๐ฌ Movie Overview
Title: Prey (2022)
Release Date: August 5, 2022 (Hulu)
Genre: Science Fiction / Action / Thriller (Predator franchise)
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Amber Midthunder (Naru), Dakota Beavers (Taabe), Dane DiLiegro (Predator), Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, Bennett Taylor
1. Plot Summary
Prey is set in 1719 on the Northern Great Plains, within the Comanche Nation. The story follows Naru, a young Comanche woman trained as a healer who dreams of proving herself a capable hunter like her brother, Taabe.
When a technologically advanced alien Predator arrives on Earth, its presence brings danger to Naruโs camp. As the Predator begins stalking humans and animals indiscriminately, Naru takes it upon herself to defend her people. She must adapt ancient skills, her intuition, and cunning to survive against an adversary far beyond human strength and weaponry.
In a battle of hunter vs hunter, Prey explores how a determined individual from an indigenous culture confronts a near-unstoppable alien threat, turning the tables so that the prey becomes the predator.
2. Notable Elements
- Performance of Amber Midthunder: Critics universally praise her portrayal of Naru โ she brings grit, emotional weight, and physicality to the role.
- Setting & Atmosphere: The film uses the natural plains, forests, and open sky to great effect. The wilderness isnโt just backdrop โ it becomes part of the challenge, offering cover, pitfalls, and danger.
- Return to Simplicity: Many reviews note that Prey pares down the Predator franchise to its essentials โ stealth, tension, and survival โ instead of overloading with spectacle.
- Violence & Tension: The Predatorโs attacks are brutal and unflinching, but the film balances gore with suspense. Some scenes, such as the predator ambushing hunting parties or stalking through terrain, hit with jagged intensity.
- Cultural Representation: The inclusion of Comanche language, traditions, healing arts, and the dynamic between Naru and her tribe grounds the story in a cultural identity seldom explored in big sci-fi stories.
- CGI & Effects Limitations: Some critics point out that certain CGI elements โ particularly animal creatures, blood/splatter effects, and Predator invisibility / masking โ occasionally look rough or less convincing.
- Over-the-Top French Trappers: The subplot involving European trappers is cited by some as veering into caricature, adding tension but occasionally knocking tone.
3. Themes and Messages
- Empowerment & Breaking Traditions: Naru seeks to transcend the limits placed on her by tradition (as a woman, healer) to become a hunter in her own right. Her journey is partly about asserting capability beyond predefined roles.
- Man vs Alien / Predator Concept: The film explores what it means to be hunted. The Predator is designed to hunt the worthy โ Naru becomes a worthy adversary through ingenuity, patience, and adaptation.
- Survival & Ingenuity: Instead of overpowering with guns and tech, Prey rewards cleverness, knowing terrain, using natural materials, stealth, and patience.
- Cultural Legacy & Identity: The film gives voice to indigenous perspectives, giving weight to cultural heritage, honor, and protecting oneโs people.
- Balance Between Exposure and respect: There is delicate handling of how much sci-fi to mix with folklore โ the film doesnโt abandon its setting to alien tropes but blends them.
Because Prey is not holiday-themed, thereโs no direct tie to seasonal traditions. But its core โ defending home, proving worth, legacy โ resonates with universal values of protection, courage, and identity.
4. Personal Impressions
Strengths:
- Prey feels fresh: the decision to go back in time and center a native protagonist gives the Predator franchise a new voice.
- The tension is well paced โ the film knows when to hold back and when to hit hard.
- Amber Midthunder anchors the film emotionally; I was especially drawn to moments where her resolve is tested.
- The worldbuilding is tight โ you feel the tribe, their stakes, and the danger creeping in.
- It honors the Predator mythology (e.g. cloaking, trophy hunting) while integrating it organically into a primitive setting.
Weaknesses:
- As noted, the CGI is not flawless. Some creature sequences or effects betray the budget.
- Some supporting characters and subplots (e.g. French trappers) feel less fleshed out and occasionally overemphasized.
- The ending is satisfying but perhaps expected for franchise fans; its predictability may lessen impact for some.
Overall, Prey almost hits the sweet spot between genre entertainment and thoughtful reimagining.
5. Audience Recommendations
Youโll especially enjoy Prey if you:
- Are a fan of the Predator / alien hunter franchise and want a refreshing twist.
- Like survival thrillers that emphasize tension, stealth, and resourcefulness.
- Appreciate films with strong female leads who earn their victories.
- Enjoy historical or cultural layers in genre films โ not just spectacle but identity.
If you dislike occasional rough effects, or prefer heavy sci-fi over grounded settings, this might be less your style.
6. Conclusion & Rating
Prey (2022) is a bold, revitalizing entry in the Predator universe. It strips back excess, gives a powerful indigenous hero, and re-centers the โhuntโ in primal territory. While it has rough edges, it more than compensates with heart, tension, and strong vision.
Final Recommendation: Definitely worth watching โ especially for genre fans, budget sci-fi lovers, and those seeking representation in action films.
โญ Rating: 4 / 5 stars
