It’s bloody fantastic! Just see it now! Don’t even bother reading this review, it’s THAT GOOD!
As a prequel to the original 1987 film, Predator, I was very excited by the simple (if slightly shifted) premise that returns the franchise to its roots as promised by the filmmakers. And it pretty much exceeded my expectations by sticking to that promise. Now that’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed the previous sequels and spin-offs… Predator 2 was a logical progression, Predators was kind of the same film but got lost in lore creation, The Predator had potential in its ambition yet ended up a mess, and Alien vs Predator is one of my few “dumb fun” movies I still love (its sequel, Requiem, was not good). However, it’s genuinely strange that it’s taken this long to “get it right” once again.
Originally, all the dialogue in Prey was meant to be in the Comanche language (where appropriate) and that was the original pitch by director, Dan Trachtenberg. But apparently the Disney acquisition of Fox not only delayed the production but also sidelined that idea. Instead, there is a separate version you can access on streaming (via the Extras on Disney+) where it’s dubbed in Comanche – the original cast returned to record it. I watched that version for my first viewing with subtitles followed by the “standard” version, so my initial experience is akin to watching a foreign movie, which is appropriate for me as this takes place in the Comanche nation and is a fascinating glimpse into a culture that is seldom properly or respectfully depicted on film. And although I can’t speak on the accuracy of such things, apparently there were plenty of advisors that were consulted in the writing of the script.
The film is relatively minimal in dialogue anyways but the dub is really well done and none of the meaning is changed between the versions. The English version still manages to incorporate Comanche words and phrases here and there where appropriate too. Whatever version you choose, whether based on personal taste or requirements, the experience will be unhindered.
Sentiments like “going back to its roots” have been thrown about a lot yet in the instance of Prey it’s very much about focusing on the elements of what made the original film so thrilling and compelling. That’s not to say I begrudge the sequels for trying to expand on the franchise but it’s refreshing to have a story stripped down to its basic formula (mainly because the original film was so basic too). This movie does an excellent job in recreating the suspense of the first film, it doesn’t shy away from getting a little gory either to heighten the fear and the stakes, and it provides plenty of exciting and clever action set pieces that lets the Predator unleash itself upon a slew of hapless folk. It also has a moody atmosphere like the original that helps sets the tone and pace instead of having to fill every silence with something lest the audience get bored.
But more importantly, the story makes you care about the main characters and what happens to them.
With the indigenous American setting, it’s of course appropriate to cast accordingly and Prey has done that with a group of veterans and newcomers to represent the characters from the Comanche nation. One of the standouts is Dakota Beavers as Taabe, a skilled hunter and elder brother to the main protagonist. This is Beavers’ debut role and he handles it with the confidence of a seasoned lead. Some may not consider this worth noting but the performance of the “Feral” Predator (they all of nicknames throughout the franchise) is just as vital to the success of the story and former basketball player Dane DiLiegro does a great job in the creature suit to make this hulking hunter from another world so deadly and seemingly unstoppable.
Boasting a lengthy filmography for someone rather young, this is one of those “star-making” turns for Amber Midthunder as Naru. She too exudes a confidence in her character without sacrificing any sympathy or likeability from the audience and really embraces the diminutive action hero archetype that has, coincidentally, become popular in South East Asia as of late. Not only can you not help but root for her but she also impresses with her character’s skill and ingenuity.
One of the things I appreciate about Prey that perhaps others seem to be misinterpreting is that technically this is not a “no you can’t because you’re a girl” narrative. There are moments where you could read it as such (there’s a symbolic scene where she walks in a different direction to the women heading out in the morning to gather, there’s a version of the “get back in the kitchen” insult) but on closer examination no one tells Naru she can’t be a hunter. In fact, her brother is supportive of her for the most part and her mother is more gentle in her concerns. This isn’t so much about breaking gender norms but more about proving oneself to those who may not share in that confidence.
