Prey 2022
Directed by
Dan Trachtenberg
Made by
Hulu
Plot Summary
In 1719, amid the expansive Great Plains, a young Comanche woman named Naru, skilled in the healing arts, yearns to prove herself as a renowned hunter, much like her brother Taabe. While tracking deer, Naru observes peculiar lights dotting the sky, which she believes to be the mighty Thunderbird, signifying her readiness for the hunt. However, these lights originate from a Predator’s dropship.
The story takes a darker turn when a tribe member falls prey to a lion. Naru joins the search party to rescue the injured man while Taabe takes on the role of a hunter, remaining behind to confront the beast. As they discover large, strange tracks and a skinned rattlesnake, Naru heads back with Paake and meets up with Taabe. Although they set a trap for the lion, tragedy strikes when Paake is killed. Brave yet wary, Naru confronts the lion, but a sudden distraction from the ominous sounds and lights causes her to lose consciousness.
She awakens safely at home, assisted by Taabe, who later brings the lion’s carcass to the village, earning him recognition as War Chief. Yet, sensing a greater menace lurking in the woods, Naru sets out with her loyal dog, Sarii. In her quest, she stumbles into a bog pit but narrowly escapes an attack from a fierce grizzly bear. As fate would have it, the bear is slain by the Predator, providing Naru with a fleeting chance to evade danger before encountering a group of Comanche sent to find her.
The Predator—whom Naru refers to as Mupitsi, a creature from Comanche folklore—then ruthlessly ambushes the group, leading to a bloody confrontation while Naru finds herself ensnared in a foothold trap. Meanwhile, a group of French voyageurs captures her and Sarii. Their translator, Raphael Adolini, interrogates Naru regarding the Predator, having previously faced it himself. When Naru remains silent, the lead voyageurs resort to barbaric tactics, taking Taabe captive and using both siblings as bait to lure the Predator, which the Frenchmen desperately wish to capture.
In an intense clash, the Predator decimates most of the Frenchmen, allowing Naru and Taabe to escape. Naru manages to rescue Sarii from captivity and encounters a dying Raphael, who, in a desperate last effort, teaches her to wield his flintlock pistol in exchange for treatment for his severe injury. Utilizing herbal remedies to lower his body temperature and curb the bleeding, Naru soon realizes, as the Predator approaches, that its thermal vision cannot detect him due to his reduced heat signature.
In an unfortunate final encounter, Raphael’s attempt to play dead leads to his shocking demise. But then, Taabe rides in to save Naru. Together, they bravely confront the Predator, only for the creature to ultimately kill Taabe. Heartbroken, Naru eludes danger and captures the surviving lead Frenchman. Using him as bait and consuming herbs to mask her own body heat, she cleverly awaits the Predator’s approach. In a fierce showdown, she manages to use Raphael’s pistol to ambush it, knocking off its mask—an essential tool for its deadly spear gun.
Naru then cunningly leads the Predator into the bog, manipulating its own weapon against it. After a fierce struggle, with the Predator mired in the mud, its misplaced spear gun ultimately delivers fatal harm to itself. Naru claims victory by severing its head and ceremoniously painting her face with its glowing green blood, symbolizing her triumph. Upon her return to the village, she is hailed as the new War Chief, and she declares that it’s time for her tribe to move on, embracing the future.
As the narrative comes to a close, a series of ledger art paintings illustrate the events, culminating in a haunting vision of three Predator vessels descending towards the tribe, hinting at the ongoing battle between hunter and hunted.
Timeline
Naru's Aspiration
In 1719, in the expansive Great Plains, Naru, a young Comanche woman skilled in healing, aspires to become a renowned hunter. She wishes to prove herself worthy of admiration, much like her brother, Taabe, who is already celebrated for his hunting skills.
The Thunderbird Lights
While tracking deer, Naru witnesses strange lights in the sky, which she initially believes to be the mighty Thunderbird, a sign of her readiness for the hunt. Unbeknownst to her, these lights actually originate from a Predator's dropship.
The Lion Attack
Tragedy strikes the tribe when a member becomes the prey of a lion. Naru, driven by her sense of duty, joins the search party to rescue the injured man, determined to prove her worth in overcoming the beast.
Setting the Trap
As Naru and the search party discover large, strange tracks and a skinned rattlesnake, they hurriedly return. They set a trap for the lion, demonstrating Naru's growing understanding of hunting tactics, yet it ends in disaster when Paake is killed by the beast.
Naru's Encounter with the Lion
Bravely confronting the lion herself, Naru faces a terrifying moment when she loses consciousness after being distracted by ominous sounds and lights. This incident deepens her resolve to face the dangers in the wilderness and discover the source of these strange occurrences.
