The Perfect Predator

Today on Movies with Mikey we want to discuss the Predator franchise and what, specifically, makes Prey the best entry to it since the original film.
If you need more MwM, our latest video about the history of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is already out right now on Nebula!
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00:00 Intro
00:41 Part One - Predator History: Abridged
05:10 Part Two - The Thomas Brothers Sue the Mouse
09:07 Part Three - Prey Tell
16:00 Part Four - Nostalgia is a Hell of a Drug
22:37 Pls support
24:28 Credits
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Music:
Opening Titles:
Set it Free by Allrounda Beats ► www.allroundabeats.com/beat-s...
Music sampled from Open Up Your Love by The Whispers

[@ogier300]

One strength of Prey is that I'd be willing to have watched Naru's story unfold even without the Predator showing up. Which was one of the strengths of the original Predator. There's a good story & character already forming the spine of the movie, and then here's the swerve...

[@ProfDCoy]

Damn, I never thought about it that way: a good Predator movie sets up a DIFFERENT good movie, and then it adds a Predator.

[@skyfryer1223]

I enjoyed the first half of her story and the film. But it just started to reduce itself towards the end because the plot needed to fit her story. She went from being scared of a mountain lion and a bear, to struggling to best one young native hunter, to dispatching multiple trappers like John Wick to outsmarting and killing an interstellar alien who spends its entire life hunting. All of that in the span of a day. There were far more interesting ways to show her strengths without making her infallible by the end. Naru was pretty much pulling off acrobatics like Black Widow in MCU in that end showdown. There was also that sacriligious retcon of Andolini from the short story that was already told years ago. Which kind of made me think the director didn't know the lore inside out as he kept saying lol. It was still head and shoulders above The Predator. But it definitely doesn't hold up next to Predator 2 and Predators. I'd love to know what the creator thinks of Prey. Because it's the antithesis to the reason he created the monster lol

[@brightsunsmedia]

@@ProfDCoy This might be the absolute best and most concise summary of Predator movies that I have ever seen.

[@BeastscopesCL]

​@@skyfryer1223I assume you also critique the over the top 80's action hero gunfights of the original film?

[@carn9507]

@@skyfryer1223 'sacriligious retcon'? Who wrote that short story and was it actually considered official and canon to the films or simply canon to the Dark Horse comics continuity? I owned the Decade of Dark Horse book for a while back in late 90s (I'd also wanted an issue from a couple months later than had an Aliens story but sales of the first couple issues weren't strong at my then only remotely nearby comic shop and so they didn't order more). Thought that story was fine but I don't have any issue with Prey overwriting it and making it an alternate universe timeline sorta thing And in my opinion Prey certainly beats Predators (which I find a total chore to sit through and problematic lead actor) and Predator 2 (which I enjoy and has some great scenes but it's got a lot of issues).

[@folkengames]

"Nevermind saving the world, can you save yourself" is a film genre I have much enjoyed. Prey is beautiful.

[@JustMe-ne5dw]

Couldn’t agree more. Gets to what’s most important in a hurry.

[@JustMe-ne5dw]

“It’s ok to tell small stories again.” I have to add that “Logan” also did this. I had several “discussions”about whether or not Logan was better than End Game, and I stand by that it was. For the same reason Prey is so stand out. Rather than saving the world, something that no one can relate to, it focuses on just saving the people you love and just how difficult even that is. Something I think far more people can relate to.

[@KingOfWinter]

@JustMe-ne5dw ok I’ll give you Logan is better than End Game. I would say just slightly but that’s just my opinion and neither here nor there BUT Logan is not better than Infinity War which is basically the same movie as End Game just done better but with a bleaker ending. What say you to that?

[@dapeach06]

Logan is a million times better than Endgame or Infinity War

[@JustMe-ne5dw]

@@KingOfWinter I understand why people love the character arc of Tony Stark, but at the same time, he’s a billionaire and has been able to enjoy every luxury life has to offer. Again, to me it’s relatability. Most people don’t experience that. Getting old, losing capabilities you used to have, losing a parent, not feeling accepted….this is far more common than the struggles of a billionaire finding his morality.

