Prey takes us back in time for an action-packed origin story seeped in the culture of the Comanche Nation.
While Prey isn’t the typical origin story, the film offers a look into the first visit to planet Earth by the Yautja 300 years ago. A primitive time before they became better Predators and perfected the technology that makes them so deadly. Prey tops the charts as one of my favorite Predator movies because of the attention to detail of the Native Americans.
With an amazing cast to represent the Comanche people, they also had the help of Producer Jhane Myers, a Comanche and Blackfeet American Indian. Her love of art and storytelling beautifully showcases traditions and culture.
Interview: ‘Prey’ is the First Film Dubbed in a Native Language Upon Release
The story follows Naru, played by Amber Midthunder, on her journey to prove herself as a warrior. Midthunder takes the action skills that she’s learned from roles like Legion to the next level with weapons from the time. She continues to prove her skills in these action roles. The stunt training isn’t what got to her during filming. It was the location and the elevation.
“For me, probably the scariest thing was the river,” Midthunder says. “Because the idea of live water, it’s both very exciting to me and also terrifying. And it was summertime, but it was glacial runoff water. So it was so cold.”
When Naru sees something suspicious in the clouds, she alerts the tribe to possible danger. She is determined to find and kill the creator threatening her land and people. While most of the men in the tribe dive into battle, Naru watches and learns about the alien predator so she can outsmart it and prevail. The Predator isn’t the only threat to the Comanche people.
The costume design for the Predator really showcases the transition in time with his helmet and shield. While he is still more advanced than the humans, the detail hammered into his armor stands out for the character. The cloaking technology and targeting system still have flaws that haven’t been worked out yet. According to Director Dan Trachtenberg, fans of the series will see little easter eggs throughout the film.
“I can think of a slightly less meaningful answer, but a fun answer for fans of Predator is the way in which Taabe, Dakota’s character, is cut,” Trachtenberg says. “When he gets cut, it’s in a very specific way.”
Trachtenberg also left the story open for possible sequels. It will be interesting to see how streaming-only release numbers play a role in future film sequels. To justify a franchise, Hollywood relies heavily on box office numbers and ticket sales. It’s a new day for the film industry, and I hope films like this can continue to thrive.
Prey premieres exclusively on Hulu on Friday, August 5th.
“Prey” is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, written by Patrick Aison (“Jack Ryan,” “Treadstone”), and produced by John Davis (“Jungle Cruise,” “The Predator”), Jhane Myers (“Monsters of God”), and Marty Ewing (“It: Chapter Two”), with Lawrence Gordon (“Watchmen”), Ben Rosenblatt (“Snowpiercer”), James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas and Marc Toberoff (“Fantasy Island”) serving as executive producers. The filmmakers were committed to creating a film that provides an accurate portrayal of the Comanche and brings a level of authenticity that rings true to its Indigenous peoples. Myers, an acclaimed filmmaker, Sundance Fellow, and member of the Comanche nation herself, is known for her attention and dedication to films surrounding the Comanche and Blackfeet nations and her passion for honoring the legacies of the Native communities. As a result, the film features a cast comprised almost entirely of Native and First Nation’s talent, including Amber Midthunder (“The Ice Road,” “Roswell, New Mexico”), newcomer Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp (“Sooyii”), Michelle Thrush (“The Journey Home”), Julian Black Antelope (“Tribal”). The movie also stars Dane DiLiegro (“American Horror Stories”) as the Predator. “Prey” will stream exclusively as a Hulu Original on August 5, 2022.
