
