PREY—Challenging Negative Stereotypes of Indigenous Cultures

I'm just a girl standing in front of the internet, asking it to love Predator movies with her. I once went as far as to start a club for like-minded women called, “Girls Who Love Predators” but for some reason it didn't attract the crowd I thought it would. Nevertheless, I persevered in my devotion.

When they announced they were making PREY, I waited with guarded elation. It is one of my favorite franchises. I was over the moon with joy that there would be another movie to enjoy. And don't get me wrong, I desperately wanted a Predator movie set against an indigenous backdrop. These wishes often tend to turn monkey's paw though, and the idea of this becoming another racist movie that I want to love made me apprehensive. I already have that relationship with TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984), and it took awhile for me to make peace with it. I prayed that PREY would be made with love, respect, and honesty towards the Comanche way of life. I was not disappointed.

Set in the early 18th century, PREY follows a young Comanche woman named Naru (Amber Midthunder) who desires to be a hunter and must find her place within her tribe. She discovers signs of a seemingly supernatural creature and eventually finds herself going toe to toe with a Predator ( also known as a Yautja, played by Dane DiLiegro). PREY was directed by Dan Trachtenberg of 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (2016) fame and produced by Jhane Myers, who is a Native American consultant in the film industry as well as Comanche herself. If you haven't seen PREY, I should warn you that there are some narrative spoilers ahead.

The film is beautiful. I marveled at how it definitely felt like a Predator movie but was still something unique and completely different in tone. Without being hyperbolic and too on the nose, it felt like the spiritual arthouse analog to the quip-heavy, over-the-top, blockbuster Predator movies that came before it (which I love). PREY moved me on a personal level. I too, am a girl from an indigenous culture with the lifelong wanting to go against the tradition of my female role. I am not ashamed to say that after this movie, I quietly wept. An entry in one of my favorite franchises. With female and indigenous representation. Gorgeously crafted. This was a small dream realized.

I knew immediately that I would be writing an I Dig Movies piece on it. There were grievances in the reviews I read that inspired so many passionate thoughts. I'm not a “hot take” kind of person.

I don't like the melodrama the term implies, nor am I a fan of stirring the pot just for fun. I like to stew the pot. I like to slowly simmer in a film until I can taste every flavor. I got a basic idea of how people were approaching this movie, and it hit a nerve. It made me angry. So, in this sense, I guess this is my one “hot take.”

One of my pet peeves against popular culture, laymen, and even some historians is how they push the misconception that lower levels of technology implies having a lesser level of civilization. I use the term civilization here as an adjective that describes having an advanced cultural and societal structure that has evolved beyond a state of survivalism and lawlessness. Predator movies have always been about humans being the underdog with less technology and overcoming it by relying on their wits instead. In the Predator franchise, WE are the indigenous culture. WE are the Stonehenge builders. WE are the prehistoric man to the Yautjas (Predators) ultra-advanced technology. WE are the prey. This movie gets so much right.

I cannot speak on the authenticity of how the Comanche life was depicted. From my preliminary research, it seems as if everyone involved with production were genuine in their desire to do it correctly. The Comanche dub was an unexpected bonus. I preferred the Comanche dub, because it made more sense with the environment. I only wish it would've been filmed in Comanche as well so that the dubbing did not look off step. But hey, beggars can't be choosers! I'm just happy to be here talking about how an indigenous culture was represented with love and respect on screen, battling the negative stereotype that indigenous has to mean uncivilized or incapable.

There are moments that stand out to me in PREY that illustrate a higher level of civilization in that depiction of Comanche culture than what I see in many aspects of ours today. Naru pays tribute and thanks the bison for its life and sacrifice. She understands that all life is valuable and revered. There is another scene where Naru's mother reminds her that all jobs are important and valued. If COVID, union busting, and a quickly disappearing middle class has taught us anything, it is that many Americans do not believe any of this.

The growing absence of community and empathy in the world around me is a strong argument that we as humans aren't necessarily as civilized as we think. Our society is still very much in a state of survivalism and lawlessness for many. I’d like to believe that truly civilized people care about their communities. Civilized people understand your life has meaning just by existing. Civilized people recognize that every job has value. Civilized people have empathy. Yet, many people in our society are suffering, dying, and  barely surviving at the hands of a government that is unjust, and a culture that is lacking in empathy and a sense of community. We have a lot to learn.

There are other obvious real world supporting arguments that lower levels of technology do not accurately measure people’s are capabilities. We are surrounded by wonders of the ancient world created through incredible engineering, math, chemistry, biology, conservation, and practical technology. There's still so much we are learning from our ancient brethren and contemporary indigenous cultures.

It speaks volumes that people would rather believe wild conspiracies about aliens than simply allow the concept that ancient people were just as capable as we are today. Giving credit to ancient and/or indigenous cultures does not take away from our own contributions. That way of thinking is juvenile and petty.

The Yautjas are wonderful antagonists. They are mirrors to our own false grandiose assumptions that people must earn the right to live. They find the strongest to face a trial of merit so that ultimately they can feel superior.

Humans are the heroes in these stories. Humans in the Predator franchise continually prove that they deserve to be here against all odds.

When we talk about levels of technology, we are simply talking about what tools are available. It is not a measure of a people's humanity or what they are capable of. If the Predator franchise, and especially PREY, teaches you anything, let it be that the strongest weapon you have is your brain and your heart.