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What Type Of Predator Is The One In Prey?
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Prey.
Prey, the latest movie in the Predator franchise, features a previously unseen variant of the Yautja called the Feral Predator. Director Dan Trachtenberg bestowed the new alien hunter with the unique nickname, referencing its more ferocious and animalistic approach than previous Predators seen in the series. The Predator prequel takes place in the 1700s and follows Naru, a Comanche hunter, on her journey to receive validation from her tribe. And Prey's cast consists of primarily Native American talent, giving the film an authentic feel.
Prey marks the fifth installment in the standalone Predator series and the first prequel. With the inclusion of the Alien vs. Predator crossovers, however, the total number of films featuring the famed alien hunters known as the Yautja totals seven. The decision to set the movie in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago has proven to be successful, as it's garnered critical acclaim, with some rating it as the best since the original 1987 Predator. Prey gives some much-needed backstory to some of the Yautja's early encounters with humans. The film also connects to some of the earlier Predator films by revealing the origins of the famous "1715" flintlock pistol from Predator 2.
The "Feral" epithet is aptly named as the new Predator shows a more distinct animalistic approach than its predecessors. The previous versions of these intergalactic hunters featured tactical Predators that relied on stealth and technology and deferred to direct combat as a last resort. The Feral Predator seems to relish direct confrontation, evident by its conflict with a bear. Instead of just using the weapons at its disposal, it chooses to fight on even terms, violently handling the beast. The Feral Predator variant was introduced due to the director's insistence on blending CGI with old-school methods of an actor in a suit to create a more agile creature than others before. The stripped-down Predator is also likely due to Prey's historical setting, giving a more even playing field for the Comanche tribe to defeat the alien foe.
How Many Predator Variants Are There?
Several variants of the Predator species are shown throughout many mediums, from comic books to films. These include the Jungle Hunter and City Hunter, respectively from the first two Predator movies. The Yautja are distinguished by their imposing stature, unique armor, and iconic dreadlocks. The species seem to be mammalian, creating a complex society revolving around the hunting of other alpha species across the vast reaches of space. The hunting aspect is not only for sport but also seems to be a way of advancing the species. The hunts are usually monitored, and if one of their own is defeated, they learn from past failures and modify their tech to overpower the enemy in the subsequent encounter. The Yautja are also not above genetically modifying themselves, as seen in many variants across Predator movies. The most notable variants are the Ultimate Predator and the Predator dogs from 2018's The Predator. There are also accidental hybrids, such as the Predalien, which combines the Yautja with the Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise.
Prey offers a refreshing return to the series' roots, ditching the populated city conflicts and arctic settings for the classic hunt in the confines of nature. The Feral Predator variant proves to be a worthy adversary in the franchise's return. The movie evens the playing field with a Comanche protagonist who has a vast knowledge of the terrain, separating her from Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch and crew in the original. Hopefully, this signals a new, refreshing era for the franchise with a tease of a potential Prey 2 at the film's end.
