What a travesty that this movie didn't get a wide theatrical release. First off the film is gorgeous. Trachtenberg pulled off what is in my opinion the best Predator movie full stop. I know I'll get crucified for having that view but this flick REALLY impressed me. It's all in the characters for me and for the first time ever watching a predator film I actually cared when a character was killed. That right there gives it the top spot in my book. Prey has everything you need to tell a great predator story but it also has heart and that isnt something I expected at all. Amber Midthunder stole the show and was completely believable the entire time. I can totally see the Mad Max inspiration with the dog, good stuff! I've heard some complaints about the acting, I saw no problems at all. I can see where some of the cg bothered folks but none of it took me out of the movie personally. Feral is a damn monster and it was so refreshing to see something different under the mask. It really closely resembled some of Winston's old creature concept art for the original movie, so I could tell they were drawing inspiration from those early designs. Feral seems more alien to me and less "guy in a suit" if that makes sense. Feral was brutal and AWESOME but I also wanted to see him get what was coming to him by the end of the movie. May seem stupid but I usually root for the monster in Predator movies, this go around I was cheering for Naru! I came up watching Predator and Predator 2 religiously, collected the comics and the old Kenner figures and the thing that always fascinated me most was that as cool as the predators were that we saw on film there were even crazier types out there in the lore. I liked the different hunters in Predators but Feral feels like he's truly a different breed.
I've read some complaints about Feral "forgetting" how his bolt launcher works. I didn't get that read at all. Clearly the mask guides the bolts but only after a certain point in the bolts trajectory. Up close the bolts can be shot point blank and if they don't hit they start to seek. He BARELY missed the dog and we even see his shot at Naru come a little too close and it whizes right by her head. The cooling plant didn't bother me at all, it was as believable as the concept of mud hiding your body heat, news flash mud does NOT hide your body heat from a thermal imager. That's the thing about fiction though, not every concept has to be realistic. The head tilt that Feral gave as he realized his demise wasn't anywhere NEAR as cheesy as the City Hunters "oh no" face right before his arm was cut off in Predator 2 so, let's be real here. So while I understand some of the complaints I think there's some folks not paying attention to the movie mixed with a little willful blindness to the fact that the original films had some pretty goofy shit in them. I am suddenly realizing that Feral predator never talked, and i REALLY appreciate that.
Prey is exactly what this property needed. Back to the roots, back to basics, with some new stuff thrown in. I REALLY hope that Trachtenberg is brought back to do another one. I also think that doing time period pieces is where this franchise needs to stay for a while. I get that some folks didn't like Prey and that's OK, the original movies are still there to enjoy. If you didn't like Prey I won't try and change your mind, convince you my opinion is the only right opinion, say you're not a "real" fan, or proclaim that in a few months time you'll be embarrassed for not liking the movie because that would be nonsense. People like what they like or dislike and I'm not here to shit on anyone's parade. As for me, Prey is my favorite of the franchise.
Now hurry up Neca so I can add Naru (with the flintlock please) and Feral to my collection!!!!
