Prey (2022)

Last updated:
September 17, 2025

Prey (2022), directed by Dan Trachtenberg, is a refreshing addition to the Predator franchise. It reimagines the hunter-versus-hunted dynamic in an 18th-century setting with a young Comanche warrior as its lead. What makes it stand out is its stripped-down survival story, raw tension, and cultural authenticity. Let’s dig into everything about this film in detail.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Life on the Plains

Set in 1719, the movie follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche woman. She wants to prove herself as a hunter, despite being underestimated by her tribe. Her brother Taabe is respected as a warrior, while she’s dismissed as someone better suited for medicine.

The Arrival of the Predator

Strange signs appear on the horizon—Naru notices unusual tracks, skinned animals, and ominous disturbances. She suspects something bigger than a mountain lion or bear is lurking. This is the Predator, arriving on Earth with advanced weapons but no knowledge of human society.

The French Trappers

Naru’s path eventually collides with ruthless French fur trappers, who capture both her and her brother. These men, greedy and cruel, try to use her as bait to lure the Predator. Instead, the Predator slaughters them in brutal fashion. These sequences highlight both the alien’s superiority and its twisted code of honor.

Taabe’s Heroism

Naru and Taabe escape, but the Predator soon attacks again. Taabe sacrifices himself to buy Naru time, showing his faith in her strength. His death is a turning point, fueling Naru’s determination to face the Predator on her own terms.

Movie Ending

In the climactic sequence, Naru sets a trap for the Predator. She lures it into a swamp where it previously trapped her, using its own technology against it. Naru wields the Predator’s mask, which has an automated targeting system for its projectile weapon. In a tense battle, she tricks the Predator into firing on itself, killing it instantly.

Naru decapitates the creature and takes its head back to her tribe. Bloodied but victorious, she throws the Predator’s skull at the feet of her people. The tribe finally acknowledges her as a hunter and warrior in her own right, giving her the respect she has craved. The film ends with a sense of empowerment and cultural pride.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

There’s no traditional post-credits scene. However, the end credits are animated with Comanche-style artwork that visually retells the story. At the very end of this sequence, new Predator ships are shown arriving, teasing that this may not be the last chapter.

Type of Movie

Prey is a sci-fi action thriller with heavy elements of survival horror. It strips away the modern military backdrop of previous Predator films and focuses on primal combat between predator and prey in a historical context.

Cast

Amber Midthunder as Naru
Dakota Beavers as Taabe
Dane DiLiegro as the Predator
Stormee Kipp as Wasape
Michelle Thrush as Aruka (Naru’s mother)
Julian Black Antelope as Chief Kehetu

Film Music and Composer

The score is composed by Sarah Schachner, known for her work on Assassin’s Creed video games. The music blends orchestral intensity with subtle Native American-inspired instrumentation, grounding the film in its historical setting while amplifying the suspense.

Filming Locations

The film was shot in Alberta, Canada, taking advantage of its sweeping plains, forests, and rivers to authentically portray the 18th-century Great Plains. These natural backdrops serve as both sanctuary and battlefield, enhancing the survivalist feel of the story.

Awards and Nominations

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie (won)
Nominated for several other Emmys, including music composition and sound editing
Recognized for its authentic representation of Native American culture

Behind the Scenes Insights

Amber Midthunder performed many of her own stunts, including scenes with horses and weaponry.
The film was also released with a Comanche-language dub, the first time a major Hollywood production has done so.
Dan Trachtenberg deliberately scaled back Predator’s technology to show an earlier version of the alien hunter.
The Predator design was adjusted to appear more primal, aligning with the film’s historical setting.

Inspirations and References

Based on the original Predator (1987), but told in a new cultural and historical context.
Inspired by Native American oral storytelling traditions and survival myths.
Director Dan Trachtenberg cited films like The Revenant and Apocalypto as influences on the tone and visual style.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While the final film doesn’t have revealed alternate endings, some deleted footage included more scenes with the French trappers and extended sequences of Naru training. The core ending—Naru defeating the Predator with its own mask—was always planned as the centerpiece.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There’s a novelization of the film that adds more inner monologue for Naru and expands on the cultural details of Comanche life. The differences are minor but enrich the background and tension.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Naru sharpening her axe and attaching a rope to it, creating a unique hunting weapon.
The bear fight, where the Predator reveals itself for the first time in full view.
Taabe riding into battle against the Predator, proving himself a legendary warrior.
Naru’s final trap in the swamp, turning the Predator’s weapons against it.

Iconic Quotes

Naru: “It knows how to hunt. But I know how to survive.”
Taabe: “You always see what I miss.”
Naru (to the tribe, at the end): “Bring it home.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The pistol Naru takes from the French trappers is engraved with the name Raphael Adolini 1715. This ties directly to the gun given to Danny Glover’s character at the end of Predator 2.
The Predator’s design is deliberately less advanced, showing the species’ technological evolution over centuries.
The use of Comanche language and traditions grounds the film in authenticity.

Trivia

This is the first Predator film led by a female protagonist.
Dane DiLiegro, who played the Predator, is a former professional basketball player turned creature actor.
The film was originally developed under the secret working title Skulls.
It became Hulu’s most-watched premiere in the platform’s history.

Why Watch?

Watch Prey if you want a tense, stripped-back Predator film that focuses more on survival and human ingenuity than big guns and explosions. It honors Native American culture, redefines a franchise, and delivers one of the most memorable Predator hunts to date.

Director’s Other Works

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Black Mirror (Episode: “Playtest”)
Short films and commercials prior to his feature film career

Prey (2022)