There is a way this film utilises various set ups and pay offs that feel incredibly satisfying and its not just the one “this will be important later” either it’s a series of them that you don’t pick up on in the moment because it seems so small. Some are recurring elements that show how Naru is learning and teaching herself and some definitely fit the “Chekov’s gun” trope but all of it done with such confidence and satisfaction.
If you’re an animal lover you may find depictions of killing animals distressing and it does get rather graphic in this movie. However, it’s all in CG and all of it very well done too. Overall the film is very graphic and doesn’t shy away from too much it including when killing humans but it also doesn’t revel in such either.
Back on the Predator for a moment, I really do appreciate the way they toned back its technology to suit the period. It would have been easy to simply give it the same weapons as the original or even amp things up but keep in mind that this is 300 years before that first movie, even ignoring interstellar travel, it makes sense that their weapons tech might not be as advanced during that period OR this particular Yautja hunter chose its weapons suitable to the environment and possible prey it was hunting (either works but I tend to go with the former). Although not my favourite design (that still goes to the original “Jungle Hunter” or even “Scar” from AvP), the look of “Feral” is appropriate to the setting.
Long-time fans will already have the lore and background of these alien hunters ingrained in them but the story doesn’t rely on the audience to have previous knowledge. A good example of this is how it illustrates the way “Feral” chooses its targets, which is confirmed through a single line of dialogue but could have worked even without that. Again, the overall film has minimal dialogue anyway so it spends a lot of time illustrating Naru’s thought processes too and you get to see how both hunters think and learn throughout.
However, this being a beloved franchise, there is of course the tendency to want to reference the original film especially in this era of references and callbacks and I think Prey pitches it at the right level without being too on-the-nose or anachronistic (there’s a bit at the end that is a direct reference to a moment in Predator 2 and may have solved that long-running mystery). Although, there are also a couple of moments that the film subverts and misdirects the audience in regards to those references, which I was highly amused by, and also helps to prevent this movie from being a mere carbon copy of the original.
If there is anything to nitpick it would actually be the feeling that some parts were missing from the final edit (while searching for images for this review I did notice a few scenes that were missing from the final movie, which is normal but also confirmed my suspicion). There’s a shot at the end, which is very much “you inspired a little girl” trope but an earlier scene that sets that up is not in the film. The movie is already at a decent length at 1 hour 40 minutes and has a sometimes leisurely pace in parts so it’s normal to trim down for run time however this is for streaming where “shorter movie equals more screenings” is not an issue. Perhaps my instincts were more to do with simply wanting more of a good thing?
Fans of the iconic interstellar game hunter may be somewhat turned off if they’ve built them up in their heads to be akin to a “John Wick” type of flawless assassin because that’s really not what they are. There are moments where it seems like the Yautja struggles where it shouldn’t perhaps. There’s always this balance being maintained that such a species that lives for the hunt can be taken down by a skilled and resourceful human while still tearing into a slew of people and wild animals. Newcomers to the franchise may have the benefit of ignorance here and long-time fans will have to manage their expectations in that regard.
Also, some noise has been made in how this should have been a theatrical release and while I don’t necessarily disagree with that, I’m also cynical about how some movie goers are and think that a film completely done in Comanche would not have seen the light of day because of those few (I’ve seen people walk out of Kung-Fu Hustle the moment they realised there was subtitles). In terms of representation this film is a major coup for indigenous Americans but thanks to streaming it’s the reason there is an alternate dub, which I’m so glad to have watched.
Sometimes a good story just needs a few basic elements and Prey does that so well that it doesn’t just tell a thrilling story full of suspense, clever action, and compelling characters, but also makes strides in regards to on screen representation for a community previously ignored or maligned in popular culture. This film is hands down a worthy successor to the 1987 original, a must-see for for fans, and one of the best films of the year so far!
I’m looking forward to seeing what toys NECA release for this latest instalment.
Prey is streaming on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (worldwide).
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