PREY Review; "Pure Predator Pandemonium [And] The PREDATOR Franchise At Its Best"

Prey arrives on Hulu this Friday, August 5, and we're now sharing our verdict on the Predator reboot that puts a whole new spin on this iconic sci-fi franchise. Find out whether it's worth watching here...

Review Opinion

By JoshWilding - Aug 03, 2022 04:08 PM EST

Filed Under: Predator

The Predator is a sci-fi icon, but none of the movies that followed the 1987 classic have managed to live up to Arnold Schwarzenneger’s unforgettable battle with the alien menace. There’s been something to love about all of them (well, maybe not that 2010 reboot), with even the schlocky Alien vs. Predator movies managing to do something fun with the formidable hunters. However, it’s been clear for a while now that the franchise needed to go back to the drawing board, and it does exactly that with Prey, a perfect Predator movie that sets the stage for a new era of storytelling we’re very much hoping continues at Hulu.

While there appears to be something of a consensus online that Prey has been "dumped" on the streaming service, both Hulu and Disney+ (where this movie will be available to watch internationally) have a massive audience. If a non-theatrical release is the best way to resuscitate this dying franchise, then we’re happy to forego the big screen experience, though it’s worth pointing out it would have looked pretty damn great on an IMAX screen. Alongside cinematographer Jeff Cutter, director Dan Trachtenberg delivers a beautifully shot and authentic portrayal of the Comanche Nation in 1719, exploring themes and beliefs from the time that resonate just as much today.

Naru’s (Amber Midthunder) place in her tribe is to be a dutiful woman, cooking and cleaning for the men who go out hunting before returning with their trophies. However, she has grander aspirations and is constantly looking to prove herself. When the Predator arrives on Earth, for what appears to be the first time, Naru is forced to step up in a way she could never have possibly imagined, all while trying to live up to her brother Taabe's (Dakota Beavers) revered status and shake off the jibes of the men in her tribe who look down on her. What follows is an edge-of-your-seat thriller where the hunter becomes the hunted, and yes, there’s plenty of gore, scares, and badass action along the way. Prey’s setting means its leads have to make use of pretty basic weaponry, and that only serves to make the Predator feel more unstoppable and deadly than ever before. Trachtenberg has a great handle on action scenes, ensuring we feel every blow that lands in a visceral and very real way.

If the movie stumbles anywhere, it’s with the somewhat familiar story of someone looking to prove their mettle. Prey proves to be empowering, but gets there in a way we’ve seen before. The way the Predator is teased throughout (thanks to that familiar cloaking technology) until a big reveal later in the movie is a little forced, especially when we all know what the Predator looks like. On the one hand, this feels like a good way to reintroduce the alien to viewers, though some fans might find the wait a little frustrating and unnecessary even with the creature boasting an overhauled look. Still, it helps the final battle land a little harder and the wait does add to the excitement in some ways. It’s a minor niggle, and not likely to dampen your enjoyment of this otherwise excellent spin on the franchise. There are some fun Easter Eggs for longtime fans too, and while you won’t find a post-credits scene here, be sure to pay close attention to the animated closing credits.

Those of you who watched Legion will be aware of what a talent Midthunder is, but she really gets to stand out here in a way that establishes her as a bona fide movie star. Yes, Naru’s journey to overcome the misogyny in her camp by proving herself is a familiar one, but the actor finds a way to make it resonate and helps us to understand what her character is going through. Beavers can’t quite live up to his more experienced co-star, but considering Prey marks his first acting gig, we find it hard to fault what he delivers here. As for the Predator, some might argue that it's the real star of the show, and fans are sure to be overjoyed with this back-to-basics approach that sees it too have to prove itself on Earth by squaring off with the denizens of the planet. Not quite as technologically advanced as its predecessors, this Predator is primal and terrifying, and when it finally drops the cloaking tech, it feels like an absolute beast of a character that can’t be stopped. Isn’t that how it should be?

Prey delivers pure Predator pandemonium, and is the Predator franchise at its best. It's also a much-needed fresh start for the series that allows Amber Midthunder to shine in a role that promises to put her on the map.

