Predator (1987) was the violent birth cry of one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time. Yautjas are such an iconic creature design, and through all of the films and comics, a rich and compelling lore has been spun around this mysterious race of alien hunters and their rather violent dealings with humanity.
With the bar set so high by the first film, not all of the follow-up films have met audience expectations. Predators (2010) was the only sequel that truly matched the quality of the original, but it did so in many ways by emulating it (albeit with added twists likely inspired by the comics).
Prey is a much greater departure from the formula of special forces soldiers battling Yautjas in a sweltering jungle. Instead, we finally get a film that dives into the long history between humans & Predators previously only alluded to by stone carvings and a mysterious war trophy.
Amber Midthunder and her castmates do a bang-up job of bringing the 1719 Great Plains and Comanche culture to life. As we're introduced to the cocksure young warriors and their Plains Indian lifestyle, we're also treated to gorgeous shots of an expansive, pristine wilderness. The first act of Prey feels almost like a back-to-nature adventure film but for the building sense of dread as we catch glimpses of the Feral in the peripheries, waiting to pounce.
Of course that's the main attraction of the movie. The Feral is yet another variant of the Yautja we've never seen before. And his unique armor and weapon designs are... magnificent. They're so fitting of both his name and the setting, and his unique weaponry on top of just top-notch choreography, editing and VFX makes the fight scenes in this film far more thrilling than any previous installment.
If previous films were like Iron-Man duking it out with the Punisher, this film was like Deadpool vs Spider-Man. Those young Comanche warriors fight like people who grew up stalking prey and relying daily on exceptional agility, hand-eye coordination and lightning fast reflexes. Similarly, whilst the Feral can still lift a full-grown Grizzly over his head, he's built more like a quarterback than an offensive lineman.
Yeah, some will complain about the lack of a shoulder cannon; but, honestly, who cares? Yautjas hunt to continually evolve their tactics and technology. Wouldn't be much point if every Predator for centuries just used the exact same weapons, would it? The Feral has clearly adapted to his particularly primal existence. And his skull helmet is metal as all hell.
Anyway, I'm glad to see a Predator film channel the whimsical creativity of the comics and execute the vision so artfully in every department. So many other Predator films have had brilliant concepts let down by poor casting or sloppy VFX or bad designs (okay I don't love the Feral's elongated face neanderthal forehead, but he wears a helmet for most the film). Prey has finally brought the franchise back to form, introduced us to the badass Naru, and opened a new and exciting direction for future films to explore.
I honestly cannot wait for what else Trachtenberg has in store for us. LFG!
With the bar set so high by the first film, not all of the follow-up films have met audience expectations. Predators (2010) was the only sequel that truly matched the quality of the original, but it did so in many ways by emulating it (albeit with added twists likely inspired by the comics).
Prey is a much greater departure from the formula of special forces soldiers battling Yautjas in a sweltering jungle. Instead, we finally get a film that dives into the long history between humans & Predators previously only alluded to by stone carvings and a mysterious war trophy.
Amber Midthunder and her castmates do a bang-up job of bringing the 1719 Great Plains and Comanche culture to life. As we're introduced to the cocksure young warriors and their Plains Indian lifestyle, we're also treated to gorgeous shots of an expansive, pristine wilderness. The first act of Prey feels almost like a back-to-nature adventure film but for the building sense of dread as we catch glimpses of the Feral in the peripheries, waiting to pounce.
Of course that's the main attraction of the movie. The Feral is yet another variant of the Yautja we've never seen before. And his unique armor and weapon designs are... magnificent. They're so fitting of both his name and the setting, and his unique weaponry on top of just top-notch choreography, editing and VFX makes the fight scenes in this film far more thrilling than any previous installment.
If previous films were like Iron-Man duking it out with the Punisher, this film was like Deadpool vs Spider-Man. Those young Comanche warriors fight like people who grew up stalking prey and relying daily on exceptional agility, hand-eye coordination and lightning fast reflexes. Similarly, whilst the Feral can still lift a full-grown Grizzly over his head, he's built more like a quarterback than an offensive lineman.
Yeah, some will complain about the lack of a shoulder cannon; but, honestly, who cares? Yautjas hunt to continually evolve their tactics and technology. Wouldn't be much point if every Predator for centuries just used the exact same weapons, would it? The Feral has clearly adapted to his particularly primal existence. And his skull helmet is metal as all hell.
Anyway, I'm glad to see a Predator film channel the whimsical creativity of the comics and execute the vision so artfully in every department. So many other Predator films have had brilliant concepts let down by poor casting or sloppy VFX or bad designs (okay I don't love the Feral's elongated face neanderthal forehead, but he wears a helmet for most the film). Prey has finally brought the franchise back to form, introduced us to the badass Naru, and opened a new and exciting direction for future films to explore.
I honestly cannot wait for what else Trachtenberg has in store for us. LFG!
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