[@nicolasriveros943]

same. I remember liking Logan back when it came out but leaving kind of a bittersweet taste. But i keept coming back to it and every time i saw it again, i got new details. And now is one of my favorite films ever. While i didn't watched Endgame ever again since it hits theatres back in the day

[@JustMe-ne5dw]

@@nicolasriveros943 Endgame is epic, and does epic well, but it just didn’t hit like Logan does. Just thinking about it, Logan is the first time we’ve seen in a movie what might happen to a superhero when they get old. Prior to that movie, they just stop making movies once the actors age out of being able to look young and invincible.

[@blokey8]

I love what a *lean* movie Prey is. There's no franchise bloat, it doesn't feel a need to one-up the scale or stakes of the first film

[@ashishhembrom3905]

That's why it was dull af

[@carn9507]

It's superb and yeah, refreshingly streamlined and slick in an age of over the top messy and chaotic franchise filmmaking.

[@blokey8]

@@carn9507 and that almost certainly made it easier to commit to plentiful location shooting, etc

[@carn9507]

@@blokey8 locations I neeeeed to see on the big screen (like i wished for in another comment a 'Predator / Prey' double feature at cinemas would be so awesome!). I've watched both movies countless times on my TV but I've never even experienced the first one on the big screen. I did recently finally get to see Aliens at a cinema though and it was almost like watching it for the first time again! :)

[@blokey8]

I'd do bad, bad things to get that double-bill@@carn9507

[@celinamaeeeee]

I do wish you had talked more about the impact this movie made on cinema as far as native american representation. the respect and care and dedication to having native writers and consultants on this film is so palpable. my brother cried when watching the movie because it felt made with love for our people. not to mention the fact that this film was also dubbed in comanche. which is bonkers expensive and the wanted to make sure they did that for native people.

[@ChanoWilliams]

I watched it twice just so I could experience it dubbed and I have to say I prefer the dubbed version! It feels even more authentic. Originally I thought they filmed scenes twice, once in each language. Now THAT would've been expensive, but it also would've been super epic. I'm glad for the dub though. Such a beautiful film.

[@wpaunan]

THIS!

[@FanWithNoName94]

They didn’t sound like native Americans at all

[@celinamaeeeee]

@@FanWithNoName94 they are comanche people! and they spoke in comanche in the film but also did a dub! indigenous languages are plenty and varied so i am not sure what you mean by ‘sounding native american’

[@poursperfectpints]

Predator 2 has some brilliant, often overlooked subtext. It released just before the LA Race Riots. And it's a movie where, in an environment of over the top gang war, the Predator singles out a cop with a laundry list of excessive force complaints as the most worthy prey.

[@impofstpete727]

To add to something unbelievable about this film, they cared enough to also do the dialog in the proper language for one version. Yeah, there's two versions and one is mostly subtitled.

[@JustMe-ne5dw]

Someone else said in the comments that she could tell it was made with love for the Comanche specifically because of that. I think it’s awesome that in revisiting the western genre, they get a true voice from their own language to create a new myth.

[@titaniumteddybear]

Thank you for mentioning that 'Predators' is actually a pretty damn good movie. Robert Rodriguez is chronically underappreciated. That film was both a love letter and a mirror to the original 'Predator'.

[@R4GEing]

Can't forgive him for what he did to my boy Boba fett though

[@Poodlestroop]

Predators is so good and so little remembered. I love it.

[@Sousyned]

@@R4GEingthe first episode he directed, we missed the credits… literally turned to my brother and said WTH, This looks like a bad Robert Rodriguez parody? Oops. Lol, he’s a parody of himself on Boba Fett, and it’s just soo out of place.

[@lowercase21]

I loved that move too!! Can't believe ppl didn't like it along with Prometheus.

[@Wordfishtrombone]

I would watch Prey in the theaters so many times!

