Prey, which airs on Hulu, is without a doubt the most impressive Predator spin-off we have seen to this point. The first movie in the Predator franchise, which came out more than three decades ago, spawned a total of six sequels, each of which got progressively worse as it was followed by the one before it. The seventh instalment, which plays the role of a prequel and tells a kind of origin tale for the Predator, gives fans reason to be optimistic.
In the world of entertainment, where sequels and spin-offs have become commonplace and haphazard, building a franchise out of every movie that is at least reasonably well received, a precursor such as Prey is difficult to find.
What is the connection between Prey and the Predator movies?
Naru, a young woman from the Comanche tribe who is anxious to show herself as a skilled warrior to her male counterparts who are disdainful of her abilities, is the protagonist of the film. But she had no idea that her search would bring her face to face with a dangerous creature that is unlike anything else she has ever seen or experienced.
Naru is an experienced warrior who is twice as vigilant as her fellow hunters and even more resilient than she appears to be. As a result, Naru is quick to recognise that there is a problem when, one day, an unknown person descends from the sky and begins following them and prowling around in the forest where they live.
Naru is bewildered and scared as the hitherto unseen predator eventually reveals itself by ripping apart a grizzly bear in the process of killing it. She is not familiar with this monstrosity, which is armed with advanced technology and possesses talents beyond those of humans. On the other hand, this is not the case for those who have previously seen the legendary Predator and any of its sequels.
The backstory of the Predator is revealed in the film Prey. This spin-off, which is set in the 1700s, is where the aliens that we have seen so many times in the original and its sequel make their first appearance on Earth.
The film pays homage to the series and the first instalment by including a variety of references, both minor and large, all throughout its running time. There are a lot of things in this picture that will form a connection to the original movie that came out in 1987. One of those things is the theme of the predator becoming the prey. Another is the idea of making oneself unnoticeable to the monster.
One of the most prominent allusions is the pistol that Naru receives as a gift from a French trader. During the climactic scene, when Naru is giving the pistol to the head of the tribe, the name Raphael Adolini is seen etched on the weapon.
The reference to the pistol will be readily clear to anyone who is a dedicated follower of the Predator franchise. The gun is the exact same one that Lieutenant Mike Harrigan, played by Danny Glover, received from City Hunter in Predator 2; viewers who aren’t as familiar with the franchise should know this. This serves as a bridge between the two movies that Prey provides us with for viewing pleasure.
Does the movie deliver as a worthy sequel to the original?
The film Prey’s portrayal of Native Americans is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking sections of the film. Because of the prevalence of shows like Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls on television these days, sensitive portrayal of a character from a marginalised group has become an absolute requirement for any feature film. The Predator spin-off that Hulu is producing is definitely worthy of praise because it features an almost completely Native cast, with Amber Midthunder playing the lead role of Naru.
In addition, the chemistry between Amber Midthunder and Dakota Beavers, who play the siblings Taabe and Naru and have a volatile connection with one another, works out brilliantly. The ability of the screenwriter, Patrick Aison, to make all of the characters complement each other and fit in so naturally is something that deserves praise.
Even if Hulu and Fox have collaborated to make the movie available to us on a streaming platform that we can access from the convenience of our own homes, it seems like a waste to see the film on a screen that is so much smaller. Prey is a film that should absolutely be seen in a movie theatre because of its impressive visuals and well-choreographed action sequences. Additionally, the film’s antagonist is a terrible creature that would look even scarier on a larger screen.
Despite the fact that it is promoted as a prequel, the film does not give us any information about the predator’s background or how it first appeared. We are only shown an alien species that establishes itself on Comanche territory and then hunts its target while seeking for the ideal moment to execute its death. When the film comes to a close, the audience is left wondering exactly where the dangerous creature came from and whether or not more of its sort will become apparent if Hulu decides to continue producing episodes in the series.
In general, Prey earns praise for being regarded as one of the best Predator spin-offs that have been made to this day. The Hulu film features plenty of exciting action scenes, making it an absolute necessity for any and all fans of the Predator franchise to watch it.