Prey (2022)

Prey (2022)

8/10

 

Starring

Amber Midthunder

Dakota Beavers

Michelle Thrush

Stormee Kipp

 

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

 

I enjoyed this movie very much. I love when movies aren’t too long and get straight to the point. At just 100 minutes, it makes its point and tells its story without dragging on with unnecessary scenes. It avoids the typical two-hour runtime where half the time is spent watching the protagonist grow up and develop her skills. Instead, this movie cuts to the chase.

The lead character’s mistakes and struggles make the movie even more enjoyable. She doesn’t instantly transform into the stereotypical "girl-power" hero. Instead, she’s scared most of the time, freezes in fear, and makes plenty of errors that cost her dearly. This flawed portrayal makes her journey feel more grounded and relatable.

The visuals in this movie are stunning. The settings are beautifully crafted, and the visual effects are next level. The animals are so well-designed that you feel like you could reach out and touch them. The Predator’s unique effects and characterization are fantastic, adding depth to the film. Amber Midthunder, who plays the lead, Naru, delivers a fantastic performance that ties it all together.

This is the fifth movie in the Predator franchise and serves as a prequel to the original film.

The story is set in the 1700s, focusing on a Comanche tribe that encounters the Alien known as the Predator. At first, they think they’re tracking a bear, but Naru, an excellent tracker, realizes from the footprints that this is something else entirely.

The trouble starts when one of their tribesmen is attacked by a mountain lion. The tribe sets out to save him, and Naru, who is desperate to prove herself as a hunter, insists on joining them. They find the injured man, but he’s badly wounded. The group sets a trap for the lion, and while they succeed in killing it, Naru is badly injured after facing off against the mountain lion. Her brother tells her she isn’t ready to be a hunter.

Undeterred, Naru goes hunting the next day and comes across the Predator’s tracks. She prepares her weapons and trains herself (though her weapons ultimately prove useless). When she and the other tribesmen finally face the Predator, fear takes over, and many are slaughtered by the creature. Determined, Naru sets her sights on learning how to confront and defeat the Predator.

This movie is amazing and deserved some time in theaters, though I understand the hesitation about bringing back a franchise that might only resonate with those born in the 80s. You can catch this movie on Hulu.