Even the most ardent Predator fan might argue that the franchise should have been left to rest after The Predator underwhelmed after showing initial promise.
If that had happened though, we wouldn't have got Prey. We'd say it was the best Predator movie since the original, but that feels like damning it with faint praise. It's a terrific movie in its own right that revitalises the franchise by stripping it back to basics.
We might have caused you to stop reading since we've already said the movie is worth your time, rather than tease it out like we would for other reviews. Honestly, if that's the case, we won't mind as long as you definitely watch Prey on Disney+ in the UK on Hulu in the US.
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While there will always be a tinge of disappointment that it's not getting a chance on the big screen like it deserves (especially with the stunning natural locations), that doesn't make Prey any less of an event movie and one that even non-Predator fans will want to talk about.
Set in 1719, Prey takes place in the Comanche Nation and centres on Naru (Amber Midthunder), a highly-skilled warrior. She dreams of being a hunter like her brother Taabe (Dakota Beavers), but as she's a woman, it's not seen as her role.
Luckily, Naru soon gets a chance to prove she can be a hunter, as an unknown prey appears to be threatening her camp. Little does she know that the prey she's stalking is actually looking for a hunter to match its own skill (the Predator, obviously), leading to a vicious showdown between the two.
Director Dan Trachtenberg has been open about following the structure of the original movie, so if it sounds familiar, that's kind of the point. It's also exactly why Prey works so well as it evokes the simple 'hunter vs the hunted' narrative of the Arnie classic, and doesn't throw in a needless twist (multiple Predators, for instance) to go bigger.
The freshness comes from the setting as this Predator isn't as technologically advanced as we've come to expect. It's still as ferocious, but just feels different and the weapons it's facing are different too. Like Dutch in the first movie, Naru has to rely on her wits more than anything to survive rather than having a bigger gun, and it's more thrilling to watch.
Prey is also careful to pace itself, holding back the reveal of the Predator for longer than you'd expect. We know it's coming, of course, but Trachtenberg makes sure to spend time embedding us in the Comanche culture, teasing the threat to come.
If there's one complaint, it's that the Comanche dub of the movie (which will be available on day of release) isn't the only version released. So much effort was made elsewhere to ensure its authenticity, including a cast comprised almost entirely of Native and First Nations talent, that the fact they're speaking mostly in English language does jar slightly.
Even that doesn't lessen the visceral thrills though once Prey stops with the teasing and goes on the hunt. Backed by a rich and propulsive score by Sarah Schachner, the set pieces build in intensity towards a terrific final showdown. The care taken with them ensures they're varied and that each has (at least) one crowd-pleasing moment.
There's definitely one moment that could prove a bit too on-the-nose, but it's clear that Prey has been made by people who love Predator. It shows through on the understanding of just what made the first movie work and, as a result, means that the movie is so effective in what it sets out to achieve.
Of course, the first Predator movie also had a memorable Arnold Schwarzenegger performance in the lead role. Prey's Dutch equivalent is Amber Midthunder's Naru, and it should be a star-making turn for the Roswell, New Mexico star.
It's an incredibly physical role that demands a lot and Midthunder matches it, whether brawling with the Predator or crawling through a mud pit. Don't expect the one-liners that Arnie gave, but it's an engaging performance that has you on Naru's side throughout where other Predator movies might have had you cheering for the hunter.
We'd hope that this doesn't prove to be our only outing in the 18th century for the Predator franchise. But if Prey is a one-and-done, then it's even better than Predator fans could have ever dreamed of.
Prey is available to watch now on Disney+ in the UK and on Hulu.
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Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
