The Primal Thrills of PREY

 

Daniel Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) co-authored (with Patrick Aison) and directed this splendid prequel in the Predator franchise. It is a nonstop action/horror film that is certain to thrill fans.

In the Northern Great Plains in 1719, a Comanche tribe sends hunters to track and hunt for food. Among them are Taabe and his sister Naru (Amber Midthunder), who yearns to be treated as an equal.  When she notices signs of a large animal, she comes to realize that a terrible creature is hunting big game including humans. With nothing more than primitive weaponry and her skills, Nary must take a bold stand to fight this ‘Predator’ to the death.

This story strips everything down to the bare elements as it essentially pits man (or woman) against nature (or alien), even recalling The Revenant with its beautiful, natural setting.  By slowly revealing the threat like Jaws and Alien, the tension builds and visceral action escalates into a battle for survival, especially when you consider how these hunters are overmatched by the creature’s arsenal.  The film seems to imply this is one of the first ‘Predator’ visits to earth, and fans of the series will appreciate the callbacks of weaponry, hunting rituals, and ‘Easter Eggs’ especially from the first Predator films.   

Placing the film on her shoulders, Midthunder (TV’s Legion) is a standout in a physically demanding role. Her character is groundbreaking in its authenticity to her ethnic background AND as an intelligent role model for action stars in any period.

This film is proof that there is a lot of life in this franchise when placed in the right, creative hands.  There is no doubt that this is the best Predator film since the original. And Amber rocks. (There is end credit animation to note.)

**** of **** stars (for Predator fans)  on Hulu