PREY: Ending Explained, Breakdown, and SEQUEL

PREY is the new chapter of the PREDATOR franchise, and it’s easily the best Predator film since 1987. In this video we breakdown the ending to the new film, how it connects to the original movies, and offer some theories on where the franchise goes from here.

#Prey #EndingExplained

We’re going to break down the parallels between this film and the original Predator. But we’re also going to dive into the surprising social commentary this film had to offer regarding the horrible treatment of Native Americans by European colonists. As well as breaking down the barriers on societal gender roles. [clip, Naru wanting to hunt.]

And then we’re going to talk about that epic ending and what it could mean for the future of the Predator franchise. [clip]

Now while this film is technically a prequel to the 1987 Predator. It’s not a prequel in the sense that it shows the origins of the Predator. Some fans had speculated that Prey would be to Predator what Prometheus was to Alien. [clip, Prometheus showing origins of Alien.]

But it’s not that at all. Prey is really your standard Predator film. Predator comes to earth, Predator kills some humans, Predator and the humans fight, the end. [clip, Predator laughing.]

But one of the things that makes this film stand out amongst the other Predator films is the era it takes place in, 1719. That’s two hundred and sixty eight years prior to the first film. That means no machine guns or helicopters [clip, “get to the choppa!”]

And instead of the Val Verde jungle, we’re in the Northern Great Plains.

The film follows Naru, a young Comanche woman who lives with her mother and brother. Naru doesn’t long for the life assigned to her based on her gender. She doesn’t want to be a gatherer, she wants to be a hunter. [clip]

This is a situation we find in many stories with young protagonists. They want to be something more. They want to take a different path than the one that has been laid out for them–typically by their elders.

Take Luke Skywalker for example. He’s a farm boy from Tatooine who is expected to farm for the rest of his life like his uncle before him. But Luke longs for more than being a moisture farmer, because he is more than a moisture farmer. He has dreams and aspirations that aren’t just mere desires, they’re his destiny. [clip]

Same goes for Naru. She doesn’t just want to hunt, she has to hunt, it’s who she is. And she’s damn good at it too. [clip, Naru being a badass]

Naru’s refusal to fall in line with the role that is expected of her causes friction in her life. Both with her family and with her tribe as a whole. She’s looked at as different and not a team player. [clip]

Naru being born to hunt shows a direct parallel to the Predator. Creatures that we as fans know to basically be intergalactic gamehunters. [clip]

When the Predator arrives on earth, Maru sees its ship flying through the clouds. [clip, ship flying through the clouds creating thunder and lightning.]

She thinks that the ship is a thunderbird. [clip]

A thunderbird is a creature of legend in many indeingonous cultures. The thunderbird is said to create lightning and thunder as it flaps its wings while flying in the sky. The same way the Predator’s ship did.

Naru takes this supposed thunderbird sighting as a sign that she is ready to be taken on her first big hunt. When she tells her brother this, he says to her– [clip, “if you’re wanting to hunt something, it’s hunting you.”]

This of course foreshadows that the two master hunters, Naru and the Predator, will soon be hunting one another. [clip]

And speaking of Naru’s first big hunt and the parallels between her and the Predator. I think that the Predator in this film may in fact be on its first big hunt. You’ll notice that the ship it comes in doesn’t land, but simply drops off the Predator and then flies away. [clip]

This makes me think that the Predator has been dropped off on earth by its fellow Yautja (YAWT-SHAW), that’s the Predator’s species, for its first big hunt. And it’s mission is to find the strongest and most formidable opponent on earth, kill it, and bring back its skull when the hunt is over. [clip, Predator spraying down the wolf skull and keeping it.]

[okeyakono]

When the Natives spoke English, it is assumed they were speaking comanche, this is a technique commonly used like in the warrior series. When the translator was talking to Naru, he said he spoke many languages showing that he was assumed to speaking in comanche. This is done to appeal to a wider audience.

[Inurdot]

Just so you know, the Comanche version is in the extras menu, at least in the countries where it was released on Disney+. And second, the credits where it shows the story of the film teased the sequel by showing more Predators arriving at Naru's camp.

[maihan]

My expectations were low for this movie and I thought it would flop. It was actually so good! Loved every scene

[ThatDudeinBlue]

When I finished this movie tonight I said to myself.

"Finally."

Such a good time.

[liliththesolarexalted]

I loved this movie. I really hope it starts a trend of Predators hunting humans in countless ancient eras, showing why we are such a favored species for them to fight.

[gentlepapa]

This was a wonderful movie. The best original streaming movie of the year, not a dull moment at all. For me, Amber Midthunder offered an amazing bit of acting, since the role required a lot of non-verbal acting.

Sci-fi wise, it's up there with the original. Story-wise, it's almost a different genre. Whereas Predator was a pure action adventure, Prey is a journey of self development for an individual and a civilization considered of lesser value. Truly, a great layered story. I would love for the storyline to revisit Naru one more time before moving on to another venue.