[@elisabethb.131]

I watched this with my brother (both in the second half of our 30s) thinking we were going to see 'the newest Disney film'(oh old and naïve we were), because we wanted something easy to watch after a tiring day. We must've looked hilarious as we figured out that this was not that, but neither of us was disappointed. It was a bit 'what the effy', because neither of us was familiar with the franchise beyond it's name and concept. But this is a good film. Even as a standalone.

[@MatthewMe]

Prey is a masterpiece, without a doubt. It is either #1 or #2 in the series to me, and I say that as someone who has huge nostalgia for the first one. I was just the right age when it came out. Prey was the first since Predator 2 that didn't make me cringe at some point, and I was completely invested 5 minutes in. Whatever the grander lesson, I want more movies made with this ethos.

[@dapeach06]

Rewatch Predator 2, it's got a LOT of cringey moments, including the premise, which is a conservative fantasy of a city overrun by gangs of people of color, and the police in the 90s somehow being the good guys

[@DumbDrummer610]

I hope something as simply beautiful as Prey can be done in the Alien franchise

[@josephhawkins7974]

We do have the new one coming from Fede Alvarez now!

[@Nateical]

i watched/rewatched all the predator and alien movies earlier this year and i did not expect Prey to end up being my second favorite of them overall (just after Alien), but it is! Gorgeous delightful cool movie. A perfect refreshing note to end that marathon on

[@sangdrako]

We need more predator movies like this one. The predator culture as hunters through human generations is a really cool concepts

[@natemiller6363]

It's actually fine not to beat the absolute piss out of a good concept.

[@GCdevine1]

It’s literally all they need to do and people will love it. It’s like the Highlander of Predators

[@jaymc7042]

@@GCdevine1Shoot, theres an idea right there. Predator vs a Scottish Highlander.!

[@spaceace9103]

​@@natemiller6363Get where you're coming from, but as long as they're well made I don't mind

[@Dilmahkana]

Fun fact: there's another movie called Prey (2019) that's about "A young man surviving an island retreat while a sinister force hunts him, leaving bodies in its wake". I watched about 15mins of this wondering when the Predator/ Comanche stuff was going to start happening... The dangers of not using 'legal' methods of watching films...

[@singularrookhart7501]

Love this video... but I twice noticed that you mentioned Shane Black and then showed footage Richard Chavez, which felt like it was suggesting that that actor was Shane. Both times were good reaction faces, so perhaps it's on purpose?

[@Medwaypvb]

I was just about to post the same thing. 👍

[@DadJokeCinema]

This is Movies with Mikey firing on all cylinders, the secret sauce I've loved from this channel for nearly a decade now. A small (in scope) deserving movie, the rocky path to creation (pun intended), the connection to current events in the world, the call to action for the industry and fans...speaking of the power of nostalgia, this video did it for me.

[@peterherron4222]

I cannot adequately describe just how much I loved this movie

[@tefoca]

The casting and acting were also superb. Amber Midthunder was amazing.

[@Threvlin]

This movie was such a joy, glad to see it continuing getting coverage.

[@k.j.broadley6786]

This was the first predator movie I saw, and it was one of my favorite movies of the year.

[@sirmongrel511]

So have you watched the first one or any of the others yet?

[@webheadwonder9597]

I love and have been chronically disappointed by the Predator franchise. Prey was everything I wanted and never knew I'd get. I've rewatched it so many times. And honestly, it's what I desperately want for Star Wars too, another franchise lost in the weeds of 'too much'

[@19MAD95]

Predator 1 was an amazing action movie. Like front to back it’s just pure action.

[@francistaylor1822]

Loved the first predator but I really think Prey is a better movie.

[@danielland3767]

​@@francistaylor1822same

[@buffyVampslyr364]

This is actually the only Predator film I've ever watched. And I still think it would be hard to convince me it's not the best one. It's one of the most well executed but simple stories I've ever seen.

[@terranncegilmore]

Mikey and Prey. Two of my favorite things.

