Prey Review
That was pretty damn incredible to say the least. I feel what owed the most to the movie’s success was the hook. Yeah, I was at first confused, or at least clueless, as to where they were going with this (my first instinct was Wendigo meets the sort of allegorical horror/thrillers Del Toro did shortly after his debut). But as it went along I started to get it: let’s just say that a less subtle version of this movie would’ve had cameos of Leonardo DiCaprio, Domhnall Gleeson, and Tom Hardy. It’s hard not to appreciate a movie that did not look easy to make. Especially when it takes advantage of not only its setting’s rich atmosphere (as a worthy, if not superior, successor to the first film’s jungle) but how it incorporates bits and pieces of history as a clever way of juxtaposing its angle as a prequel. I suppose the one trait it shares with Wendigo is its deep respect, and by default immersive fascination, towards native American culture. Its willingness to take full advantage on its apparent research and attention to detail is what also helped not only bring the Predator back to life but in a way that was equally as inspired to the point the sheer mise-en-scene in a battle towards the end had that dreamlike quality to its visuals. Really, with the lackluster Alien crossover (not counting the fun batman fan-film) it's one other good 2010 follow-up, and the fact that both the official 1990 sequel, as well as the 2018 film (directed by Shane Black, of all people), ran it to the ground I really thought these movies said all they could and needed to say. Until now.