I recently sat down to watch the SF horror movie, Prey (2022), one of the more recent additions to the Predator franchise. Apparently, there are two more installments coming out this year alone, which tells you just how behind the curve I am.
And honestly, that’s not by accident.
See, I’ve always hated (past tense, please note) the Predator movies. I watched the first one—yes, the one with Arnold Schwarzenegger—back in 1987, the year it came out. I was with a group of drunk friends. I lasted about five minutes past the first blood spray before I offered to go for pizza. Afterwards, I retreated to the kitchen and did the dishes rather than finish the movie. That’s how little I enjoyed it.
I am not a horror fan. Never have been.
I prefer Aliens over Alien because of the tech, the teamwork, and the relationships. Alien is basically one long, anxiety-inducing scream-fest, and life’s too short.
Also: gore? I look away. Every time.
So why am I writing about Prey?
Because I watched it—begrudgingly—to keep a friend company. And surprise: I was impressed.
The story is so much more than a gore-fest or a by-the-numbers alien slasher. There’s real narrative depth here, with a compelling character arc for Naru, the young Comanche woman played brilliantly by Amber Midthunder.
There’s also a subtle but solid feminist thread running underneath it all, and let’s be honest, I’m a sucker for that.
The historical setting feels grounded and reasonably accurate; with a few Hollywood liberties, of course. Although, this historical period and location is not one I know very well at all, so my judgement could be miles out. Although they didn’t make any of the historical faux pas I have seen in other movies (like kilts in 13th century Scotland). The human antagonists are delightfully despicable. And the best part? You don’t need to have watched any of the previous Predator films to follow what’s going on.
All you really need to know is that this alien species shows up on Earth now and then to hunt humans for sport using high-tech weaponry that gives them an outrageously unfair advantage… and let’s just say they have a habit of underestimating the locals.
It’s no spoiler to say the good guy wins. But in Prey, the victory doesn’t come from bigger guns or alien tech—it comes from wit, grit, and plain old perseverance.
And that makes it so much more satisfying.
So if you’ve avoided the Predator franchise like I did—because gore, because horror, because ugh—consider giving Prey a shot. Especially if you enjoy seeing an underdog, with nothing but her smarts and courage, rise up and win.
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My husband, who is Kiowa, loves Prey. He’s a fan of all the Predator and Alien franchises. But he really loves Prey because of the Native American representation, and how it was positive and well researched. He was actually really pissed when the show makers refused the Hugo nomination when they were in Chengdu, because he says that by refusing to allow it to be acknowledged in a wider venue of scifi culture does a disservice to the Native American representation.
I’m glad to hear it was well researched. I don’t know the era and the people enough to know how accurate it was, but it did *seem* to be authentic.
But mostly, the story draws its power from the characters; they’re not cardboard cutouts at all. And they did make me feel I knew Native Americans a little better.
Cam.