PREY: A Sequel To The Critically-Acclaimed PREDATOR Prequel Rumored To Be In Development For Hulu

Recommended For You:

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Comic Book Teasers Set The Stage For A Brutal, Bloody Battle

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

54 Comments

Related Headlines

Predator

PREY: A Sequel To The Critically-Acclaimed PREDATOR Prequel Rumored To Be In Development For Hulu

MarkCassidy

3 days ago

Marvel Comics

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Variant Covers Tease The Marvel Universe's Most Epic, Bloody Battle To Date

JoshWilding

Aug 22, 2023 10:08 PM

Predator

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Comic Book Teasers Set The Stage For A Brutal, Bloody Battle

JoshWilding

Aug 18, 2023 11:08 PM

Related Headlines

Predator

PREY: A Sequel To The Critically-Acclaimed PREDATOR Prequel Rumored To Be In Development For Hulu

MarkCassidy

3 days ago

Marvel Comics

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Variant Covers Tease The Marvel Universe's Most Epic, Bloody Battle To Date

JoshWilding

Aug 22, 2023 10:08 PM

Predator

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Comic Book Teasers Set The Stage For A Brutal, Bloody Battle

JoshWilding

Aug 18, 2023 11:08 PM

Predator

Hulu's PREDATOR Prequel PREY Is Coming To Blu-ray Later This Year With A Jaw-Dropping SteelBook Case

JoshWilding

Aug 18, 2023 06:08 AM

Predator

PREY Director Dan Trachtenberg Talks Possible Sequel Plans And Whether It Would Be Released Theatrically

JoshWilding

Aug 10, 2023 03:08 PM

PREY Star Amber Midthunder Hopes To See Rumored Sequel Tackle Unforeseen Threats To Naru's Tribe

Predator

Star Wars

AHSOKA: Spoiler Stills From Last Week's Penultimate Episode Feature Big Cameos And Long-Awaited Reunions

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Spider-Man PS4

NEW Insomniac MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 Promo... "Never Give Up. Never Back Down"

JonathanDan

2 hours ago

Latest Headlines

Loki

LOKI Season 2 EP On Why Jonathan Majors' Arrest Didn't Impact The Show; Teases Eventual Thor Reunion

MarkCassidy

54 mins ago

Star Wars

AHSOKA: Spoiler Stills From Last Week's Penultimate Episode Feature Big Cameos And Long-Awaited Reunions

JoshWilding

1 hour ago

Spider-Man PS4

NEW Insomniac MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 Promo... "Never Give Up. Never Back Down"

JonathanDan

2 hours ago

What If

WHAT IF...? Season 2 Episode Titles Confirm Rumored Returns & Surprising Scenarios - Possible SPOILERS

MarkCassidy

3 hours ago

Peacemaker

PEACEMAKER: DC Studios Boss James Gunn Confirms He's In The Process Of Writing Season 2

JoshWilding

8 hours ago

Vol. 3

GOTG VOL. 3 Star Zoe Saldaña Says She'd Have Loved A Spin-Off Focusing On Gamora & Nebula's Relationship

MarkCassidy

8 hours ago

Hot Headlines

107 comments

X-MEN: Marvel Studios' Reboot Reportedly WON'T Include Wolverine In Initial Team Lineup

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

99 comments

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Star Rumored To Play Jor-El In SUPERMAN: LEGACY; Will Brainiac Also Appear?

JoshWilding

1 day ago EST

68 comments

Possible Plot Details Emerge For AVENGERS: THE KANG DYNASTY And AVENGERS: SECRET WARS - SPOILERS

JoshWilding

13 hours ago EST

50 comments

DEADPOOL 3: Speculation About A Taylor Swift Cameo Mounts After She's Spotted With The Movie's Cast And Stars

JoshWilding

17 hours ago EST

40 comments

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

WHAT IF...? Season 2's ACTUAL Episode Titles Have Reportedly Been Revealed - Possible SPOILERS

More Cartoons & Animated ►

SPIDER-MAN 2: Full List Of Trophies Revealed As Todd McFarlane Weighs In On Harry Osborn As Venom - SPOILERS

More Anime & Manga ►

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Hits Theaters Later This Week

