The highly popular series Predator started in 1987 and has since been through some good and bad days. The first two in the franchise worked well, but as the series progressed, the overall concept started getting lost. This is not something that will be a problem in Prey, as it brings some fresh storylines.
Prey Cast
Starring Amber Midthunder, former star of Legion, as Naru, Dane DiLiegro as Predator, Stefany Mathias as Sumu, the movie also features Ray Strachan, Julian Black Antelope, Michelle Thrush, Dakota Beavers, Troy Mundle, Stormee Kipp, and Nelson Leis. The majority of the actors in this movie are indigenous people.
Prey is directed by Dan Trachtenburg.
Storyline
Taking place in the late 1720s in the Northern Great Plains follows the story of a Comanche hunter Naru (Amber Midthunder). She wants to be a skilled hunter just like her brother Tanabe (Dakota Beavers), and this determination makes her train tirelessly. In short, her determination to be like her brother, a brilliant hunter and a leader, consumes her everyday life. But even before she is ready, an alien forces her into the role sooner than she wanted.
The tribe believes the alien to be an aggressive lion, but Naru realizes that it is something completely different. She starts getting more and more involved in the mystery to understand what or who this creature is.
Prey Movie Review
Prey can easily be compared to the original Predator based on its pacing, its equal parts slow and fast. The alien isn’t even present in the movie for a good hour in the movie but manages to terrorize the characters and the viewer. The anticipation that the protagonist and the antagonist will somehow come face to face is what is interesting as it keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats about what’s going to happen next. In this way, the slow pace does wonders for the film.
Hollywood is not exactly known for its inclusion of indigenous people, but this movie is quite different. The makers worked very delicately by including the Comanche language and their talent as the cast mainly consists of Native and First Nations talent.
Amber Midthunder as Naru is a complete badass with her determination of becoming like her brother Tanabe, played by Dakota Beavers. She presents the role of a warrior trying to prove to her tribe her badass hunting skills, with the help of her emotionally expressive dog.
The simplicity of the movie is what makes it a good one, brilliantly uses the slow pace as the one thing that keeps it gripping. The distinction between the earlier installments in this franchise is important as the latest ones are nothing compared to the original Predator. But Prey as the prequel to the Predator lives up to the expectation of the original. The OG fans will find this worth watching.
Sources: Hollywoodreporter.com, Newsweek.com, and Theverge.com