[@FireFighter214]

BUT DID YOU KNOW: The fact that Naru whistles to get the Predator's attention at the end is significant. Traditionally, Comanche never whistled because they believed it could summon demons. So when you said she crawled through hell rings even more true because at the end she was metaphorically summoning the devil.

[@sachinaraszkiewicz785]

What an awesome piece of knowledge, thanks!

[@fredskull1618]

Great analysis of the Predator franchise, Mikey! The financial rollercoaster from the original to Predator 2, and the cultural snapshot that the latter film provides, is pure gold. Schwarzenegger's absence was definitely felt, but Danny Glover and Gary Busey brought their unique energies that kept us intrigued. "Predators" was a mixed bag, but I appreciated the effort. Shane Black's 2018 film might have dared to take risks, but it was such a mess. "PREY" is simply a masterpiece. Dan Trachtenberg's bold vision showcases what a versatile and inventive director can bring to a franchise. He meshed respect for the original with groundbreaking originality.

[@eliyugend4660]

8:55 seriously the presence of walton goggins instantly skyrockets my interest in literally anything

[@EricGranata]

Dude. I watched Prey immediately after watching your essay. Holy smokes that’s a good movie!

[@arturcirilo7601]

I still want a directors cut or something like it from this film in Comanche.

[@timothyhicks3643]

Agreed, I wish the dialogue was in Comanche with an available English dub, instead of the other way around! Of course I will be very surprised if I ever see something like that happen for a big Hollywood project…

[@anezay4987]

"2016 - a hellscape in training" is such good line.

[@ethicaltechnical]

I hate these videos aren't getting the views they used to. Mikey is still at the top of his game and producing the best video essays on KZbin.

[@oscardiggs246]

Mikey turns out carefully written and thought out videos that take time to craft. KZbin rewards turning out crappy throwaway content twice a week to keep the algorithm fed with cheap content. Excuse me while I go water my garden with electrolytes.

[@lordmorklen5166]

Prey made me feel like THIS is the Predator video game I want. Two hunters, one proving ground. The more you hunt, the more you learn. The better gear you get. The same with the Predator. Every once in a while you come across either an "enemy camp" where you use the skills you've learned to clear it out or a camp cleared by your enemy and you both use the aftermath to scope out the skills and tools and try to match it. Every now and then when you're feeling brave, you set up a trap where a battle ensues which ends with either death or escape and that goes on till you succeed.

[@HaileyJaqua]

One of my favorite things is watching/listening to long videos while I clean the dishes. Today I had a completely full sink and like the return of Jesus himself, there you were waiting with open arms. A brand new video on a movie I loved and it’s 26 minutes long. HE IS THE MESSIAH

[@adamgoode8997]

Yes!!! A Mikey video! I'm having a bad day and it just got at least a little better!

[@markfudge5642]

I was thinking much you said would apply to Logan also. You are so right about smaller films.

[@fartzinwind]

Makes me happy when a new Mikey post pops up before even caring about what movie it's about.

[@josephhawkins7974]

I avoided this one until I'd finally gotten around to watching Prey. This movie was incredible, and I love your take on it my dude.

[@ADarrell]

Predator represents more than it should. A true credit to all involved.

[@celestialcass]

This movie is my favorite predator movie by far- but I am indigenous and had never watched the original until last year, so I may be biased, or unburdened by nostalgia, depending on how you see it.

[@trentfarrell]

A Movies with Mikey about my favorite movie of last year? Let’s gooooo.

[@johnnychopsocky]

8:54 "Also... Walton Goggins" My man, speaking my language

[@xliquidflames]

Best movie channel on KZbin. I wish I could write as well as these folks. I love his voice both narratively and in narration. What a great review of a great movie.

[@awglasgo]

"Pay your artists and listen to them" Mikey, you nailed it. Bravo sir

[@Coconut-219]

Just remember to actually hire *ARTISTS* instead of activists and you shouldn't run into any issues hopefully...

[@Kruudelis]

I love this movie so much. Great job as always, Mikey!

