• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
"Prey," a prequel to the “Predator” franchise, set on the Great Plains in 1719, centers on a young Comanche woman. (Amber Midthunder) who aspires to prove herself as a skilled hunter and warrior. (Courtesy 20th Century/Hulu)

Movie Review: ‘Predator’ prequel hunts for ‘Prey’

August 9, 2022
By John Mulderig
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews, Uncategorized

NEW YORK – It’s not often that a prequel carries a story back by centuries. Yet such is the case with the intriguing but sanguinary sci-fi action film “Prey” (20th Century/Hulu, beginning Aug. 5).

Screenwriter Patrick Aison gains freshness for this extension of the “Predator” franchise by dropping one of its trademark killer aliens onto the Great Plains in the year 1719. A few French trappers aside, the creature’s potential human targets are, as a result, all Native Americans.

They include Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche woman who aspires to prove herself as a skilled hunter and warrior. To do so, however, Naru will not only have to overcome the sexist opposition of many of those around her but the ambivalence of her own brother, Taabe (Dakota Beavers), as well.

With a mysterious foe on a murderous rampage, though, this is no time for family disputes. So the siblings eventually unite to confront the often invisible and seemingly unstoppable intruder.

Under the direction of Dan Trachtenberg, Midthunder’s intensity maintains interest in her intrepid and resourceful character’s story. But Naru’s adventures become increasingly gory, with torsos being pierced, heads lopped off and limbs severed. 

Thus, only those adults prepared to grapple with graphic content should patronize the movie. Seasoned moral judgment is also needed to assess an incident in which Naru’s behavior toward a human adversary skirts the line between self-exacted justice and revenge.

Look for: An unusual take on the monster genre, beautiful shots of an expansive landscape.

Look out for: Strong bloody violence, gruesome sights, a couple of crude expressions. The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is L – suitable for a limited mature audience. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Read More Movie & Television Reviews

superman

Movie Review: ‘Superman’

sorry baby

Movie Review: ‘Sorry, Baby’

Jurassic World Rebirth

Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

Movie Review: ‘M3GAN 2.0’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Fox Nation announces second season for ‘Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints’

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

Formerly a staff member for Catholic News Service, John Mulderig has been reviewing visual media from a Catholic perspective for 15 years. His column is syndicated by Catholic Review Media. Follow his reviews on Twitter @CatholicMovie.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • superman Movie Review: ‘Superman’

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest

  • Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break

| CURRENT EDITION |

CR digital edition

| Vatican News |

Stop the hatred; humanity is at stake, Pope Leo says in video message

New Catholic scouting patch honors Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo visits Italian Carabinieri station, Poor Clares during summer break

Caring for others, serving life is the ‘supreme law,’ pope says

Jesus did not ignore those in need, and neither should Christians, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

superman

Movie Review: ‘Superman’

sorry baby

Movie Review: ‘Sorry, Baby’

Jurassic World Rebirth

Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

Movie Review: ‘M3GAN 2.0’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

| En español |

‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’

Dios quiere ayudar a las personas a descubrir su valor y dignidad, dice el Papa

El ‘Padre Migrante’ nos relata su vida sirviendo a comunidades inmigrantes

El ‘Obispo Bruce’ forjó fuertes lazos con Baltimore en tiempos difíciles y tenía corazón de pastor

El Papa León comienza su pontificado pidiendo una ‘Iglesia unida’ en un mundo herido

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Church of England weighs proposal to place St. Thomas More’s skull in shrine for veneration
  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52
  • Stop the hatred; humanity is at stake, Pope Leo says in video message
  • As excavation begins at Irish maternity home, Catholic experts urge fact-based news reporting
  • Question Corner: Can we bring the Precious Blood to the sick?
  • Impact of DOGE cuts on migrants, refugees
  • White House agrees to exempt PEPFAR from rescissions package
  • From Boston to Baton Rouge, faithful unite to help Texas flood victims
  • New Catholic scouting patch honors Pope Leo XIV

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED