{"id":18281,"date":"2025-08-09T14:55:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T14:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemacocoa.com\/?p=18281"},"modified":"2025-08-09T15:03:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T15:03:33","slug":"review-prey-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemacocoa.com\/?p=18281","title":{"rendered":"Review: Prey (2022)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Making me a believer of the Predator <\/em>series.

In the 1700s, an Apache tribe finds itself at the mercy of an otherworldly hunter.

Released in 2022, mere months “after” the Covid pandemic, Prey <\/em>was and continues to be a Disney+ exclusive. It was never released in cinemas. The rather teasing title betrays that this film is part of the Predator <\/em>franchise, owned by 20th Century Fox, which was purchased by Disney in 2017. Personally, I always resented its exclusivity. Disney was riding high on their new streaming platform and cinemas were hurting more than ever. Prey <\/em>looked good, but it was a shame a lot of people never saw it.

Okay, maybe I am an exception? A lot of people saw it.

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who had previously created the excellent 10 Cloverfield Lane<\/em>, and has gone on to more Predator <\/em>series entries since. Prey<\/em> is an excellent movie that washes out the bad taste of 2018’s The Predator<\/em> instantly. The film stars an authentic cast, and though English is spoken, the film boasts a Comanche dub version that has the cast return for their roles. So if you are a pedant like me, you can actually watch this Comanche version on Disney+. It stars Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, and Michelle Thrush.

While initially on release Prey <\/em>might have had some detractors online, it is safe to say they are resoundingly wrong.
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Everything is definitely fine…<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Naru is a member of a tribe, a gatherer who believes she can also be a hunter (the vaguest wafts of Disney Princess vibes) and strikes out on her own pursuits. Her brother, Taabe, is the tribe’s greatest hunter, and he supports her efforts. But when a “sign” from the sky provokes Naru to join the hunt, what they find out in the wilderness is far worse than a lion or bear.

Prey <\/em>is the antithesis of the hilariously bad The Predator<\/em>. The story being set in the expansive plains of 1700s America, everything is dialled back. It takes its time to set up; a vital decision as we have a clash of ancient and futuristic. It knows when to go easy on the reigns; we have moments of tension and quiet. Characters tracking targets or observing their surroundings. It is not action all of the time.
Like a lot of good science fiction, we are given a feast of small but critical details. Narrative smoking guns. Details that fans of the Predator series will immediately recognise and process correctly. Naru’s tribe uses a medicine that brings the body’s temperature down. A snake can see an invisible Predator due to its eyes also seeing thermal energy. Lots of neat little details.

It isn’t “A Disney Movie” either. Once the monster is involved, things get bloody real quick. Naru is outmatched by this hulking creature, and for a portion of the film humans are cut down easily. There is a great sense of (for want of a better term) power levels, and timeframe. These native Americans have authentic-to-the-time weapons. So why are there metal bear traps around? One wonders. This Predator is also timeframe accurate; its weapons are advanced but clearly retro compared to those in the 1987 movie. The fight scenes are terrific and the kills are inventive and very violent.
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Such a good girl! Also Dakota Beaver and Amber Midthunder star in the movie<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For a Predator <\/em>movie, a lot of thought has gone into Prey<\/em>. Compared to its contemporary, the Alien <\/em>franchise, (circa 1990s) I thought the Predator <\/em>series was extremely dumb. However this movie has changed my mind. It is well-paced, it doesn’t have any fat, tedium, or unwelcome additions. Everything has a purpose to drive the story and world-building along. It gives the monster all the hero shots a fan would want.
The characters too are interesting and you like the ones you should like, and hate the ones you should hate. Character chemistry works for what is needed in a movie such as this. For some actors who have this movie as their sole <\/em>credit, they are giving good performances. Also, there’s a really good dog. Good doggo confirmed.

It isn’t quite a 5\/5 movie. While being restricted to Disney+ isn’t its fault, it does play a part. The final sequence of the movie is a little hard to believe, but the film’s good graces carry it mostly along. There’s a credit sting that promises more that genuinely made my eyes roll.

If you are a fan of the Predator <\/em>franchise and haven’t seen Prey<\/em>, I think you owe it to yourself to get Disney+. Even just a free trial. Plus there’s more Predator <\/em>content coming soon. It is possible physical copies will appear in second-hand stores, and if you are as interested as I was, buy it. Worst case you can just trade it in again.

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