Recognition of Taabe
After Naru awakens safely at home, Taabe returns victorious with the lion's carcass, earning him respect and the title of War Chief among their people. This moment highlights the pressure Naru feels to achieve similar recognition.
Naru's Wild Journey
Sensing a greater threat in the woods, Naru sets out, accompanied by her loyal dog, Sarii. During her quest, she narrowly escapes a bear attack in a bog pit, illustrating her perseverance despite the dangers lurking in the wilderness.
Ambush by the Predator
As Naru is trying to regroup, the Predator ambushes her and her companions, unleashing chaos and bloodshed among the group. This encounter marks the beginning of a deadly game of cat and mouse between Naru and the extraterrestrial hunter.
Capture by the French Voyageurs
Following the ambush, Naru and Sarii are captured by French voyageurs. During her imprisonment, she meets their translator, Raphael Adolini, who reveals his own terrifying experiences with the Predator, hinting at the malevolent creature's prowess.
The Predator's Fury
In a fierce clash with the Predator, many Frenchmen are slaughtered, showcasing the creature's lethal capabilities. Naru and Taabe seize the opportunity to escape, further heightening the stakes as they realize the true nature of their adversary.
Raphael's Last Lesson
Naru's compassion leads her to tend to a dying Raphael, who imparts crucial knowledge about wielding a flintlock pistol in exchange for her aid. This pivotal moment equips Naru with a means to confront the Predator more effectively.
Taabe's Sacrifice
In a tragic turn, Taabe arrives just in time to save Naru but ultimately falls victim to the Predator himself. This heart-wrenching moment fuels Naru's determination to take revenge and protect her people from the alien threat.
The Final Showdown
Naru cleverly uses the lead Frenchman as bait, masking her body heat with herbs in a desperate strategy to outsmart the Predator. In an intense confrontation, she knocks off its mask and leads it into a bog, setting the stage for her revenge.
Victory Over the Predator
In a fierce struggle, Naru manages to turn the Predator's deadly weapon against it, leading to its demise in the mud. She claims victory by decapitating the creature, symbolizing her triumph over her fears and her enemies alike.
A New Beginning
Returning to her village, Naru is celebrated as the new War Chief, marking a transformative moment for her identity. With the threat seemingly abated, she inspires her tribe to embrace the future, leaving behind the pain of the past.
A Dark Omen
As the narrative closes, a series of ledger art paintings depict the events of the story, culminating in a haunting vision of three Predator vessels approaching the tribe. This serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing struggle between hunter and hunted.
Characters
Naru
Naru is a determined and skilled young Comanche woman capable of utilizing her knowledge of the healing arts in combat. Motivated by a desire to prove herself and protect her tribe, she faces immense challenges with bravery and intelligence. Her character embodies resilience and fortitude, emerging as a formidable hunter and leader.
Taabe
Taabe is Naru's brother and a celebrated hunter within the tribe, symbolizing traditional masculine roles in their culture. He is protective of Naru and exhibits strong leadership qualities, but his journey is also marked by tragedy. His character arc reflects both the strength and vulnerabilities inherent in the role of a protector.
Sarii
Sarii is Naru's loyal dog and companion, representing the deep bond between humans and animals. His presence adds warmth and loyalty to Naru's journey, supporting her through perilous encounters and enriching her character development. Sarii symbolizes friendship and the invaluable role of animals in Indigenous cultures.
Setting
Time period
1719
In 1719, many Indigenous cultures were thriving, each adapting to their environments and facing pressures from European settlers. This period witnessed significant transformations among Native tribes due to encounters with Europeans, including shifts in trade, warfare, and societal structures.
Location
Great Plains
The Great Plains are vast open spaces known for their rolling grasslands and prairies, traversed by various Indigenous tribes. This area is rich in natural resources and wildlife, making it a prime hunting ground for native peoples, like the Comanche, who relied on the land for sustenance and cultural practices.
Themes
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Survival
Survival is a central theme in 'Prey,' as Naru navigates a treacherous landscape filled with formidable predators. Her journey underscores resilience and determination, showcasing her evolution from a healer to a skilled hunter. The fight for survival is not only physical but also deeply tied to cultural identity and heritage.
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Cultural Heritage
The film explores themes of cultural heritage, particularly through Naru's connection to her Comanche roots and the folklore surrounding the Predator, referred to as *Mupitsi*. The representation of traditional practices and beliefs emphasizes the importance of identity in a rapidly changing world.
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Conflict
Conflict arises on multiple fronts, from rivalries between hunters to the clash with the Predator and the French voyageurs. These encounters highlight the ongoing struggle for power, territory, and survival, framing Naru’s personal battles within a broader context of cultural and existential threats.
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