Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody, low-budget human vs. lion thriller has faith themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Prey (2024)
What's the Story?
In PREY, a doctor named Andrew (Ryan Phillippe) and his missionary wife, Sue (Mena Suvari), are donating their time and skills to help people in Africa. Unfortunately, they're threatened by a militant group and forced to leave. They're taken to a plane along with three American tourists and their guide, Thabo (Jeremy Tardy). The pilot, Grun (Emile Hirsch), is a mercenary sort who demands $10,000 for a seat and won't allow the passengers to take any luggage. After 30 minutes in the air, the engines fail, and the plane crashes, killing one of the tourists and injuring Sue. The group realizes that they're in the Nala Reserve, which is filled with dangerous predator animals, especially lions. Grun, Thabo, and two tourists—Tyler (Dylan Flashner) and Max (Tristan Thompson)—strike out to find a nearby village, while Andrew stays behind to look after Sue. Unfortunately, there are many more challenges to be met—and a few miracles to be had—before any of them get out alive.
Is It Any Good?
The best thing about this low-budget B thriller is its beautiful African nature footage, which seems to have come from a stock footage library. The human part of the story goes quickly and permanently off the rails. Prey—not to be confused with Prey (2019), Prey (2021), or Prey (2022)—uses a few silly techniques to match the animal footage with the human footage, notably POV shots of prowling lions and light-up eyes planted in the darkness. Actual attacks aren't shown, only the bloody aftermath, riddled with claw marks. The humans are either irritating, wealthy, and entitled White Americans or kindly missionaries who spend most of the movie waiting for signs from above rather than taking action. (Astonishingly, miracles do happen, including a well-placed bolt of lightning!) There's an attempt to find redemption for pilot Grun, but it's rushed and feels absurdly false. There's one kindly African character whose role plays into "magical Negro" clichés (and guess what happens to him?), while Zulu people are portrayed as vindictive and violent. In the end, the only takeaway from Prey is that it wants to be a faith-based recruiting movie, but it doesn't make that aspect of things seem very enticing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Prey's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What's appealing about stories that pit humans against nature? What can we learn from them?
Do you feel like Grun is redeemed in the end? Why, or why not?
Andrew chooses several times to do nothing and wait for help from God. Do you agree with his plan? Why, or why not?
Did you notice any positive diverse representation in the movie? What about negative stereotypes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 15, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : March 15, 2024
- Cast : Emile Hirsch , Ryan Phillippe , Mena Suvari
- Director : Mukunda Michael Dewil
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Vertical
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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