A clever reworking of the Predator franchise, 2022’s Prey, a prequel co-written and directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), is set some 250 years prior to what we thought was the alien species first arrival opposite human beings on Earth.
Set in the vast Great Plains in 1719, the story follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche woman who has been trained as a healer, though not so secretly yearns to be a hunter. Overshadowed by her successful bow and arrow wielding brother Taabe (Dakota Beavers), she uses whatever free time she has to continue training at the useful skill. It is worth noting that the familial relationship is nicely crafted, not simply one of brutish sibling rivalry (like we’ve seen in other motion pictures), instead holding within it a nuanced combination of direct competition, hunting mentorship, and much needed cooperation.
Upon her travels, she witnesses some odd lights in the sky – what would at first be a spiritual sign of the thunderbird (suggesting she may be approaching her time of becoming a hunter). . . she better be ready, for this strange celestial shimmering is actually the Predator’s offloading ship.
Sharing some similarities with Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto (2006), Trachtenberg likewise decides to limit the dialogue, the film at times playing closer to a silent action tracker movie than more modern action fare – with its (wo)man versus nature theme at the forefront. Where it deviates, the 2006 feature often feels like a two plus hour adrenaline pumping chase scene, while this 2022 picture goes for more of a cat and mouse vibe – after all, it is called ‘prey’. Often stretching the shot length and widening the breadth of the scene, the film maker always keeps the visuals in mind for a most realistic and authentic hunting feel.
Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams with Mike Paterson, who plays Big Beard in Prey
No less of a ‘predator’, this 18th century version packs quite the punch, so viewers can still expect the creature to have its cloaking device as well as a number of slightly less futuristic weapons. Likewise, Naru will have to grow her own skill set in order to compete against such a well trained hunting machine.
Intriguingly, there’s a mid movie curveball that actually feels quite true to the historic time period. . . with French voyageurs (aka furriers) arriving out of the blue, much like the Predator, making it a tête-à-tête-à-tête. Led by the ominous and larger than life Big Beard (Mike Paterson), these gun powder firing Europeans only add to the chaos.
A simple yet effective story filled with visual flair and plenty of predatory atmosphere, Prey pays homage to the sci-fi franchise, historical accuracy, and action done right to make for a successful prequel venture. Lastly, it is worth mentioning Sarah Schachner’s score, which is the first composition in the franchise to deviate completely from Alan Silvestri’s original music, leaning into some ancient string instruments (and a flute) for something wholly different. So, feel free to fall prey to this prequel/sequel/free for all, it’s a head above.