NECA has revealed Prey’s Feral Predator ultimate action figure. Due out in September, the 7” scale toy is available to pre-order for $39.99.

A removable mask, interchangeable open and closed mandibles, nine interchangeable hands, open and collapsed shields, open and collapsed spears, and spear gun are included. It’s packaged in a window box with opening flap.

Michelle Thrush as Aruka in Prey (2022)

This is my mother and that's my father. You were wrong. They wanted me. No. That's not-. It's what I found out. You were not taken care of. This is what they told, "Save these children. They need good homes. It's a mitzvah." You're not listening. That's my mother and father and they loved me. No. I was removed because the Government was taking Indian kids. We had a paper saying "unfit mother". You don't think Governments have lied before? [...] You can't just stick a new name on a person and pretend that nothing's happened. And you can't just take a five year old child away from their family and think that they're just gonna forget.

LITTLE BIRD  (2023) ｜ Episode Four directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers

Prey (2022)

Prey (2022) dir. Dan Trachtenberg

Honorable Mention: Prey (2022)

There's a tradition among the people of the Comanche Nation. If you want to be acknowledged as a great hunter you ought to bring the body of a large, powerful animal. A predator like a cougar or a bear would do fine, something the young but resourceful healer Naru is trying to achieve for herself as she feels it's time to earn the respect of her people. Failing at the task against a cougar, however, leaves her older brother with the glory as he earns the title of a War Chief.

But the takeaway isn't just disappointment, what made Naru lose concentration that night was a strange lights she's sure belong to a Mupitsl, an ambushing demon who hunts and kills men. Indeed, after seeing a bear being wrecked by this invisible assailant, she decides she's going to hunt it herself. Unfortunately, the French voyageurs on the monster's tail have other plans... so does the creature itself.

One of the problems with horror franchises is that the sequels either become derivative, or to keep things "interesting" they add ridiculous gimmicks and absurd plot developments. Which makes all the more refreshing when a film like this discards that in favor of keeping things simple, but more importantly, meaningful. By not getting caught on the weeds of a fictional alien culture the story can have it's cast have solid narrative arcs that interweave together to a fulfilling whole. It also explores in a more thorough way the nature of hunting: It's not just that the Predator poses a threat, but that all the involved factions hunt each other for different motivations and to different ends which makes them foils to each other.

While taking some significant historical liberties the film does a remarkable job at respectfully and accurately depicting the Comanche nation and it’s people, customs, practices, and so on. It's a pretty brilliant return to form that exchanges the macho for a sincere story of self realization and cultural awareness.

Prey (2022)

Director - Dan Trachtenberg, Cinematography - Jeff Cutter

"I saw a sign in the sky. The thunderbird. I'm ready."

Prey Teaser 

Set in the Predator universe, Prey takes place 300 years ago in the Comanche Nation. Naru, a warrior, “has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.” (20th Century Studios)

20th Century Studios’ Prey is directed by Dan Trachtenberg from a screenplay by Patrick Aison. The film stars Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, and Julian Black Antelope.

Prey hits Hulu on August 5, 2022.

Prey

directed by Dan Trachtenberg, 2022

Prey will be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 3 via 20th Century Studios. Best Buy will carry an exclusive Steelbook 4K UHD edition of the Emmy-nominated Hulu film for $40.99.

The 2022 fifth installment in the Predator franchise is directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) and written by Patrick Aison. Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, and Bennett Taylor star.

In addition to the English audio, a Comanche track with English subtitles is also included. Special features are listed below, where you can also see the full Steelbook packaging with art by Attila Szarka.

Special features:

Audio commentary by Dan Trachtenberg, actor Amber Midthunder, director of photography Jeff Cutter, and editor Angela M. Catanzaro

Making of Prey featurette

FYC Panel with Dan Trachtenberg, Amber Midthunder, Jeff Cutter, Angela M. Catanzaro, producer Jhane Myers, and creature effects designer Alec Gillis

Alternative opening scene with commentary by Dan Trachtenberg

Deleted scene with commentary by Dan Trachtenberg

Pre-vis deleted scene with commentary by Dan Trachtenberg

Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries. Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.

