I do remember seeing the first Predator back in 1987. And I remember that I have probably seen at least one other in the franchise in the ensuing 35 years. But that’s it – I remember very little and am not part of the huge league of franchise fan boys. Honestly, I just don’t remember much.
Turns out you don’t need to know much about the Predator brand to enjoy this prequel/origin story of the powerful alien creature with a need to kill, but apparently with a developed sense of ethics and rules of engagement.
That’s because Prey is very smartly focused on one main character, a Native American girl called Naru (actress Amber Midthunder) and strong support from actor Dakota Beavers, as her older brother. They are both expert hunters, but we impressed by Naru’s strong, instinctive talents as a hunter – she can do an awful lot with a bow and arrow.
Set among the Comanche Nation of some 300 years ago, the film takes its time getting to the creature – after all, there is no shortage of dangers that have nothing to do with a highly sophisticated alien who has come to earth for the first time. But I was starting to get a little antsy -as the old record executives used to say, “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.”
But when the action gets going, not only with the Predator, but also with the nasty, nasty French trappers, we see that, like the crude but useful animal traps in the movie, the audience were being taken on a path before tripping the spring. Kudos to director Dan Trachtenberg for knowing exactly how to make the climactic final act make it very much worth the wait.
I am seeing lots of stuff on the Internet about Easter eggs – discussions about this pistol in that movie and so on. Again, I leave that to the fervent folks who care.
As for me, ignorance was bliss. The film stood alone as a movie any action fan will enjoy
Prey is currently streaming on Hulu.