More Horror ►

ARGYLLE: Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard & More Star In First Trailer For Matthew Vaughn's Latest

More Action Movies & TV ►

New Details Emerge About Edge's WWE Departure And His Hopes To Be AEW's New CM Punk

More Pro Wrestling ►

THE MANDALORIAN Concept Art Reveals Our Best Look Yet At Live-Action Take On STAR WARS REBELS' Zeb

More Sci-Fi & Fantasy ►

More Cartoons & Animated ►

More Anime & Manga ►

More Horror ►

More Action Movies & TV ►

More Pro Wrestling ►

PREY Review; "Pure Predator Pandemonium [And] The PREDATOR Franchise At Its Best"

Prey arrives on Hulu this Friday, August 5, and we're now sharing our verdict on the Predator reboot that puts a whole new spin on this iconic sci-fi franchise. Find out whether it's worth watching here...

PREY: A Sequel To The Critically-Acclaimed PREDATOR Prequel Rumored To Be In Development For Hulu

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Comic Book Teasers Set The Stage For A Brutal, Bloody Battle

PREY: A Sequel To The Critically-Acclaimed PREDATOR Prequel Rumored To Be In Development For Hulu

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Variant Covers Tease The Marvel Universe's Most Epic, Bloody Battle To Date

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Comic Book Teasers Set The Stage For A Brutal, Bloody Battle

PREY: A Sequel To The Critically-Acclaimed PREDATOR Prequel Rumored To Be In Development For Hulu

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Variant Covers Tease The Marvel Universe's Most Epic, Bloody Battle To Date

PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE Comic Book Teasers Set The Stage For A Brutal, Bloody Battle

Hulu's PREDATOR Prequel PREY Is Coming To Blu-ray Later This Year With A Jaw-Dropping SteelBook Case

PREY Director Dan Trachtenberg Talks Possible Sequel Plans And Whether It Would Be Released Theatrically

PREY Star Amber Midthunder Hopes To See Rumored Sequel Tackle "Unforeseen" Threats To Naru's Tribe

Popular Headlines

Possible Plot Details Emerge For AVENGERS: THE KANG DYNASTY And AVENGERS: SECRET WARS - SPOILERS

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Star Rumored To Play Jor-El In SUPERMAN: LEGACY; Will Brainiac Also Appear?

AHSOKA Season Finale Run-Time Revealed Along With Rumored Details - Possible SPOILERS

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE - The Legendary Titans Roar Into Battle On New Promo Banner

X-MEN: Marvel Studios' Reboot Reportedly WON'T Include Wolverine In Initial Team Lineup

LOKI Season 2 EP On Why Jonathan Majors' Arrest Didn't Impact The Show; Teases Eventual Thor Reunion

AHSOKA: Spoiler Stills From Last Week's Penultimate Episode Feature Big Cameos And Long-Awaited Reunions

NEW Insomniac MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 Promo... "Never Give Up. Never Back Down"

LOKI Season 2 EP On Why Jonathan Majors' Arrest Didn't Impact The Show; Teases Eventual Thor Reunion

AHSOKA: Spoiler Stills From Last Week's Penultimate Episode Feature Big Cameos And Long-Awaited Reunions

NEW Insomniac MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN 2 Promo... "Never Give Up. Never Back Down"

WHAT IF...? Season 2 Episode Titles Confirm Rumored Returns & Surprising Scenarios - Possible SPOILERS

PEACEMAKER: DC Studios Boss James Gunn Confirms He's In The Process Of Writing Season 2

GOTG VOL. 3 Star Zoe Saldaña Says She'd Have Loved A Spin-Off Focusing On Gamora & Nebula's Relationship

Hot Headlines

X-MEN: Marvel Studios' Reboot Reportedly WON'T Include Wolverine In Initial Team Lineup

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Star Rumored To Play Jor-El In SUPERMAN: LEGACY; Will Brainiac Also Appear?

