In many ways, Prey is a nod to his ’80s Hollywood. First, it was released in India two months after its world premiere (the 2020s will do that too). It’s a mashup of drama/monster features.But Prey is good, really good. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say it’s better than any Predator movie before it. Yes, with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Set in early 18th-century America, Prey is a prequel to the Predator franchise that sees the Predator arrive in America, where they confront Comanche and French navigators. True to the premise of the first Predator film, Comanche woman Naru (Amber Her Midthunder) uses her training, courage, and ingenuity to empower this mighty hunter. Between 1987 and her 2018, there were four Predator films and crossovers with her two largely forgotten Alien franchises. With the exception of the original Predator (1987), none were well received by critics or audiences. A lot of that was due to how these movies tried to subvert the Predator concept and use it in different settings, including cities, the 21st century, and alien ships. But the beauty of the Predator is that its fear is even greater in the wild.
After all, it’s the most efficient fighter in the galaxy.You have to give it the forest to chase its prey. That’s exactly what prey does. The action is realistic, the plot is cleverly written, and the Predator is genuinely menacing. The decision to redesign the character a bit was a bold one given how iconic the Predator’s appearance is, but it’s proven to be less experienced and developed than its predecessor and therefore a bit more error prone. Therefore, I was rewarded. The characters are simple because the film wastes no time building up complex backstories. You act quickly. But they are still friendly and you feel them. There are a few flashbacks to the first film that are cleverly inserted into the narrative and pay tribute to the prey, but it’s pretty smoothed out.