Prey (2022)

Score: 5 / 5

I can't believe this movie was dropped directly on Hulu. I'm not even really a fan of this franchise -- I've only ever seen the first Predator, and yeah it's an exciting time -- but this one looked pretty cool. Just a matter of minutes into streaming it, I got angry that I wasn't seeing it on a bigger screen and with surround sound. Jeff Cutter's cinematography makes most landscape shots look like paintings, and most action scenes feel as beautiful as a dance. Much as Predator was a streamlined action film 35 years ago, and in many ways established tropes of the genre, this film takes the genre to a level of high art. This is much like how Ridley Scott saved his Alien franchise in Prometheus: giving us more of the same material, but in a surprising way and with the most updated and sophisticated technology and aesthetic intent.

In a move of pure genius, the setting of this film takes us back to 1719, apparently to the first Predator alien to arrive on Earth and begin hunting. That kind of makes this a period piece, and it reminded me visually more than once of The Revenant in style, color palette, and even some content. For someone who doesn't know the franchise well, I had to learn quickly some of the elements of interest, such as that the Predator uses somewhat more rustic versions of its typical weapons in other installments. But those details are mostly Easter eggs for the fans; the movie works brilliantly for newcomers as well! The Predator, we learn quickly enough, is much more advanced technologically than the Native Americans in the great plains that populate the setting of Prey; it is also very strong and fast and hunts living organisms for sport, often skinning or beheading them for trophies. We see this is how it treats a snake, a wolf, and even a bear. It seems to want the most dangerous game it can find.

Enter Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche warrior who hunts like the men in her tribe despite their teasing and ostracism. Her brother Taabe (Dakota Beavers) is a bit more sympathetic but sometimes might be embarrassed by his sister upsetting the applecart. But Naru knows there is something monstrous stalking their tribe and tries to warn them, from the moment she sees the strange lights of its ship floating through a cloud bank. They first suspect a mountain lion and hunt it; after a tense and violent confrontation, Taabe kills it and returns to the village a hero. Naru knows more is going on when she discovers a herd of bison that have been skinned; a grizzly then chases her down to a riverbed. It's all terrifying and realistic (I told you this reminded me a bit of The Revenant, right?) and then, BAM -- enter the Predator.

I rather wish we hadn't seen several snippets by this point of the alien landing, hunting, prepping its weapons. While they are interesting shots, they take away so much from the realism of the film to this point and they take away the horror of the unseen/unknown. Granted, the Predator uses high-tech camouflage that basically makes it invisible, but I think the first half of the film would be much more effective if Naru had suspicions but no real proof, like us, until the Predator's reveal during the grizzly attack. It's such an effective scene already, and I wanted it to be as scary as it was awesome. The bear gets distracted moments before chomping our heroine and fights something invisible until it gets lifted in the air, its blood pouring out onto the silhouette of the hulking alien. It's magnificent. And, of course, Naru immediately runs.

The rest of the film is, essentially, a series of chases as the Predator slaughters its way through the tribe, through fur trappers and traders, and ultimately singles out Naru as apparently its worthy opponent in combat. One of the most interesting and satisfying sequences in this film is when Naru is captured by the French voyageurs, who, we learn, were the sadistic predators that killed and skinned the bison. The film wants us to understand that the Predator isn't the only predator in play; sure, there are the lovely food chain nods to other apex predators like the wolf, bear, and puma, but man is a horrifying (and wasteful) predator in his own right. Then again, considering the unique title of this film, one wonders exactly who the prey in this situation are. Naru might just be capable of taking down the big bad; when its neon green blood spills, she all too readily paints her face with it.

I can't speak highly enough of this film. See it on the biggest screen with the best sound you can get. It's dazzlingly beautiful, thanks largely to the cinematographer's work and the direction by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane). The leading performance by Midthunder is nothing short of a stunning star turn. Its respect for Comanche culture and language is manifest in the full Comanche language version of the film also available on Hulu. Even for not much liking the franchise or knowing anything about it, this was one of the most surprising and entertaining movies I've seen lately. It elevates the adventure/action/horror/sci-fi shtick of the '80s and '90s and turns it into a vision, one that will surely continue to offer rewards on subsequent viewings. I can hardly wait to jump back in again!