Harold C.
A lean, action-driven entry with a strong lead, sharp visuals, and an inventive setting, this film proves the Predator franchise still has real bite — even if a few logic bumps and a low-key score hold it back.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/27/25
Full Review
Daniel P.
It’s a good looking movie, well made, in fact the movie looks a little TOO good, too clean. No grit, a little film grain might’ve gone a long way to giving us that authentic Predator feel. The premise is interesting & the setting is fine. The time period is pretty much wasted though, I’m sure the Comanche Indians back in the 1800’s were tough people sure but how would they know martial arts? You may as well give the characters modern weapons as well since the time period is completely meaningless. Yes show us that single shot rifles have to be reloaded but Comanche Indians are out there fighting French soldiers like they were trained by Donnie Yen. It’s an entertaining movie but has none of the grounded realism of the original film or even the sequels.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/23/25
Full Review
Moody C
Didn't know this exists until I search for all Predator movies ranked and this is at number one. So boring and one of those slow burners where nothing happens for first hour. Protagonist fights with a bear, I mean is that why we watch Predator movies? Lol. It's beautifully shot but just too boring for me and also, it remains B level material since the Native American characters speak English which I understand accessibility issue for some but hinders authencity department greatly.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
10/21/25
Full Review
tgup
Super entertaining. Well worth my watch.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10/19/25
Full Review
Ash P
Yeah, the Predator franchise has certainly had its ups and downs ever since the first movie that started it all. I remember seeing this movie back around the end of 2022 and possibly early 2023 and loved every bit of it. Seeing it again as we're getting closer to Predator: Badlands that will be coming out in another few weeks in the month of November, it is still as amazing as I remembered this movie as. Certainly right up there right next to the first Predator.
The story takes place in 1719, in the Great Plains, Naru, played by Amber Midthunder, is a young Comanche woman who was trained as a healer and dreams to become a great warrior like her brother, Taabe, played by Dakota Beavers. Which leads her to train herself with a hand ax by hand alongside her canine companion. An American Dingo dog named Sarii, played by Coco. Yeah, I had to look up the breed and name because I had to know. Sarii has helped out, and it deserves some credit, too. One day, while tracking deer, Naru had witnessed strange lights in the sky, which she believes was a thunderbird, giving her a sign that she is ready to become a hunter. What she doesn't know is that it was a dropship for this movie's Predator.
Naru accompanies a search party to locate one of their own named Puhi after being taken by a cougar. After they found Puhi and tended his wounds, Naru noticed large, unusual tracks and a skinned snake that the Predator had made before setting up a trap to fight off the cougar. After being knocked out and waking up the next day, she convinces her brother about something else that's lurking outside of the village and leaves to search for it. Naruto crosses this boggy pit that she managed to escape thanks to a rope attached to her hand ax she made by hand, ran into a field of dead buffalo that had their fur shaved, which turned out that a group of French voyageurs were the ones responsible, and then a grizzly bear that was chasing her until it took notice of the Predator. The Predator reveals itself as a group of Comanche who found Naru to take her home through combat. She calls it the Mupitsi for being the monster in Comanche folklore. Fun fact: It's named after the Pia Muptisi, which is translated to Mother Owl.
Naru does get caught by the French voyageurs via bear trap while the Predator fought off the Comanche search party, and she learns about their fur trading. They did capture her brother to lure out the Predator since some of their own have been killed off by it. I would say more, but let's just say we come to the end when Naru adapts while observing the Predator for one final clash. Kinda like how it goes with Dutch when he fought the Predator back in the first movie. It's a fun movie as it's all about survival, ingenuity, and the strength of character over brute force, as seen through the eyes of Naru, which explores the duality of prey and predator. Or, as the old fashioned saying goes, "the hunted becomes the hunter." Not to mention, this movie explores the Comanche culture, which emphasizes the importance of indigenous cultures and their deep knowledge of the natural world. It never hurts to learn different cultures every once in a while, and the Predator franchise works at best when it comes to what I've said a bit ago.
You know, as they say, observation is as important as brute forcing it. I love Naru as a character, and Amber Midthunder plays an amazing role for what she goes through in the world she lives in. Her brother is also a good character as he does care about her safety while understanding what she wants to do with her life being more than just a healer for her tribe. The rest of the tribe are good in their own right. The French voyageurs, despite their short time, whether dealing with the Predator or doing their own thing, are also good for their own right. I will say it annoys me that there were no subtitles whether the Comanche speak in their own language or when the French voyageurs speak in French. Thankfully, they don't speak in their own language all throughout the movie and mostly speak in English. However, I kinda wanted to know what they were saying.
Predator talk time, and this one is known as the Feral Predator, who is more on a brutal approach when hunting for various animals and, later, humans. It is still intelligent with its own set of weaponry like instead of the usual ionic blaster as previous Predators use, it has a bolt gun that fires metal arrows that can fire and seek whatever the laser pointer points at via its bone-like face mask. It has a shield not only for defense but also offense. It does have various offensive tools for close quarters such as a staff that retracts and splits, wrist blades, and proximity mines that have an area-of-effect. In case you wanna know, the suit is practical as Dane DiLiegro is the one wearing the suit. The suit was done by ADI, or Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. There were some CGI used to enhance movements, fix seams, add details like metallic scars, and create superhuman feats, ensuring that the final performance was both tangible and visually dynamic. With that, it was dynamic.
