Prey is the prequel to Predator, the 1987 movie where Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a member of an elite paramilitary rescue team. When they go to central America on a mission, the team realizes they’re being hunted by an extraterrestrial creature. The 2022 Hulu release, which shows a Comanche tribe matching wits with the skilled hunter, has earned high praise from Jesse Ventura, who plays Blain in the original. 

“Great, great film”, the 71-year-old tweeted, adding “Welcome to the Predator family. [Director Dan Trachtenberg] thank you for making such a thoughtful, creative and wonderful film.” 

Midhunter, who plays the protagonist Naru in the prequel, and Trachtenberg replied to this. Midhunter said “I just… I don’t know how to.. thank you”, addressing the former governor of Minnesota. 

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Meanwhile, the director said, “Im on the floor. Thank you sir! Thanks for watching and so glad you appreciated what we did!!”

Prey has become quite a sensation, earning positive critical and fan responses. The story is set in the Great Plains in the 1700s. An alien spaceship drops off the Predator but the Comanche tribe there is blissfully unaware of the apex hunter’s presence, all except for Naru, who’s determined to prove her hunting chops and track this mysterious creature. 

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However, in the course of her adventures, she crosses paths with the Predator and it becomes clear that it only hunts other predators – first a snake, then a wolf, and then a bear. When the alien comes across the tribe of humans, it kills many of Naru’s people until the Comanche woman teams up with her brother to try and take down the Predator. 

Prey is the first film of the franchise to debut outside theatres and the director shared that streaming release plans didn’t limit production in trying to create a cinematic experience matching franchise expectations.