Prey, the new installment in the Predator franchise, looks set to outshine previous sequels. The latest Prey trailer, showing a predator hunting Naru, a Comanche warrior, promises an epic dose of fast-paced action. Set on the North American Great Plains in 1719, Prey stars Amber Midthunder, known for her roles in Legion and Roswell, New Mexico. Amber plays Naru, the skilled Comanche hunter seen in the video. She sets out to protect her people when danger threatens their camp.

By building this prequel story around a First Nation protagonist, director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) takes the franchise back to its roots. Alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, the original 1987 Predator features Sonny Landham as Billy Sole, an American Indian tracker. Billy makes an unseen last stand after memorably cutting his chest with a hunting knife. Before that, he is the first to recognize the danger, saying, "There's something out there waiting for us. And it ain't no man. We're all gonna die." Billy's death is unseen, but how he dies is revealed in the Predator novel. Intriguingly, and a potential point of contact with Prey, the book presents Billy as a psychic whose ancestors fought a predator.

Related: Why Predator Reboots Haven't Worked (& What Predator 5 Needs To Do Right)

Prey already looks much better than previous sequels from the trailer alone because it is nailing what people want from the franchise. Naru hiding amongst the roots while first a gigantic bear and then a predator attack gives the same survival horror vibe that makes the original movie gripping. What's more, Prey updates the Predator franchise and builds on established lore with the new setting. Combining the 18th Century timeline and Comanche protagonist brings a fresh, unique perspective that other Predator installments lack. Considering everything learned from the Prey trailer, the Great Plains environment is one of many challenges. The historical background and Naru's desire to prove herself worthy after growing up in the shadow of the tribe's legendary hunters give Prey the scope to explore broader issues. In addition to the dangers the predator presents, Naru may need to overcome opposition relating to gender and what it means to be a female warrior in a male-dominated, traditional society.

Whether other films in the Predator series live up to the standard of the original movie is a matter of debate. While the sequels undoubtedly offer many memorable scenes, there is a divided reception. The franchise is subject to accusations that previous Predator reboots haven't worked. Predator 2 moves the action from the jungles of Guatemala to the urban jungle of Los Angeles, while 2004's Alien vs. Predator and 2007's Alien vs. Predator: Requiem pitch Yautja, the proper name of predators, against xenomorphs from the Alien franchise, to a mixed response. 2010's Predators, while better received than some previous sequels, does not provoke the original movie's sense of grinding suspense.

2018's The Predator draws controversy and mixed reviews. There are plaudits for its charismatic cast but complaints of plot incoherency and less than credible characters. In particular, the film's disappointing closing act is subject to criticism. Against this uninspiring backdrop, Prey's promise of suspense-filled survival horror worthy of the original film, as shown in the trailer, heralds a return to form for the Predator franchise. In addition to looking better than past Predator sequels, perhaps Prey can finally answer a Predator mystery 30 years on. Naru needs every weapon she can get to stand against the universe's ultimate predatory warriors. The flintlock pistol gifted to Danny Glover's character at the end of Predator 2 could be one of them.

More: Why The Prey Trailer Hides The Predator

Key Release Dates

  • Predator 5
    Release Date:
    2022-08-05