Prey

Movie Name: Prey
Year of Release: 2022
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, Julian Black Antelope, Stefany Mathias, Bennett Taylor, Mike Paterson, Nelson Leis, Tymon Carter, Skye Pelletier
Genre: Action, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
Watch it on Hulu

Synopsis and Review

"Prey" is the latest installment in the "Predator" franchise, which started of course with the muscular first chapter by John McTiernan, which featured Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late Carl Weathers. This time around the feature takes place in 1719 in the Great Plains. Naru, a young Comanche woman who has been trained as a healer, has dreams of becoming a hunter like her older brother Taabe. While tracking deer she notices strange lights in the sky, which turns out to be a Predator ship who is in reality dropping one of its warriors. Following an expedition to deal with a lion, which Taabe manages to kill and bring the spoils back to the tribe, Naru is convinced something more dangerous lurks in the woods and wants to investigate. She soon departs with her dog Sarii. She is attacked by a grizzly bear, but the animal is killed by the Predator, allowing Naru to escape. Naru gets caught in a trap, and is eventually captured by French voyageurs who are in the area. She soon realizes that her brother has also been captured, and they both are set as bait for the Predator, whom the French want to capture. However things don't turn our as expected, and Naru is eventually on her own fighting for her life against the alien creature.

The "Predator" series has always been a case of David versus Goliath, in the sense that the human beings on these films are always the prey for the more powerful and technologically advanced Predator creatures. These films have had different types of focus, but the most successful ones have been the narratives where the environment in which these characters live also play a part in their interactions. In the case of John McTiernan's first film, it was the South American jungle, followed by a futuristic Los Angeles in Stephen Hopkins' "Predator 2". Nimrod Antal's "Predators" took the action to another planet, but once again into the jungle, whereas Shane Black's "The Predator" had a suburban setting (and this one sadly, didn't really work). Dan Trachtenberg smartly takes the film back to its survivalist roots, by relying on the narrative of a young woman going against type, at a time where that women's roles were pre-determined, and where this particular individual wants more than just conform to expectations (and the role her tribe has assigned her). The film gives her just enough nuance for us to quickly understand that Naru is strong willed, resourceful and wants to provide for her community. While the supporting characters don't get the same development, their interactions still have a strong sense of authenticity, bonding and complicity. The director also smartly progressively discloses the Predator as the narrative unfolds, taking cues from McTiernan's film, where the creature only became fully visible by the third chapter of the feature. As the game of survival becomes more dramatic, so does the tension, and the central character's resourcefulness. The cast is effective in embodying these characters, which also reinforces the strength of the feature. The production team is impeccable, featuring the cinematography of Jeff Cutter, score by Sarah Schachner, and production design by Amelia Brooke and Kara Lindstrom. A solid and entertaining film worth watching.