Best Predator movie in years
The original Predator was one of the best action movies of the 80s and is still held in high regard by many people today. Sequels? Not much. Predator 2 was a bit of a disappointment after Arnold Schwarzenegger failed to match the power of the original and the testosterone-laden hit that launched it all.
But what about Prey?
This prequel movie bypassed theaters and went straight to streaming, which is quite odd given the popularity of the franchise. Is this indicative of the overall quality of the film? Thankfully, no. While not as good as Predator, it's still a decent watch and better than the sequels that followed the 1987 film.
Predator takes place in 1719, centuries before Arnie and his military rescue team come face to face with a technologically advanced alien. This time, it's up to Naru (Amber Midthunder), a member of the Comanche tribe, to take on the extraterrestrial invader, but his chances of survival are slimmer than the group in the original film, who outnumbered him in both firepower and muscle power. power.
Thankfully, Naru is a capable fighter despite being smaller than the Predator she's up against. The male members of her community are unsure, but when she proves to be smarter and more capable than they are in dealing with this strange new threat, they soon realize their error in judgment. As the film progresses, the tribe begins to shrink as the Predator takes out each human with ruthless efficiency, eventually leaving it up to Naru and her loyal dog, Sari, to destroy this fearsome enemy.
There is very little Predator vs hunter action in the first half of the film. Instead, we are introduced to the patriarchal structure of Naru and her community, and drawn into her struggle to prove her worth beyond her domestic slavery. When the Predator arrives on the scene, it's a while before it encounters any human enemies as bears, wolves and other forms of wildlife are the first to encounter the alien and its special abilities.
Despite the lack of any actual combat, these early scenes are an integral part of the story, as they showcase both Naru's situation and the Predator's quest to find the dominant species on the planet. We learn more about Naru and her fight for equality (a fight that never ends) and we discover more about the Predator's abilities as he hunts his prey for sport rather than survival.
The human battle against the aliens, when it finally arrives, is raw and brutal as the country's native peoples embrace a presence unlike anything they've encountered before. They are as weak as you would expect, which is partly the reason for their downfall, but despite the strength of the enemy, they are not ready to back down as they have trained themselves to fight.
Director
Director Dan Trachtenburg (10 Cloverfield Lane) handles these action scenes well without the need for slow motion or other directorial work to heighten the excitement level. Combat is fast and well structured, although the outcome of most fights is never in question, as it soon becomes clear that rushing to the kill is not the right answer.
Naru realizes this and, like any good hunter, begins to spend more time observing the Predator and its movements before devising a plan of attack. In an age of superhero movies and Taken knockoffs, where heroes spend more time punching their way to victory than using their brains, Naru's decision to slow down and identify his enemy's weaknesses before attacking is quite refreshing.
Short Runtime
Unfortunately, the film has a relatively short runtime, which wouldn't have been a problem if the film featured more human and Predator action scenes. But since a good portion of the film is spent exploring the dynamics of Narun's clan and their interactions with the land around them, there isn't enough time for the full-blooded alien encounters I'd like. The film could have been better balanced if it had extended the duration by 30 minutes or more.
Still, it's my only choice because it's still a decent movie. The Predator is as intimidating as ever and remains an unnerving presence due to its ability to remain invisible while stalking its prey. Naru's story is interesting as he struggles not only to save his tribe but also to prove his worth to his community. The confrontations between the predator and his various enemies are bloody and heart-pounding.
So, while this isn't the movie I was expecting, it's smarter and more thought-provoking than the previous movies. And since the end credits suggest yet another showdown between Naru and the Predator race, the sequel may provide the extended fight scenes that Prey sometimes lacks.
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