Review of the film “Production”. Best Predator movie?

The other day, bypassing cinemas, a new film based on the Predator franchise was released in digital distribution. The production was handled by the Hulu streaming service, which already hints at a certain budget picture. However, as practice shows, large investments no longer determine the quality of the picture. This is especially true of films that have become classics of the cinema of our childhood.

A little about the series

A series of sci-fi action films about an alien hunter started back in 1987 and probably would not have become so popular if the main role in the debut film was not Iron Arnie, but someone else. Like many action films of the time, The Predator wasn’t a revelation in terms of plot, but it didn’t have to be. A military detachment encounters an unknown and hostile creature in the middle of the jungle. Actually, all the events of the tape revolve around the confrontation between a person and an alien creature.

Three years later, a sequel comes out. The scene is the concrete jungle of Los Angeles. Despite multiple awards, Predator 2 failed to win at the box office. Either because of its secondary nature, or because of the absence of Schwazenegger in the frame.

The main franchise went silent for 20 years. In the 2000s, crossovers were released in the form of two parts “Alien vs. Predator”, which seemed to be trying to return fans of legendary films, but the general concept hinted at attracting a new audience. The first one was like a long Power Rangers streak with a dubious happy ending at the end. The second tried to restore the rigidity of the original, but at the editing stage, the creators cut the brightness so obliquely that it was impossible to see anything in the film. Yes, and in general he came out so-so.

2010’s Predators starring Adrien Brody and Danny Trejo, who disappears almost immediately after the opening credits, were a perfectly acceptable sight. The action movie followed in the footsteps of the first part, except that the plot was moved to an unknown planet where Predators hunt people for fun. This film is worth watching if you don’t overestimate your expectations.

In 2018, another Predator was released, but to be honest, the general reviews were so unflattering that I decided to skip this phenomenon so as not to traumatize my childhood memories and not waste a couple of hours of my life.

About the plot and content

On August 5, a new part of the Predators saga was released on the Hulu streaming service. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (yes) he broke the confusion between parts of the Predator/Predators franchise by naming his film Prey. The scene of action this time is the settlement of the Komachi Indian tribe in 1719. Young Nara is not attracted by the prospect of digging up roots all her life and hanging around in the kitchen. Day after day, she cultivates the spirit of a warrior in herself and goes hunting in order to supply the tribe with meat and prove to her fellow tribesmen that she is capable of more.

According to the custom of the tribe, she will become a real warrior only after she defeats the beast, faced in an unequal fight face to face. The appearance of an invisible creature will give her this opportunity with a vengeance.

The plot of “Production” is straight as rails, and this can even be attributed to pluses. However, it is worth noting that almost nothing happens for a good half of the film. Sometimes the viewer’s hand can not decide whether to cover his mouth from yawning, and then press the rewind button or vice versa. Brightens up the situation picturesque landscapes and pleasant actors.

True, they create a very distant impression of the Indians. The whole cast is more like a group of people who came to the forest for a photo shoot in the form of Native Americans, who were professionally made up a couple of minutes ago. In one of the episodes in the swamp, Naru was from head to toe in the mud. Here I rejoiced – the plot twist brought a little authenticity. But no. In the next frame, the actress was again carefully made up, washed and ironed, and her hair developed as after visiting a beauty salon. And it seems that all this is not so scary, but it is painfully striking and stands out from the already poor atmosphere. They could at least wrinkle the suits and drag them in the dust, well, honestly.

About special effects, it can be noted that they are in the film. That’s all. Not to say that they are bad, but due to the budget, you can see them with the naked eye.

But all this can be crossed out, because by the middle of the timing, the long-awaited eshen and full-fledged scenes with the hero of the occasion begin to appear. Prior to this, the Predator appears exclusively in invisible camouflage. And here the film shows why we actually gathered.

The dynamic and beautifully choreographed action brings the film to life in an instant. It is worth noting that the scenes of reprisals against their victims are shown harshly, unlike modern cinema. Fans will appreciate all the diversity of the extraterrestrial hunter’s arsenal. You can blame the director for the lack of close-ups during the fights, but this will be completely nit-picking. In general, the action in “Prey” is very peppy, and its abundance makes you forgive all the previous flaws of the film.

The finale of the film, I think, is already known to everyone in advance. Nevertheless, the director threw an Easter egg, which will be noticed by the most devoted fans of the series or those who have recently reviewed the original dilogy. In addition, I recommend watching the drawn credits to the end.

“Production”, without having big budgets and expensive promotion, actually showed that in skillful hands even a brick will shine no worse than a diamond. Yes, the film is not without flaws, but it fully fulfills its function as an entertainment content and a worthy revival of the franchise. Finally, from the first part of the film, for one of the favorite childhood anti-heroes, or rather its creators, you don’t have to blush and reassure yourself, saying that “the grass was greener before.” The change of scenery, time, and the very image of the Predator refreshed the perception of the fantastic saga. In a nutshell — take and see. In my humble opinion, “Production” in its presentation is no worse than the original tape with Schwarzenegger and is a worthy backstory to the series. But as they say in taste and color …