Pre-order Prey.

Prey (2022)

This is a Movie Health Community evaluation. It is intended to inform people of potential health hazards in movies and does not reflect the quality of the film itself. The information presented here has not been reviewed by any medical professionals.  

Prey has some mild lightning effects, and entire dark scenes lit only by mildly flickering fire.

There is some peril at extreme heights, but all of the camera work is very smooth, even when the cameras are handheld.

Flashing Lights: 4/10. Motion Sickness: 3/10.

TRIGGER WARNING: This film is very bloody and gory, with some of the graphic violence committed against animals that are obviously computer-generated.

Image ID: A promotional poster for Prey

Prey (2022, dir. Dan Trachtenberg) - review by Rookie-Critic

Prey was, pardon my French, the shit. I adore the original Predator, it was one of my very first comfort movies. If I was looking for something to watch, and Predator was on, that's what I would watch. This movie is better. Dan Trachtenberg is now 3 for 3 with me (the other two things he's done being 10 Cloverfield Lane, a masterpiece, and the episode of Black Mirror "Playtest," one of my favorite episodes of the entire show). The restraint this film shows in not just throwing you into the action is incredibly refreshing. It takes its time building up its two main characters (three if you count the Predator, which you should), so that when shit does inevitably hit the fan, you're invested. Even with all of that reservation, when the action finally gets to a boil and kicks off, it does not disappoint. The fights are clever, and Amber Midthunder's protagonist Naru fights with cunning as opposed to brute force. Some moments during the climactic final battle actually had me cheering out loud from my couch, by myself, in the dark. Speaking of Midthunder, she is an absolute beast in this, and I hope this sparks many, many more roles for her in the future. I truly don't have many, if any, complaints with this one. It's an action thriller that cares equally about its narrative and action, with a strong director, a strong script, and a strong cast. Also A+++ for Native American representation. What's not to like?

Score: 10/10

Currently streaming on Hulu.

Bonus points for the goodest little doggo the screen has seen this year, Sarii. Who is played by a beautiful American Dingo named Coco, who I've just learned was not a trained film dog, making her even more of a good, good girl.

Prey. You know, the opposite of Predator. I am kinda disappointed they didn’t use the original theme music.

This is a perfect example of, as long as a story is well-written, it’s possible to forgive its contrivances and conveniences. It scores points for the unique setting and diversity. But it scores more points for great writing and staying true to the original Predator.

The director has stated that there are discussions for additional installments being developed after the release of Prey, saying their intent was to "do things that have not been done before" in the franchise. I am stoked for this!

Prey is a 2022 American science fiction action film directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison, based on the Predator franchise by Jim Thomas and John Thomas. It stars Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, and Julian Black Antelope. 

W A T C H I N G

Prey review

Director: Dan Tratchenberg

Main cast: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLegro, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush and Julian Black Antelope

Runtime: 99 minutes.

Does it pass the Bechdel test? Yes

Basic Plot:

Set in 1719, a female warrior of the Comanche Nation fights a Predator

Overall thoughts:

Prey is an exciting and immersive film. The acting, story, themes and special effects are all of a high quality. Unlike the problematic Predator film directed by Shane Black, there is no ableism or inappropriate casting. Ironically, Prey has a lot more in common with Alien and Aliens than the other Predator films. For instance, Naru, Amber Midthunder’s character, is a lot like Ellen Ripley since they are both strong and smart women who are underestimated by their enemies and most of their peers. Still, there are references in Prey to the first two Predator films. The Predator in this film is unlike previous depictions of its species with its unique head design as well as true use of weapons with Western and indigenous American styles. The main lesson of Prey is that people should only hunt to live (like the Comanche) instead of living to hunt (like the Predators). Furthermore, Prey highlights the cruelty of some European colonists as well as the disastrous ecological problems they created in the North American continent. Ultimately, Prey is the most insightful member of the Predator franchise.

Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars.