ThePrey

The Prey (1984)

Many people consider this to be a 80s slasher film, but in fact the movie was shot in 1978 and took that long to sell to someone! Now what we have here is your basic gypsies living in the woods getting killed in a terrible forest fire except for the one young boy who grows up all scarred and angry at the world kind of movie. Years later a group of attractive kids decide to go camping on the mountain where said scarred gypsy now calls home, though of course they don’t know that. After much walking and time being killed they finally get to his territory and start to get killed off. Add in a park ranger that likes to tell stupid stories to the animals (not sad to see him go later on) and you have a movie, sort of.

This is one of those movies that had some potential, but kills itself by not having any idea what to do with the story. From the moment they step out of the van the movie has no idea what to do with it’s characters. Basically we get 37 minutes of them walking thru the woods and sitting around a campfire. These “thrilling” scenes are broken up with equally exciting bits of nature footage. We get to see bugs, bears, and raccoons walking round the woods. Later on we get to see a snake eat a mouse and other fun critter on critter violence. But my all time favorite time stretcher is at the 30-minute mark were we get some a killer banjo solo from the park ranger! Did I mention that I’m glad to see him go later in the movie? When the killings finally happen they are completely generic and boring. Hell the only thing that is slightly interesting is the last shot, which I will admit was pretty cool.

The special effects here aren’t very special at all. Most all of the good stuff happens off-screen and what we do see is awfully generic. This isn’t even the kind of movie that builds tension or gives you more by not showing anything. The camera work and lighting don’t build any atmosphere and the movie is never scary for a moment. Also we get this crappy POV from the killer most of the time, so we know right where he is and who he is sneaking up on. The worst thing here is the look of the killer. Remember he has been living in a cave in the middle of nowhere for years, isolated from humanity. Well when we finally do see him he is wearing a black turtleneck sweater and black pants. You know what? I’m done talking about this movie.

This is an absolute waste of time. Avoid the Prey at all costs because watching it might actually make you stupid. I know I feel like a dumb ass for wasting my time on it. Not recommended at all (though I will give it a ½ star for killing off the annoying ranger).

½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer