Prey – A Grounded Coming-Of-Age Action Thriller (Early Review)

The Predator franchise has seen quite the ups and downs since the first film debuted back in 1987 but nevertheless, there is still a fanbase to tap into. In an age of reboots and legacy sequels, the Predator franchise is the next target. However, instead of going the sequel route, Prey is essentially a legacy prequel featuring the origin story of the titular alien creature some 300 years ago. Taking a more grounded approach to this story perhaps due to budgetary constraints, the film feels both small and big at times by making the most out of those circumstances. Despite being a shorter watch, running at just under 100 minutes, it still boasts plenty of action and brutality befitting of the franchise against a beautiful backdrop of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. That being said, one can’t help but still want more. While the film’s Predator is an indisputable force throughout the film, Amber Midthunder also rises to the occasion and is a force in her own right. Delivering a star-making lead performance, she grounds the film thus allowing its emotional beats to hit that much harder.

Prey might be an origin story for the Predator (DiLegro); however, it approaches it through the lens of a coming-of-age story of a young Comanche woman named Naru (Midthunder). Aspiring to break through tribe gender norms, Naru wanted to be a hunter like her brother Taabe (Beavers). Doubted by the rest of her tribe, Naru simply wanted a chance to prove herself to the others and herself that she could do it and she unsurprisingly got that chance as the Predator loomed on the horizon with its intentions unknown. Clearly a threat to Naru and anything else in its path, the human side of that equation was just as compelling to watch. Though the story may be on the predictable side, Naru’s rootability was a strong grounding factor as she and the rest of her tribe were put through the ringer but her especially. Ultimately, she was up to that challenge. Whether or not anyone else believed that remained to be seen. In the end, Naru would need to take matters into her own hands to protect her tribe before it was too late.

Putting herself at great risk, Naru’s quest to prove herself saw her in a battle of wits against the highly-advanced and extremely-brutal warrior. The old ways, while historically successful, were just not going to cut it here therefore her different perspective and skill set was arguably what her tribe needed to evolve. While the cat-and-mouse game with the Predator was one thing, it was by no means the only predator out there. Little did they all know; the landscape was a great equalizer. The rough terrain including the forests and the rivers made for a tense backdrop for the battle between Naru and the Predator. The film had clearly been leading up to that moment by building up Naru and it certainly did not disappoint. Its grounded approach allows it to focus on the little things as it takes a back-to-basics approach in terms of action and suspense which only makes those moments resonate that much more. Supported by aforementioned beautiful cinematography showcasing the Canadian countryside, the film is further supported by a powerful score that makes the intimate moments feel epic.

At the end of the day, the best part of Prey was a star-making performance from Midthunder as Naru. The emotional center of the film, she single-handedly carries it effortlessly. It depends on her journey to become a warrior for which it prevails thanks to her incredible likeability and relatability thus making it easy to connect with her on an emotional level over the course of that coming-of-age journey. Meanwhile, Midthunder can also handle herself with the film’s action and all it demanded of her physically which was a lot. On the other side, the Predator made for a formidable and menacing adversary for whom the mere threat of its presence was a source of tension. The VFX work behind it in terms of detail was a highlight as the film made the most out of its limited screen time.

Prey offers a creature feature that stands on its own and proves that bigger isn’t always better.

still courtesy of 20th Century Studios

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.