[@spehizle]

I have had my fingers crossed that Mikey would do this one. Best Predator film since the original. And it opens the door for more historical Predator films!

[@smccut]

Prey was a great movie. I’m glad they went back to their roots.

[@milesarmstrong2990]

Once again you have taken a thing I love and informed me why I love it. I would have still loved Prey with out this video, but I could not explain it to myself as well as you explained to me.

[@CuratedCinema]

Love this movie. We can only hope Hollywood takes the right notes given its success. Though it is a bit concerning that prey has had this much success despite not having a theatrical release.

[@DrySushi]

Prey is easily in my top ten best films made in the last decade and top ten favorites.

[@marchenoir44]

SO many Movies With Mikey TLDRs echo the same and necessary sentiment: "TAKE CHANCES ON ARTISTS, NOT JUST IP" Thank you for that.

[@marchenoir44]

Also... There's no way that the work of modern horror creators like Jordan Peele and Ari Aster hasn't shed light on how genre films can become contained and intense lenses for story telling.

[@xen2297]

You really gotta put more vidyas out, Mikey. Everything you make is just a joy

[@peacecitizen1]

Your praise of this movie is why I will now watch it.

[@willieentrekin5979]

Man, I love your stuff! Y’all are the reason I’m going to Nebula. Like right now. Thanks again!

[@northwesternbelle]

Such a good movie, and such a beautiful tribute to it. Thanks, Mikey!! Hope you're doing well

[@DainLaguna]

Predators IS good actually! And Prey is a goddamned masterpiece.

[@hibiscusman]

Seeing this pop up in my feed made me finally go watch this and I don't regret it. Thanks for the push, awesome awesome awesome.

[@WillCoddington]

Prey was the first movie since the first John Wick that made me stand up and cheer immediately after seeing it. Like, an audible involuntary "F yeah"

[@hamilpatel4025]

I've been loving this movie since it released. Watched it 3 times that month and at least twice a year since. Great video!

[@NateDogg2888]

Prey was great. Still holding a nostalgia candle for Predator 2

[@richteffekt]

Just popping over from Nebula (after giving the 'Turtles episode the first of likely a good number of watches) - thank you Mikey for your constantly great output. ❤

[@Limubi1]

Loved this

[@hunterhaller4065]

Very happy to see more talk about this one 😄 we may not get that theatrical run but I was pleased to see the listing for the blu ray this week!

[@MarxistMaverick]

I still remember watching Prey and feeling empty, yet content. Thanks for the video

[@hollandscottthomas]

I just rewatched this film last week, so this is perfect timing!

[@zughoytim]

Another perfect Moveis With Mikey! Thanks so much, and you are rigth. It is the best predator sequel.

[@hiimchrisj]

You ever just think about the fact that since Naru has the pistol from Predator 2 that means at some point in her life she's going to have to deal with Predators again in a situation that results in one of them taking that pistol as a trophy? It's a little grim.

[@RealBradMiller]

And they could subvert expectations on how that is retrieved. 👍👍

[@willneisen2245]

Love your stuff man. Would love to see you take on Rango (But whatever you do is great)

[@superkeaton9912]

Got a lot of love for Pred 1, 2, Predators, and Prey. Prey remind me of Bumblebee. The collapse of a franchise down to a small movie with few characters, an emotional throughpoint, and a genuinely love of the material that is felt throughout the entire movie. Hopefully Prey inspires a better follow-up than Bumblebee did...

[@jacoblester8477]

Big thing I loved about the dungeon and dragons movie was it felt like a d and d campaign and it was written and directed by people who actually like dand. Just do that producer guys!

[@awhitney3063]

Predator has been one of my go-to comfort movies since I was in college, and when Prey came out on Hulu I watched it on a whim thinking 'Oh huh, they made another silly Predator movie' thinking it'd be more of the same nonsense as the rest of the sequels. Boy was I so wrong - that movie is a legit banger, you don't need to have seen any of the other Predator films to 'get' it, and while it will add some interesting context it entirely stands on it's own with a compelling and satisfying narrative. The effects were awesome and I was pleased at how they managed to illustrate her abilities through other physical challenges before she went up against the Predator in the end, and how her cleverness was the factor that won the day, just like it did for Arnold. It's now one of my favorites to rewatch just because it's so damn good.

