Overview
Prey is an enthralling science fiction film released in 2022 directed by Dan Trachtenberg and co-written with Patrick Aison. Although a new addition to the well-established Predator series, it is a standalone piece. The most distinctive feature of “Prey” is the historical context of the film, in addition to the accurate depiction of the Comanche Native Americans in the 1700s.
Amber Midthunder plays the main character Naru, a headstrong young lady. She is on a quest to learn the trade of a skilled huntress, and is willing to go to great lengths to achieve her goal. The film is set in 1719, within the Northern Great Plains, and depicts Naru’s struggles with the self imposed, socio-structural, and alien challenges of her surroundings.
The movie indeed is from a science fiction universe, and yet it is deeply focused on the character development, the atmosphere, and the heritage of the depicted culture, creating and evoking emotional resonance and beauty, and providing a unique and enthralling experience.
The movie starts with Naru as a member of a Comanche tribe that upholds traditional gender definitions. With the tribe holding hunting as an important skill, it is an activity allocated to men. In a stark contrast to societal expectations, Naru aspires to be a hunter and track formidable creatures like her elder brother Taabe, an acclaimed warrior.
She clandestinely practices honing her tomahawk skills and tracking in the wilderness. Her intelligence, keen observation, and patience set her apart, yet her prowess is futile in the eyes of her tribe.
One day while tracking a large predator, Naru gets a feeling that something is amiss in the woods. The tracks and signs she follows belong to something foreign to her. At first, her peers disregard her feelings, but Naru becomes convinced that something amazing is lurking in the wilderness.
Whatever is out there, Naru has to rely on her people’s traditions and wit to defend herself, and her people, from a danger they have never faced. Naru’s story illustrates that true courage is not just the absence of the inability to fight, but the ability to outsmart and outmaneuver.
Main Characters
Naru (Amber Midthunder)
Naru drives the film. Observant and intelligent, she is determined which is what confirm her versatile nature. More than surviving, she undertakes a journey filled with a struggle for self acceptance and self worth alongside the will to be recognized for her own needs.
Amber Midthunder effectually portrays Naru with all her vulnerabilities and strengths. Naru is not made to look fearless or without flaws. She is made to self doubt and self critique, and as a result, she is made to learn, adapt, make mistakes, and grow from every challenge.
Taabe (Dakota Beavers)
The older brother of Naru, is a celebrated hunter in the tribe. Naru’s dreams are constantly brought to reality, and even supported in, much more than what others do. It offers an emotional angle to the narrative. Naru, with the help of Taabe, must learn to get through her inner self where she is expected to face the self.
The Tribe and Their Way of Life
The film shows the Comanche people’s intricate bonds to culture, nature, and community in a respectful manner. Culture is more than just survival skills, it offers ways to life which are integrated with an unbroken chain. The film’s cultural authenticity is further enhanced for Comanche and English speakers with a bilingual version.
Main Ideas
Empowerment and Identity
Prey focuses on a young woman learning how to find her voice and prove her self-worth in a world that does not see her true potential. Naru’s journey captures the essence of the universal need to be perceived and appreciated, particularly when defying the odds.
Her achievement goes beyond facing an external threat. It also borders on surpassing and mastering the internal and socially constructed barriers. She shows that true strength is not only in muscle power, but also in the ability to think, believe, and endure.
Respect for Nature and Tradition
The movie shows the world in all its forms and the deep reverence the Comanche had for the animals, land, and all forms of life. In the Comanche culture, hunting is not an act of supremacy, but an act of serving a way of life that is marked by respect and equilibrium.
Naru’s cultural heritage is the source of her tracking skills, her ability to learn and master her surroundings, and her knowledge of animal behavior. In the end, these traits become her greatest strengths.
Obstacles and Analytical Thinking as Compared to Sheer Might
Unlike other action films that focus on action and fight scenes, Prey appreciates the importance of strategy, adaptability, and observation. Naru studies and understands the opponent’s movements and utilizes her land geography skills to outmaneuver the beast.
There is an encouragement for viewers to consider acknowledging thought and planning as an equivalent form of courage to fighting.
Visuals and Style
Prey is visually magnificent. It contains wide-angled shots of various ecosystems like the thick woods, great fields, and the rural flowing streams of rivers, that really roots the story and enhances its immersive quality. The camera movements accentuate the beauty and the bigness of the area, complementing the underlying stillness and majestic excitement of the film.
The movie is well mastered with the use of orchestrated silence. Naru’s solo scenes with nature capture the sound and the skill of instinct. The results are breathtaking and calm and allow the audience to center themselves before the action.
The production design is thoughtful and honors the historical context, from the clothing and tools to the arrangement of the tribal camp. Everything feels authentic and lived in, elevating the film’s emotional impact.
Cultural Impact
Amongst the many pieces of primary criticism made about Prey, the ever-timely cultural critique has remains pivotal. Few films in the major industry have sought to center Indigenous life and particularly, the role of women, the way this film has done. It is revitalizing a focus onto underrepresented communities, and equally, the sensitivity in which the Native life has been depicted is absolutely deserving.
Representation has been inadequate historically in film, and while it still remains a challenge, this film has certainly been a step in the right direction of positive cultural appropriation.
Conclusion
The emotional alongside the futuristic elements of Prey (2022) creates a compelling narrative that tells a story of the deep self-discovery and growth journey of the main character. Beyond that, the animation reveals the beloved self character Naru as he embarks on a journey to discovery herself, and through that, touches on major pillars of the society such as hard work, perseverance, tradition, identity, and the societal benefits for it.
Above everything, it is as such that her story transcends the film and resonates with the audience who most certainly expect more than just human suspense, rather a film enriched with informative and captivating representation and culture, as well as visual artistry.
Watch free movies on Fmovies