Introduction
When peculiar phenomena such as the skinning of animals and strange tracks appear, Naru begins to fear that something more sinister than a lion or bear is lurking in the woods. An alien predator unlike any that has ever been encountered has come to Earth and is decimating its professional soldiers in a seemingly ritualistic slaughter.
As The Predator traverses the landscape, it violently murders all creatures in its path including frenchmen and wild beasts. Naru is determined to find the monster and goes on an expedition with her trusty companion Sarii, employing her herbal medicine skills alongside her tracking and trap-setting abilities to keep them alive.
After observing the Predator’s display of strength and technological prowess, Naru realizes her best bet is to outsmart it. The story builds to a tense climax where Naru meets the Predator in single combat. Using cunning, natural resources, and terrain advantage, Naru defeats the creature single handedly which cements her status as a true warrior.
Acting and Characters
Amber Midthunder as Naru
Midthunder gave the best performance in the film as the lead and her character Naru, and she did it with a lot of empathy and rage. She nearly carries the film alone, showcasing Naru’s evolution from an ambitious aspiring hero to reframing a resourceful and clever hero. Every single step including stunts and fight choreography performed by her adds to the character’s authenticity.
Dane DiLiegro as The Predator
The alien antagonist is portrayed by former basketball player Dane DiLiegro, who showcases that the alien creature truly is a brute. Despite being more ‘raw’ than previous versions in this film, the Predator still has access to advanced alien technology. The design does resemble a more primitive version, which aligns with the setting of the movie.
Supporting Cast
The supporting roles are also indigenous and add even more representation without tokenizing anyone. Dakota Beavers as Naru’s brother Taabe also does greatly in a strong supporting role. The bond between the two siblings brings emotional weight to the narrative from both sides. Having the option to hear some parts of the dialogue in Comanche (although in dubbed versions) also helps with authenticity and is a further stride towards Indigenous representation in contemporary cinema.
Cinematography, Style and Direction
Prey is minimalist in nature, and so is Dan Trachtenberg’s direction, the same director for the renowned 10 Cloverfield Lane. Prey is a masterpiece in terms of visuals, and Cutter Jeff captures the 18th century America and its plains, forests and rivers using wide angling and natural lighting. The landscape serves as much more than a mere setting for the movie; they facilitate the storytelling and emotion.
As for the action parts of the film, they are brutal, riveting, condensed, and very intense. Rather than loud shots and blasts, you will find blunt fights that include the use of bows, tomahawk, traps, and ropes, not to mention clever application of the environment. It is undoubtedly more stripped down than the norm, putting more emphasis on the acuteness of survival rather than sheer force.
Prey’s score gives the film a clear identity, and that is thanks to Sarah Schachner. She sets the mood flawlessly blended with rhythm using traditional setups mixed with high intensity percussion. The score breaks the repetitive soundtracks from other predator films which helps generates a distinctive sound and identity.
Analysis and Themes
On top of all the surviving strategies, knowledge plays a vital role, especially in situations that include force, and that’s the main theme in Prey. At the heart of the movie, it focuses heavily on adaption, and Naru is a very notable example. While she lacks the ability to rip apart the predator mercilessly, she does learn how to anticipate its movements, discern its tactics, and best of all, strategize the terrain to be used to her benefit. This thought of relying on intel rather than sheer might is intriguing throughout the film.
Cultural Identity and Gender Expectations
The film reflects Naru’s personal challenges as a young woman in a patriarchal tribe. It is not only about defeating the Predator but also about confronting these self-imposed boundaries. Through Naru, the film conveys a potent feminist narrative that does not come across as simplistic.
Colonialism and Nature’s Deconstruction
The addition of French fur traders provides another layer to the story and serves as a historical reference to colonization and its consequences on Native territories. They are depicted as brutal and careless, which furthers the Comanche’s commendable regard for nature when compared to outsiders’ exploitation.
Predators Becoming Prey
The Predator, who is almost always considered the archetype of a hunter, is slowly transformed into prey through Naru’s strategy. Being the hunter is satisfying enough, but the dynamic shift is done brilliantly. In other words, the film’s title takes on new and deeper meaning as roles are switched.
Legacy and Reception
Prey is now regarded as one of the best films in the Predator franchise, with many audiences and critics praising it for reinvigorating the series. Some even claimed it to be the best sequel after the 1987 classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Audiences loved the back-to-basics approach, the fresh setting, strong lead performance, as well as the misogynistic, sexist attitude of the film toward Indigenous characters, which is something that genre films rarely depict in mainstream cinema.
Despite having a streaming release instead of a theatrical one, Prey still managed to make a mark culturally. It initiated conversations regarding the benefits of storytelling that employs minimalism, the use of historical settings in sci-fi, and the need for greater representation in major film franchises.
Conclusion
A backwards time travel and narrow scope approach in Prey demonstrates how to successfully reinvigorate a franchise, proving it to be a masterclass in utilizing these techniques. From the fierce lead performance, stunning cinematography, and delicate direction, the film delivers on its promise of a tight narrative that is brimming with suspense, emotion and action. A cinematic experience that is as thought-provoking as it’s entertaining.
Asserts the dominance of the young Comanche woman by placing her at the center of the story, combining survival and intellect, not relaxation and strength, transforms Prey into one of the notable works of science fiction. If you are a devoted follower of the Predator saga or a first-time visitor, Prey guarantees to grasp your attention in a refreshing way.
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