Predator franchise. The last two movies that revolved around the classic creature were terribly received by both the critics and the public audience, but Prey's commitment to changing the formula and introducing a new powerful protagonist ignited fans' love once again.
The film brings back the franchise formula of setting up an epic battle between humanity and Predator. Given that the majority of Prey takes place in the jungle, often with Naru surviving alone, many believed there would only be a little bit of dialogue. However, this was not the case, as, fortunately, the film manages to deliver a handful of incredible quotes that simultaneously develop the characters and the way they handle their problems, bringing the Predator franchise back to life.
"You Think The Reason For Kühtaamia Is To Prove You Can Hunt, But There's Only One Reason. To Survive."
Naru's mother teaches her daughter a lesson
Foreshadowing what Prey is all about right from the get-go, the wise words spoken by the protagonist's mother weigh a lot in the young hunter's mind: hoping to prove to her tribe the valuable hunter she is, she sets out into the forest.
Along the way, Naru encounters the Predator, an alien creature much more technically advanced that only hunts threatening predators. On the other hand, she also encounters the French voyageurs - ruthless men who worry only about the hunt. The difference between Naru and all those opponents is evidenced by Naru's will to survive, induced by her mother's words, which encourage her to understand the prey before attacking.
"You Wanna Hunt Something That's Hunting You."
Taabe's warning to Naru
A seemingly innocent quote at the beginning of the movie actually sets the tone of the story about to unravel. The film mixes the concept of hunter and prey in a way they are constantly crossing each other's paths as well as changing roles. Amid all this, Naru stands as a question mark on her journey of self-discovery.
When Taabe warns his sister about hunting something that's coming for her, he didn't know that Naru was about to become one of the tribe's most powerful warrior (with many hoping that she will continue to lead the next era of the Predator franchise).
"He Has Us."
Naru's tribe faces the Predator
In a turning point of Prey, Naru's tribe and the Predator engage in a brutal face-off that ends with many casualties. When Naru and another warrior hide in a long field, hoping to ambush the alien creature, they fail to recognize how the Predator has got the upper hand at all times.
As the warrior prepares his bow to strike the powerful enemy, he's almost killed by a guided dart shot by the Predator. Their ambush renders them trapped in a matter of seconds, showing how Naru and her tribe posed no actual trap to the Predator so far, and the creature actually had them in its sights this whole time. The two take off desperately but the warrior, unfortunately, doesn't make it alive, and Naru is ultimately captured by French voyageurs.
"If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It."
Taabe acknowledges the creature's mortality
The Predator is a much more advanced creature than its human opponents in of technology, but both species actually know little about each other. Even though the alien is able to become almost invisible and has countless deadly weapons, there's one thing that's for sure: it bleeds and it feels pain (so it can be killed).
Acknowledging that shows how open a person is to understanding someone's opponent and being ready to fight it. Both Taabe and Naru decide not to back up and face the creature until it dies, with Naru successfully outsmarting the Predator at the end and ensuring her tribe's safety.
"I'm Smarter Than A Beaver."
Naru uses a childhood memory in their favor
In the middle of a life-or-death situation, Naru and Taabe share a powerful brother-and-sister moment as she uses a childhood memory to break free from the ropes tying them to a tree. Naru tells Taabe about how she once saw a beaver with its legs pinned between two rocks while a flood was going on, and the animal chewed off its own leg to escape.
Taking possession of a rock, Naru gestures to a bear trap right next to her and makes it seem like she's going to give up on her arm in order to break free from the rope. As Taabe desperately tries to talk her out of it, Naru quickly uses the rock as bait and cuts the rope, telling Taabe that fortunately, she's smarter than a beaver. She takes advantage of animal instincts and adapts them to her human reasoning, giving her a better chance to escape.
"You Think That I'm Not A Hunter Like You. That I'm Not A Threat. That's What Makes Me Dangerous."
Naru gives her enemies an ultimatum
In one of the most powerful moments of Prey, Naru finally shows her claws to those who underestimated her. As she seemingly provokes an injured voyageur who hurt her brother in an act of revenge, she mentions how he can't see that she's killing him and neither does the Predator. As the alien creature approaches the scene, Naru's plan to trick both her enemies is revealed.
Emptying the voyageur's weapon with the gu knowledge she obtained and making it seem like she was a helpless prey, the Predator goes straight to the men to finish him, giving Naru the chance to seriously injure the creature and consequentially get the upper hand over it. It's a turning point for Naru as she uses her sharp wit to outsmart her enemies who took her for a fragile, harmless prey. To all the fans who were wondering how an "inexperienced" young girl could ever take down the Predator before the movie was released, this scene alone tells them why.
"This Is As Far As You Go. No More. This Is It."
Naru says her final words to the Predator
Right at the beginning of the movie when Taabe announced it was time for Naru's kühtaamia at the lion's den, he showed how much he believed on her by telling Naru to say these words when the lion comes. Unfortunately, everything went wrong when the beast caught them by surprise, rendering her unconscious.
Later on, it's finally time for Naru to say the words, in a moment as chill-inducing as it is jaw-dropping. Instead of a Lion, she faces the Predator, and instead of words of encouragement, the words now represent a homage paid to Taabe, who ended up sacrificing himself so Naru could live and end their enemy.
"There's Danger Nearby"
Naru announces a new beginning
These words are said right after Naru has presented to her tribe the Predator's severed head and the fire weapon from the French voyageurs, but were also spoken long before. The difference now, in the very end scene of the movie, is that her tribe witnesses for the first time how Naru's intentions were always to protect them at all cost, proving herself to be a competent hunter but also putting her tribe's safety first.
Naru is honored with shouts of excitement and iration as they celebrate her triumph, but her words also mark a new beginning; with the treat of voyageurs nearby, the tribe must find a new home.
