Young Feral’s First Hunt？

[SiL]

This predator was just doing what the Jungle Hunter did with Dutch at the end of the first film (Trying to even the playing field). Only Feral predator did it way more often. I actually respect him as a character a lot more because of that. 

I will always find it ridiculous to characterise what Jungle Hunter did as "levelling the playing field".

Dutch couldn't possibly hurt it. He was unarmed and exhausted. Even if he was physically fresh off the helicopter, he could never actually kill the Predator.

And the Predator knew that.

It was playing with Dutch at the end of the movie. It knew it had won, it was the end of its hunt, and it wanted to have fun. There was nothing stopping it killing him at any point in that fight other than it wanting to draw it out.

That's not levelling the playing field, that's torture.

The difference is Jungle Hunter was smart enough to do that when it knew it was safe. Feral did not, and only survived because its prey physically couldn't kill it.

[Local Trouble]

We're okay with this Feral guy being stupid, right?  It just doesn't matter, right?  That's what I'm taking away from a lot of the praise this movie is receiving.  It doesn't detract at all?

[SiL]

I mean if it's his first solo hunt it's actually kind of brilliant.

[marrerom]

Dutch couldn't possibly hurt it. He was unarmed and exhausted. Even if he was physically fresh off the helicopter, he could never actually kill the Predator.

And the Predator knew that.

Oh, for sure. But Jungle Hunter still tried to level the playing field as best he could. Ditching his gear and basically saying "come at me bro". The Falconer Pred did the same thing in Predators, getting into a sword fight when it could have just turned invisible and cut the Yakuza's head off.

It was playing with Dutch at the end of the movie. It knew it had won, it was the end of its hunt, and it wanted to have fun. There was nothing stopping it killing him at any point in that fight other than it wanting to draw it out.

See, that is where we differ. I saw it stripping off its gear as a gesture of respect. Like it was saying, "Not bad. You actually had me going there for a minute. Tell you what, from now on no more tech. Just you and me. Show me what you got".

The difference is Jungle Hunter was smart enough to do that when it knew it was safe. Feral did not, and only survived because its prey physically couldn't kill it.

Again, I think that was the point. What is the challenge if you only pit yourself against an enemy when you know it's 100% safe?

[Local Trouble]

I mean if it's his first solo hunt it's actually kind of brilliant.

Maybe he was just high on our atmosphere because he forgot to bring his own breathing gases with him.

[SiL]

Oh, for sure. But Jungle Hunter still tried to level the playing field as best he could.

"I know you can't possibly hurt me at all but I'll take my gear off anyway" is more mocking than anything.

Again, I think that was the point. What is the challenge if you only pit yourself against an enemy when you know it's 100% safe?

Because the process of hunting - staying hidden, using stealth and advantage, luring prey, taunting it - is the challenge.

There first one got most of its kills with only a single scratch. It clearly wasn't interested in putting itself at a disadvantage to prove anything. He was there to hunt and he did it well.

Feral finds out how tough his prey is by letting them tear him to pieces. That's really dumb.

I mean if it's his first solo hunt it's actually kind of brilliant.

Maybe he was just high on our atmosphere because he forgot to bring his own breathing gases with him.

The more movies we get the more the finer details that brought these characters to life get lost.

[marrerom]

There first one got most of its kills with only a single scratch. It clearly wasn't interested in putting itself at a disadvantage to prove anything. He was there to hunt and he did it well.

Feral finds out how tough his prey is by letting them tear him to pieces. That's really dumb.

Different hunting styles, different prey, different motives, and different personalities. Feral predator apparently felt that a trophy was worth more to him if he earned it by giving his prey an even playing field. Jungle hunter, not so much. Just with Dutch. 

[SiL]

Exactly, an experienced hunter vs an inexperienced hunter. He's young, brash, stupid, and doesn't live to become a veteran.

[newagescamartist]

I mean if it's his first solo hunt it's actually kind of brilliant.

That's kind of how I view it. It mirrors Naru's story. They're both becoming hunters, making mistakes. And as you've pointed out, Feral doesn't learn from his mistakes and it ends up being his downfall. I really like how technically skilled he is while also being kind of brand new, makes him interesting in that regard. But yea, he's nothing compared to JH or CH in terms of experience and it shows. Just showing up to tank in an unknown environment against unknown prey is amateur.

[marrerom]

Exactly, an experienced hunter vs an inexperienced hunter. He's young, brash, stupid, and doesn't live to become a veteran.

I mean, for all we know he could have been a veteran. Just because it's his first hunt on Earth doesn't mean it's his first hunt ever. Its clearly not, judging by how his mask is made out of a skull of some alien he killed.

[Local Trouble]

Maybe he suffered a severe head injury on his previous hunt and had extensive brain damage.  That would explain a lot.

[SiL]

I mean, for all we know he could have been a veteran. Just because it's his first hunt on Earth doesn't mean it's his first hunt ever. Its clearly not, judging by how his mask is made out of a skull of some alien he killed.

I missed the scene where we saw the mask being made.

But also, first solo hunt. He's obviously killed things before, that's not in question.

[funk_master_chunk]

Hasn't Dan Trachtenberg already confirmed thay this is Feral's first hunt on Earth?

He had no skulls/ornaments on his person until he puts the Wolf skull there himself and that scene seems quite prominent in the film. 

It stands to reason that this is some sort of blooding/initiation mission for Feral, IMO.

[dnicholson277]

No main Predator ever survives their Earth bound hunting trip.

I'm sure they love the hunt but they aren't as bright as we think and get cocky far too quickly.

The Ferals tactics in Prey seem to be on brand.

[Yuck]

No main Predator ever survives their Earth bound hunting trip.

I'm sure they love the hunt but they aren't as bright as we think and get cocky far too quickly.

The Ferals tactics in Prey seem to be on brand.

Yautja are usually stealthy, patient and intelligent. Feral really only has one game plan and that's ATTACK.