All of the Predator sequels up to this point have been a shambles and have failed to live up to the original. Recalling the bare essentials that made the original so successful, Prey strips away everything but the bare necessities to create a more primal and horrifying experience. It includes moments reminiscent of The Revenant, and there is never a time when we can rest certain that the heroes we're pulling for are in the clear. Even if the scenery is fantastic, I was concerned that the film would attempt to complicate the story too much. In contrast to The Predator, which tries to accomplish too much, Prey (2022) focuses on a smaller set of characters and does each one really well. When things are quiet and peaceful, (updated post) it does well (just before each attack). Now Dan Trachtenberg has made the finest sequels in not one, but two different series. His mastery of the era and his ability to deliver the goods are both clear, but the movie's ambiance is what really sets it apart. A growing feeling of foreboding pervades the setting. The movie's tenseness originates from that emotion, and it doesn't let up for the whole of the third and final act. It has a sluggish beginning, but that's to be expected given how the characters are established.
Is Prey (2022) a bad movie?
All of the Predator sequels up to this point have been a shambles and have failed to live up to the original. Recalling the bare essentials that made the original so successful, Prey strips away everything but the bare necessities to create a more primal and horrifying experience. It includes moments reminiscent of The Revenant, and there is never a time when we can rest certain that the heroes we're pulling for are in the clear. Even if the scenery is fantastic, I was concerned that the film would attempt to complicate the story too much. In contrast to The Predator, which tries to accomplish too much, Prey (2022) focuses on a smaller set of characters and does each one really well. When things are quiet and peaceful, (updated post) it does well (just before each attack). Now Dan Trachtenberg has made the finest sequels in not one, but two different series. His mastery of the era and his ability to deliver the goods are both clear, but the movie's ambiance is what really sets it apart. A growing feeling of foreboding pervades the setting. The movie's tenseness originates from that emotion, and it doesn't let up for the whole of the third and final act. It has a sluggish beginning, but that's to be expected given how the characters are established.