[MattSaysHello]

I’d love to see a Predator movie set in the Samurai era.

[JuanMeneses]

I like how the technology of the Yautja is also like 200 years earlier. The red camouflage instead of blue, the different projectiles, and the bone helmet instead of the metal helmet.
Super cool touch.

[iNeverHadMercy]

"PREY" is a much welcomed addition to the "Predator" franchise. Glad they made a full-bodied film and introduced us to yet ANOTHER "type" of Predator. The sequel for this Trilogy must bring us more "badass" EVERYTHING

[Alejandroigarabide]

The characters in the film are speaking their language, but the movie shows it to us as modern english, the same as it would if the story was set in ancient Egypt, medieval France or imperial China.
But also, I heard somewhere that the director made another version where the natives spoke their more accurate native language. Not a dub, but a whole alternative cut with different shots.

[Tokyo_Joey]

You missed quite a lot in this breakdown including some callbacks to the past movies. I feel the use of English was explained in the movie when the translator tries different languages to find one she understands. While we're hearing English, they're actually speaking Comanche. English is just being used to make it more watchable for a wider audience, and easier for the cast. Just imagine you're watching a dubbed movie. As for your ideas about a sequel, in the end credits, we see the Predator ships (3 of them) returning. We know they somehow get hold of the pistol that Naru has. I think the Predators getting revenge would be out of character and go against what they stand for. In Predator 2, when Glover defeats the Predator, the ships return to greet Glover, show him respect and reward him (giving him the gun). Therefore, I just saw the Predator ships returning in Prey as them collecting the body and congratulating Naru, with an exchange of gifts. But I could be wrong.

[adrianvanleeuwen]

This is probably the most surprising sci fi movie of this year! Amazing story that is unique compared to many other movies out there. This is a must watch for anyone, with its excellent story and strong developed characters (brother and sister). Great to see the smart strategies to take on the Predator!

[that.canadian.vaper.guyTCVG]

They FINALLY made an amazing Predator movie! They absolutely nailed the same vision of the original Predator, and it didnt feel like some abstract alien movie where the predators are trying to reach the apex of evolution. It's a simple hunting, violent, and passage of rights movie.

As a Native American that lives in Canada, seeing Native Americans portrayed in a massive film like this is awesome. But my favorite aspect of the film was the correlation between the Predator and Naru.

The Predator is on Earth for his right of passage, to become a full fledged Predator. And Naru wants to do the same, but she is never taken seriously because of who she is. But she uses this to her advantage, because the Predator hadn't seen her as a threat, that made her dangerous. Until they finally met in their last showdown, then the Predator finally fought her as a true warrior, but at this point it was too late. Naru had seen how the Predator fights and hunts while the Predator took mercy on her, so she had figured out a strategy to take down the Predator.

[EnragedTofu]

Ever since I saw “Predator 2” and sat in the theater in adoration with the lore; the pistol of Adolini’s from that Yautja clan to Harrigan, after the earlier Predator VHS viewing & all the Dark Horse comics- 30 years later, they finally gave me the prequel I have been waiting for as a longtime 80s fan: a gorgeous film on Comanche life that happens to be a violent as hell Predator prequel.

Hopefully, this is just the start and we’ll get Feudal Japan, Norse Viking, etc, etc done authentically & respectfully and if they pulled this off, their “Alien” project could be what I’ve been hoping for but never received from Scott.

[JonahBoing]

The post credits scene shows that the predators do show up to see them, but after seeing Predator 2, they will probably show respect to the native tribe for defeating a predator, similar to how the main protagonist of Predator 2 was spared at the end.

[Zero-mnqw]

I was legit worried about the dog and the dog legit was the only one who help her out way before the final hunt it was so cool the dog helping her fight top tier

[victorm]

This was honestly the best Predator movie since 2010's Predators. I'm also relieved that the dog didn't die...come on...if you love dogs like me, you know you feel the same way.

[edwardfritz]

I like how the Predator just stares at it like "ah duuurrrr?" And he had time to duck

[TPB]

The delivery on the line "If it bleeds, we can kill it.." was perfect. This and predators are thee best sequels to come out of the franchise and I'm here for it. Love how they tied Pred 2 and Predators into it, loved the pacing of the film, no Pred film has had cinematography like this. Couldn't take my eyes off lead actress. She killed it. Its diamonds compared to Pred vs alien, a mountain of diamonds.

[bubba]

I disagree completely. I think that the Native's speaking English the way they were was awesome. It was to give you a sense of being immersed into their world where they're language is as fluid to the audience as it was to their own people without having to force subtitle reading on the viewers. It's reinforced when the trappers are the ones who's language you can't make out and after she's captured the translator goes from speaking an unrecognizable tongue to her tongue. Even tho it's in english it portrays the feeling we're apart of their culture and hear their language as fluently as our own today.