Usually, I hear about a movie much earlier than the week before its initial release.
But, then again, that only happens to something slated for the big screen that’s usually been played up for several months in advance, too.
While it’s been largely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic for the last few years, there are still instances of films heading directly to DVD or streaming platforms instead of theaters.
‘Prey’ just happens to fall into that category and I managed to carve out some time this weekend to watch it on Hulu.
The scenery is beautifully shot and historical details are remarkably well done – all things considered.
I also loved the soundtrack and how creative the main character is and her evolution through the film.
Prey is a science fiction horror action film directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison, based on the Predator franchise by Jim Thomas and John Thomas.
It is the fifth installment in the franchise and a prequel to the first four films.
It stars Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, Corvin Mack, Bennett Taylor, and Dane DiLiegro.
The movie is rated R for strong bloody violence and clocks in at 100 minutes long.
In 1719, Naru (Midthunder), a young Comanche woman trained as a healer, dreams of becoming a great hunter like her brother Taabe (Beavers).
While tracking deer with her dog Sarii, she witnesses the arrival of a Thunderbird in the sky (in reality a spaceship dropping off a Predator), taking it as a sign that she is ready to prove herself.
Taabe agrees to take her with him as he leads a search party for the mountain lion that attacked one of the tribe’s hunters.
They retrieve their wounded tribe member and depart, the lion having apparently been spooked off by the Predator (DiLiegro) that follows and observes the hunters while collecting the skulls of several local predatory species.
Taabe however stays behind to find the lion and complete the hunt while Naru is more curious about finding what scared the lion and has such huge tracks in the mud.
Concerned for her brother, Naru circles back with Paake (Mack) and finds Taabe.
Together they set a trap for the lion but it sneaks up on them and kills Paake.
Naru manages to wound the lion but falls and hits her head on a rock after being distracted by a strange burst of light in the distance.
Taabe carries her home and returns to finish off the weakened lion, a deed for which he is honored by the chieftain and the rest of the tribe.
An envious Naru leaves home with Sarii in secret the next day to hunt; she comes across a herd of skinned bison, and later tries to kill a grizzly bear but quickly gets cornered by the beast due to her lack of experience.
Suddenly, she watches as the bear is overpowered and killed by her stalker, fleeing in horror before running into a group of Comanche hunters sent to find and bring her home.
The creature swiftly ambushes and kills them, and Naru tries to escape before her foot gets snagged in a metal trap.
Naturally, things have to get worse for Naru before they get better – and believe me, they do get better.
And it’s always fun to see what kind of trick and tools the Predator has packing when it squares off with more hunters – just wait and see!
All in all, I would have liked to see this in theaters but it’s worth dealing with internet buffering just to stream on Hulu.