Possible Plot Details Emerge For AVENGERS: THE KANG DYNASTY And AVENGERS: SECRET WARS - SPOILERS

DEADPOOL 3: Speculation About A Taylor Swift Cameo Mounts After She's Spotted With The Movie's Cast And Stars

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE - The Legendary Titans Roar Into Battle On New Promo Banner

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

THE MANDALORIAN Concept Art Reveals Our Best Look Yet At Live-Action Take On STAR WARS REBELS' Zeb

Is AHSOKA Getting A Season 2 And What Will Happen In The Finale? Possible MAJOR SPOILERS Follow

STAR WARS: The Celebration London Trailer For THE ACOLYTE Has Leaked Online

Cartoons & Animated Features

WHAT IF...? Season 2's ACTUAL Episode Titles Have Reportedly Been Revealed - Possible SPOILERS

DISNEY LORCANA Reprint Pushed Up To 2023; Will Now Also Include RISE OF THE FLOODBORN Set

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Concept Art Reveals More Cut Villains Including Hobgoblin And Screwball

Gaming

SPIDER-MAN 2: Full List Of Trophies Revealed As Todd McFarlane Weighs In On Harry Osborn As Venom - SPOILERS

SPIDER-MAN 2 Creative Team Tease Post-Credits Scene Plans; Giant-Size Venom Is Unleashed In New Promo

TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT First Look Teaser Officially Released

Anime & Manga

SPY X FAMILY Season 2 Heads To CRUNCHYROLL This Fall

STUDIO GHIBLI'S HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE Is Big Hit In North American Box Office

HIGH CARD: Poker Anime Makes 2024 Return With Season 2

Horror

THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Hits Theaters Later This Week

SAW X Post-Credits Scene Explained: Do Any Familiar Faces From The Past Return? - SPOILERS

Freeform's 31 Nights Of Halloween Full 2023 Schedule

Action Movies & TV

ARGYLLE: Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, Bryce Dallas Howard & More Star In First Trailer For Matthew Vaughn's Latest

EXPEND4BLES Exclusive Interview With Stunt Coordinator Alan Ng On The Film's Best Fight Sequences

ENTER THE DRAGON Will Be At The Crux Of Ang Lee's BRUCE LEE Biopic

Pro Wrestling & MMA News

New Details Emerge About Edge's WWE Departure And His Hopes To Be AEW's New CM Punk

WWE Hall Of Famer Edge/Adam Copeland Makes AEW Debut At WRESTLEDREAM; Explains Why He Left WWE

Newly Surfaced Video Allegedly Shows Matt Riddle Intoxicated Before Incident Which Led To His WWE Release

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

THE MANDALORIAN Concept Art Reveals Our Best Look Yet At Live-Action Take On STAR WARS REBELS' Zeb

Is AHSOKA Getting A Season 2 And What Will Happen In The Finale? Possible MAJOR SPOILERS Follow

STAR WARS: The Celebration London Trailer For THE ACOLYTE Has Leaked Online

AHSOKA: Why Does Grand Admiral Thrawn Fear Anakin Skywalker? Their STAR WARS History Explained

AHSOKA Episode 7 Spoiler Stills Highlight Threepio's Cameo, Grand Admiral Thrawn, And Epic Lightsaber Duels

ROGUE ONE Director Gareth Edwards Talks Inaccurate Reports About Reshoots; Confirms He Worked With Tony Gilroy

Cartoons & Animated Features

WHAT IF...? Season 2's ACTUAL Episode Titles Have Reportedly Been Revealed - Possible SPOILERS

DISNEY LORCANA Reprint Pushed Up To 2023; Will Now Also Include RISE OF THE FLOODBORN Set

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Concept Art Reveals More Cut Villains Including Hobgoblin And Screwball

BAMBI Writer Suggests Disney's Live-Action Remake Will Soften The Blow Of THAT Traumatic Moment

TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT Starring Hayley Atwell Gets An Exciting First Look Teaser

WISH: Chris Pratt Gets His Villain On In New Trailer And Poster As Full Voice Cast Is Finally Revealed

Gaming

SPIDER-MAN 2: Full List Of Trophies Revealed As Todd McFarlane Weighs In On Harry Osborn As Venom - SPOILERS

SPIDER-MAN 2 Creative Team Tease Post-Credits Scene Plans; Giant-Size Venom Is Unleashed In New Promo

TOMB RAIDER: THE LEGEND OF LARA CROFT First Look Teaser Officially Released