Prey review: A riveting fresh take on an old franchise

4/5

Story: A young woman named Naru of the Comanche tribe is desperate to become a hunter like her brother. However, her rite of passage to hunt down a natural predator does not go according to plan. But when the extraterrestrial being called Predator appears in search of Earth’s strongest beast, Naru takes it upon herself to hunt down this dangerous being.

Review: Several Hollywood studios have attempted to reboot their franchises in recent years. While some have found success, others have opted for soft reboots with prequels. The Predator is one of those franchises that ended up releasing less than compelling films over the decades after the success of the original films. However, with Prey, they have introduced a fresh concept to an old formula.

Director Dan Trachtenberg, credited with helming 10 Cloverfield Lane, episodes of The Boys, and episodes of Black Mirror, has successfully revived a franchise that was in desperate need of a new impetus. While the premise and setting of the story are certainly intriguing concepts, it is in the execution where Prey shines. The story is not complicated nor is it riddled with exposition and convoluted plot designs. It offers a crisp runtime of one hour and 39 minutes and it is gripping from start to finish. Amber Midtunder and Dakota Beavers essay excellent performances as the brother-sister duo, Naru and Taabe.

The narrative is told through the eyes of Naru, the female protagonist, and how she overcomes various preconceived notions about her ability and eventually goes toe-to-toe with the killing machine called the Predator. The writers, to their credit, have not positioned Naru as an all-conquering and unflinching ‘chosen-one’ archetype in the mould of Wonder Woman. Instead, Naru is depicted as an intelligent young woman who is vulnerable but has the ability to use her strengths to make up for any shortcomings she might have in her fighting ability when compared to her brother Taabe. She is by no means amateur when it comes to her fighting skills, the scene where she beats up the insufferable Wasape is evidence of that.

Naru adapts to any challenge, learns from her mistakes, and uses her intelligence to overcome the odds. Through her character, the film also subtly explores themes of feminism. The film has several scenes where the frames convey metaphorical and allegorical references to these themes and it is not added just for the sake of conveying a socio-political message, but it is a crucial aspect of the story told through Naru. The film also explores themes of colonialism and imperialism.

The cinematography by Jeff Cutter is breathtaking and it immerses the audience in the 18th world of the Comanche tribe. And once the action sequences commence, the film captivates its audiences with scintillating and nail-biting moments. The story is ultimately a journey of self-discovery and a rite of passage for Naru. There are a few similarities in the film’s aesthetic to Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, the video games by Guerilla Games. The climactic scenes where Naru uses everything in her arsenal to take down the Predator are almost reminiscent of Aloy, the female protagonist from the games, taking down a Thunderjaw.

Verdict: Prey is a cinematic achievement that restores one’s faith in the action genre. Its crisp runtime and gripping story make it one of the best action films of the year, just behind Top Gun: Maverick.