After 2018’s execrable The Predator, not seeing the Yautja onscreen again felt preferable. We’ve already got Predator (a classic), Predator 2 (decent), Predators (underrated), and the AvPs (hm), so perhaps it was OK to leave it alone?
Good thing it hasn’t been because Prey gives me hope again.
I think a good a good Predator film after twelve years has led to some hyperbole. I was shocked too! No film can match the original, but Prey is still a good film. It wisely doesn’t try to outdo Predator, instead focusing on Amber Midthunder’s Naru. Questioned by everyone, she shows the courage, strength, intellect, and sheer stubbornness to take on the beast attacking her people.
The Yautja itself succeeds where previous have failed too. Despite a different look it doesn’t suffer from the basic misunderstandings in design and production that have afflicted recent antagonists. It’s a harsh fucker too, sussing out it’s place in the food chain as it takes on everything it sees.
It’s cool to see that the story didn’t have to make the Predator dumb or hand out major handicaps or plot armour to make it all work. Naru uses her skill and her knowledge of her surroundings to her advantage. Much like Dutch, though he needed to become the Final Girl before he could triumph. From the start Naru goes out to hunt the thing she can’t see but is sure is out there.
And as I write that the title becomes even clearer and more apt. Took me a while but I got there. Thank goodness for writing reviews!
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