PREY (DISNEY+) (2022)

SYNOPSIS: The origin story of the Predator in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Naru, a skilled female warrior, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Aside from the original 1987 Predator, none of its sequels or reboots have earned much love from critics or fans especially the two dreadful Alien vs. Predator crossover installments.

Fortunately, the prequel Prey marks a return to form. Director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), who clearly understands how to balance storytelling and suspense on a modest budget, delivers a tight, thrilling reinvention of the franchise. After more than three decades, Fox finally has a true Predator winner on its hands.

Set in 1719, the story follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche woman who dreams of becoming a great hunter like her late father and her brother, Taabe (Dakota Beavers). Despite her mother’s wish for her to be a healer, Naru spends her days training and honing her tracking skills with her loyal dog, Sarii.

Her moment comes when she witnesses a mysterious ship descending from the sky and discovers that something deadly now stalks her tribe. When members of her people are slaughtered by this advanced and terrifying creature, Naru decides it’s time to prove her worth by facing the ultimate hunter from beyond the stars.

In what might sound like a simple setup, Prey cleverly mirrors the stripped-down survival premise of the original Predator. Most of the action unfolds deep within the forests, focusing tightly on Naru’s perspective. It’s a smart creative choice: rather than relying on excessive spectacle, the film zeroes in on human instinct and determination. Think Predator without the guns and muscles but with raw skill, intelligence and heart.

Visually, Prey is stunning. The lush cinematography captures the natural beauty of the American wilderness, lending the film an almost National Geographic aesthetic. The digitally rendered animals including a wolf, a bear, and a mountain lion look impressively realistic and the portrayal of Comanche life feels authentic and deeply respectful.

For those coming for the carnage, Trachtenberg doesn’t disappoint. The film’s second half erupts into bloody chaos, especially with the arrival of a group of shady French explorers. With Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI) — the original Predator effects company — handling the creature design, the practical effects and makeup work are top-notch, resulting in some satisfyingly gruesome visuals. The use of Comanche and French dialogue (deliberately left unsubtitled) also adds a welcome layer of authenticity.

Forget Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018), Prey is the reboot the franchise desperately needed. Simple, intense, and beautifully executed, it captures the primal essence of what made the original so iconic: the brutal, cunning dance between hunter and hunted.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee