My biggest pleasant surprise of 2022, streaming media-wise, has been Dan Trachtenberg's Prey.
I had low expectations. I was hoping for something tolerable and entertaining like Predators, and not a cringeworthy exploitation such as The Predator or AVP Requiem.
This film far exceeds being a tolerable sequel. It is a classic of the action horror genre, and would be seen as such on its own were there no previous Predator franchise.
There are certainly contrived coincidences aplenty, obvious and almost anvilicious points of modern applicability to feminism and colonialism and ecology, and some plot armor for the protagonist and copious amounts for the Predator antagonist.
Against these things which can take one out of the movie stands the sympathetic The Hero's Journey of Naru, a young Comanche healer and aspiring hunter. Her tale is told in a economical fashion as we see her practicing, and initially repeatedly failing, her fighting and hunting skills.
As with Ms Marvel, the fantastical elements in Prey are rooted in the tale of a loving, though imperfect family. That context is lacking for all previous Predator characters, who tend to be very much cutout cardboard character tropes of the tough guy, the operator, the yakuza, the streetwise New York cop, the sniper, and so on.
Far above expectations are the world-building, characterizations, and majestic drone panoramas. Coco the Dog as Sarii is another emotional touchpoint. The creature design and weapons are awesome and well-thought-out. The fight scenes are tense and well-structured, not perfect, but more than good enough for an intended direct to streaming horror thriller.
The movie is carried by the wide-eyed performance by Amber Midthunder as Naru. She has those wide silent movie star eyes which she puts to good use, offset by her character's black face markings.
A fun little efficient movie which doesn't try to be too much more than it needs to be. A great, scary, and smart, creature feature.
Prey honors and reimagines the Predator franchise
My biggest pleasant surprise of 2022, streaming media-wise, has been Dan Trachtenberg's Prey.
I had low expectations. I was hoping for something tolerable and entertaining like Predators, and not a cringeworthy exploitation such as The Predator or AVP Requiem.
This film far exceeds being a tolerable sequel. It is a classic of the action horror genre, and would be seen as such on its own were there no previous Predator franchise.
There are certainly contrived coincidences aplenty, obvious and almost anvilicious points of modern applicability to feminism and colonialism and ecology, and some plot armor for the protagonist and copious amounts for the Predator antagonist.
Against these things which can take one out of the movie stands the sympathetic The Hero's Journey of Naru, a young Comanche healer and aspiring hunter. Her tale is told in a economical fashion as we see her practicing, and initially repeatedly failing, her fighting and hunting skills.
As with Ms Marvel, the fantastical elements in Prey are rooted in the tale of a loving, though imperfect family. That context is lacking for all previous Predator characters, who tend to be very much cutout cardboard character tropes of the tough guy, the operator, the yakuza, the streetwise New York cop, the sniper, and so on.
Far above expectations are the world-building, characterizations, and majestic drone panoramas. Coco the Dog as Sarii is another emotional touchpoint. The creature design and weapons are awesome and well-thought-out. The fight scenes are tense and well-structured, not perfect, but more than good enough for an intended direct to streaming horror thriller.
The movie is carried by the wide-eyed performance by Amber Midthunder as Naru. She has those wide silent movie star eyes which she puts to good use, offset by her character's black face markings.
A fun little efficient movie which doesn't try to be too much more than it needs to be. A great, scary, and smart, creature feature.
4/5 stars.