[@davidfausel9029]

Yes yes YES. Home run of a video, sir :-)

[@B0tch0]

I got a lifetime membership a couple years ago. Best investment ever! Honestly it's great.

[@BenArcher]

Damn this is a banger. Thank you.

[@rhodrage]

Remembering the US has Hulu and Disney+ separately makes me kinda glad that D+ encompasses it all here.

[@OptikRvB]

So glad this is coming to physical media now. Now we gotta wait for Netflix to wake up an put stuff like Spectral, Midnight Mass, an Fear Street on disc

[@JohnnyBRad]

Seeing this getting a physical release made me so incredibly happy! Already have it pre-ordered

[@Maj_Kasul]

A lifetime of joy ❤

[@TobyWild]

Prey is an absolute banger, when I first saw it, it went into my top 20 of all time.

[@ShockArcl1te]

Oh.. oh yes. *Excellent* choice of movie for analysis!

[@bopbop140]

Yes!!! This movie never got enough love

[@marioibarra4265]

This could be the start of an ancient series of predator films. Have predator attacking Aztec warriors, Greek Spartans, African Zulu warriors, etc

[@salvation122]

Woah just hard into the intro, I was not prepared

[@Steve-bm3cq]

Don't you wish that prey had a post credit scene involving an alternative reality predator hinting at a multiverse?

[@Whyiseverythingthesame]

I watched this in the middle of playing starfield. Take that honor as you will. And I haven't watched you in a long time.

[@hogfather22]

I would have liked the reveal that is was the Predator a little later in the film but overall it was satisfying.

[@literalsarcasm1830]

Bakersfield, California. A great place to be from.

[@squelish]

Shane Black played the character with the glasses... The guy who told the dirty joke on the helicopter... But I think you probably knew that already, you sly dog you... Great video as usual! I love Prey when I watched it the first time and I tried to get everybody I knew to watch it and it seems like no one was interested, such a shame. Also, can we get some sort of hour-long megamix of your theme song or something cuz I love that jam ✌️😛

[@oscardiggs246]

Yes, I think Mikey is making a meta textual comment in the fact that the actors get credit for what the writers do by showing Richard Chavez’ Pancho when referencing Shane Black’s Hawkins. Or he’s just Trolling.

[@wpaunan]

Ooooo. I think you nailed how these BIG ACTION franchises can come back and actually work. Terminator has sucked, Aliens as well. Give us small stories. Make them claustrophobic with little guy/girl stakes.

[@deltapapa42]

It is telling that seeing this Video made me have to finally go and watch Prey.

[@tommyross7529]

Love love love!!!

[@GeekMasterGames]

Lightning in a bottle. I don't know if Hollywood is even capable of making a movie with this scope and precision, at least not without some major changes.

[@jeremyclark4500]

Love the vid. Would have loved to see some more focus on the acting which I think is underrated

[@Barrinade64]

as a bakersfield resident you have NO idea how jarring 5:26 was

[@VTRDC27]

I would say perfect is taking it too far, but it definitely is the best one since the first. And I loved that there was no EXTENDED FRANCHISE BAITING.

[@adamsteinbacher2629]

Who else has this banger pre-ordered on 4k physical? It's not gonna happen often so go buy that sheeeeeiiiitttt. Can't wait to watch it in decent quality and without ads finally. And as usual, amazing work Mikey!

[@4bschaum]

i was 100% convinved this movie would suck after a friend talked me into watching it so i loved this movie way more than i should. it was awesome.

[@ravencorvus7903]

Brb gonna watch Prey now

[@finn8460]

I watch FilmJoy videos for films I haven't even seen.

[@meander112]

Watched this very early on Nebula! Hooray!