Other digital effects were used like blood, cloaking, and glitching, which does work for what it does for the Feral Predator. Sure, some say that the CG can be a little snappy, especially with the animals, which I understand and can't argue with. Still, they fit well for a short period of time, especially when the animals do get skinned by the Feral Predator. Serii is the only full-fledged animal star in this movie, and it better get all of the headpats and happy scratches for what the fur baby had delivered when the filming had finished. There are a couple of YouTube videos that I highly recommend checking out on the behind-the-scenes. Including the Feral Predator suit and Coco's performance as Serii. As for the area of the Great Plains, it is amazing for its scale, its background, and how it fits with the Comanche tribe. Their wardrobe does look nice, especially their war paint to fit with the design and culture thanks to one of the producers, Jhane Myers.
Not gonna lie, this movie was better than I remembered it as and certainly in equal footing with the first Predator movie. This is actually the movie that has lifted the franchise back on its feet after it had its ups and downs. Dan Trachtenberg really delivered on this, and he has already done two-for-two with Predator: Killer of Killers. I'm not getting my hopes up, but if Predator: Badlands does satisfy me, it'll be three-for-three with the director himself. With that, I give this Prey nine Feral Predator lifting a bleeding bear in victory out of ten. 9/10.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
10/16/25
Full Review
TheMovieSearch R
Prey is one of those rare franchise entries that takes something we’ve seen countless times before and somehow makes it feel brand new. Set in the Predator universe, this 2022 film—directed by Dan Trachtenberg—breathes fresh life into the long-running series by stripping it back to its primal roots. What we get is a tense, beautifully shot survival story that feels grounded, raw, and emotionally driven rather than just another sci-fi monster movie.
Going into Prey, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. The Predator franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, from the original classic with Arnold Schwarzenegger to the uneven sequels and crossovers that followed. But what surprised me most about Prey was how self-contained and focused it was. This isn’t about futuristic soldiers or high-tech weapons—it’s about instinct, survival, and the human spirit against something far more powerful.
Amber Midthunder, who stars as Naru, absolutely commands the screen. She’s fierce, vulnerable, and determined—a perfect mix for a character facing a threat as overwhelming as the Predator. Watching her evolution from a misunderstood young Comanche woman trying to prove herself to a full-fledged warrior capable of taking down one of the most dangerous hunters in the universe is nothing short of exhilarating. Midthunder carries the entire film with an intensity that’s both believable and deeply emotional. Her performance is the heart of the movie, and it’s one of the most compelling lead roles in any Predator film to date.
What really makes Prey stand out is how effectively it immerses us in its setting. Taking place in the early 1700s, long before the events of the original Predator, the film blends history and science fiction seamlessly. The Comanche Nation’s landscapes are vast and breathtaking—lush forests, misty plains, and rugged terrain all captured with a visual beauty that adds both realism and atmosphere. The cinematography by Jeff Cutter is stunning, and the film’s pacing allows the tension to build naturally.
Dan Trachtenberg deserves enormous credit for directing with restraint and precision. Rather than relying on nonstop action or flashy effects, he builds suspense through quiet moments, sharp editing, and the haunting presence of the Predator. The creature itself—redesigned to look more primitive, with bone-like armor and rougher features—is as terrifying as ever, yet it fits perfectly in this older setting. You can feel the brutality of each encounter, but also the intelligence and strategy behind both hunter and hunted.
The screenplay, written by Patrick Aison, is sharp and efficient. It doesn’t drown the audience in exposition or overcomplicated mythology, which is often where other installments lost their footing. Instead, it keeps the focus tight—on Naru’s story, her tribe, and the growing realization of what they’re truly up against. Even for someone like me who’s never been fully invested in the Predator or Alien universe, this film was easy to follow, emotionally resonant, and incredibly engaging.
There’s also a quiet strength in how Prey handles its themes. It’s not just about survival—it’s about proving your worth, challenging expectations, and facing fear head-on. The dynamic between Naru and her brother Taabe (played brilliantly by Dakota Beavers) adds real emotional weight. Their bond feels authentic and grounded, and it’s what makes the film’s later moments so powerful.
Honestly, I was shocked that a film this good didn’t get a full theatrical run. Released straight to Hulu and Disney+, Prey feels cinematic enough to demand the big screen experience. The visuals, the sound design, the atmosphere—it’s all built for a theater. Yet even on a smaller screen, it remains captivating from start to finish.
If I had to sum it up, Prey isn’t just a great Predator movie—it’s one of the best action-thrillers in recent years. It reminds us that simplicity, character focus, and strong direction can revive even the most overdone franchises. The third act, in particular, is pure adrenaline—a perfectly executed showdown that’s both brutal and deeply satisfying.
I sincerely hope this film leads to more installments set in this same world. Prey proves that when handled with creativity and respect for storytelling, even a decades-old concept can feel fresh again. It’s bold, emotional, and wildly entertaining—a film that not only honors its origins but transcends them.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/09/25
Full Review
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