Being a fan of Dan Trachtenberg and his previous works, I had a feeling this movie was in good hands and I was happy to have been proven right. The story structure isn't that much different from any of the previous films, but the 1700s setting really does well to set this film apart.
The sound and visual design really puts this movie on another level. I was surprised just how much of the main set pieces take place in daylight, and the FX really do look good considering the budget. Most movies that go directly to streaming end up looking the part-this one made me disappointed that I wasn't able to see it on a bigger screen, with multiple standout action scenes that I'm going to have to go back and rewatch. The Predator in this film is vicious and while its technology is definitely pared down, it still has enough gadgets up its sleeve to make for a number of gory surprises. It may not be over the top gratuitous, but this movie wears the R rating very well.
Amber Midthunder and Dakota Beavers are great in their respective roles and the film does take time to make sure they shine. The dialogue is minimal but Midthunder in particular conveys so much through her facial expressions. As for the side characters, their development is definitely the film's weakest link. Outside of Naru and Taabe, everyone else is interchangeable, so there's no real stakes or surprise as to who lives and dies. I won't, however, bother to entertain the complaints about a woman being able to kill a Predator. I watch movies like this for some silly action driven fun, tomahawk-on-a-string and all, and Prey provides exactly that. I think some people really need to take a deep breath and just enjoy this film for what it is.
The sound and visual design really puts this movie on another level. I was surprised just how much of the main set pieces take place in daylight, and the FX really do look good considering the budget. Most movies that go directly to streaming end up looking the part-this one made me disappointed that I wasn't able to see it on a bigger screen, with multiple standout action scenes that I'm going to have to go back and rewatch. The Predator in this film is vicious and while its technology is definitely pared down, it still has enough gadgets up its sleeve to make for a number of gory surprises. It may not be over the top gratuitous, but this movie wears the R rating very well.
Amber Midthunder and Dakota Beavers are great in their respective roles and the film does take time to make sure they shine. The dialogue is minimal but Midthunder in particular conveys so much through her facial expressions. As for the side characters, their development is definitely the film's weakest link. Outside of Naru and Taabe, everyone else is interchangeable, so there's no real stakes or surprise as to who lives and dies. I won't, however, bother to entertain the complaints about a woman being able to kill a Predator. I watch movies like this for some silly action driven fun, tomahawk-on-a-string and all, and Prey provides exactly that. I think some people really need to take a deep breath and just enjoy this film for what it is.