Prey review: Dan Trachtenberg takes the Predator franchise in a thrilling new direction

Prey review

While the Predator films are far from being horror’s most inconsistent franchise (the Hellraiser films take that crown), the idea of a new Predator film in 2022 doesn’t necessarily inspire confidence. When word came that Prey — the first new Predator film in four years – would skip theatres and debut directly on Hulu (and on Star on Disney+ in Canada), expectations fell even lower. Thankfully, Prey is not only the best Predator film in decades but also one of the most thrilling films of the year.

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) from a script by Patrick Aison (Legion), Prey is set 300 years ago on the Northern Great Plains, the heart of the Comanche Nation. Naru (Amber Midthunder, The Ice Road), is a fierce young woman and a skilled hunter. After discovering mutilated animal parts near their camp, Naru soon realizes that the prey she stalks is an alien Predator, a being with superior technology that is summarily taking out members of her tribe as well as the French fur trappers operating in the area.

Using her tracking and hunting skills, Naru sets out to destroy the alien invader in an uphill battle against a nearly indestructible being with unimaginable power. It’s a thrilling new take on the idea of a predator and its prey and brings the franchise back to the core elements of the 1987 original, which built to a one-on-one face-off with Arnold Schwarzenegger and “one ugly motherfucker.”

Previous Predator films have taken place in the jungle, in downtown Los Angeles, and even in space, but setting Prey during the height of the Comanche Empire is an inspired choice. With a primary Indigenous cast, Prey is not only a major milestone in terms of representation but also allows the filmmakers to jettison the increasingly complex lore of the series and tell a concise new tale set hundreds of years before anything we’ve seen in the previous films.

The rise of Amber Midthunder

Amber Midthunder is a revelation as Naru, the strong-willed and quick-thinking young warrior who manages to go head-to-head with the Predator while those around her are quickly (and brutally) taken out. It’s a thrilling and deeply nuanced performance that will hopefully pave the way for more starring roles in the future.

Dan Trachtenberg has proven that he has the ability to brilliantly subvert genre franchises in surprising and unexpected new ways. 10 Cloverfield Lane was a sneaky backdoor entry into the Cloverfield world, and Prey similarly expands the Predator universe in exciting new directions. Filmed on the Stoney Nakoda Nation near Calgary, Alberta, Prey looks incredible, with beautiful shots of wide open vistas and the bordering mountains. It’s a stunning backdrop for this battle of good vs. evil and is far and away the best-looking film in the series.

Back-to-basics

With a back-to-basics approach, a beautiful backdrop, and a star-making performance at its center, (and one very good dog), Prey is so much better than the seventh film in a horror franchise has any right to be. Even more exciting is the ability to watch a dubbed version of the film in Comanche (in Canada, viewers can select the option in the “Extras” tab when viewing on Disney+).

Trachtenberg has crafted an invigorating survival tale of a young Comanche woman that also happens to feature an alien hunter. It’s a widely refreshing and crowd-pleasing thriller that will have viewers fist-pumping from their couches. Prey is a prime example of how to push a franchise forward while still honouring the essential elements that made the original so memorable.

Prey is streaming now on Star on Disney+ in Canada and via Hulu in the U.S.