Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Prey (2021)
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Shooter stalks men in woods; strong violence, language.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Prey (2021)
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Unfinished
Prey 2021 on Netflix
What's the Story?
The PREY of the story, five work friends, go for a hike in the wilderness. It's the day after Roman's (David Kross) (unseen) drunken bachelor party, and amidst talk of fundraising for their company and who will get what jobs when it all settles, shots are fired. One by one, the men are pegged, some killed. We learn little of who the men are, but they fight amongst themselves like kids, and run around the woods without the slightest hint of a plan. Who is shooting, and why?
Is It Any Good?
At one point in the ridiculous Prey, one hiker being stalked by a killer ventures, "Who says it has to make sense?" That seems to be the guiding motto of this film. For that reason, no amount of plot revelation can "spoil" this long, dull, pointless slog, as there's no payoff to even the most devoted and engrossed viewer. Those with the endurance to sit through the full 87 minutes may do best to forgo the horror music and simply turn the sound off, because the manipulative music adds nothing to the creakily manufactured tension. Our understanding of who these people are is limited to the content of speeches delivered by angry men accusing others of wrongdoing, which isn't the same as character development. Every time the hikers have the chance to make a sensible decision, they do the opposite. They abandon a car that could drive them to safety, they run off without supplies, they walk out in the open with a shooter following them, and they leave shelter and a telephone to run without a compass through the brush. A guy whose bandage shows bleeding in one scene has a spotless bandage a few scenes later. At one point, the shooter has everyone at gunpoint and lets them go. Why?
The other questions viewers may ask themselves as they try to stay interested in the events include: Will everyone get shot and die? What is the filmmaker doing to make us care? Will we learn who is doing the shooting? Will we learn why? Can any of the answers justify the numbing sameness of this narrative? Not only do we have no investment in the fate of these people, but what little we gradually do learn about them makes us less likely to care than when we knew nothing at all.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what this film wants viewers to take away from the experience. Is the message that life is random and some people are unlucky? What are other possible messages?
Why do you think character development is an important factor in eliciting audience involvement? Do you think using exposition to talk about people's treachery is the same thing as character development?
What changes might the filmmaker have made to give this movie substance?
What makes a good horror movie? What are your favorites, and how does this measure up?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 10, 2021
- Cast: David Kross , Hanno Koffler , Robert Finster , Yung Ngo , Livia Mathes , Klaus Steinbacher
- Director: Thomas Sieben
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate