You’ll forgive my surprise at seeing a Korean director with the name “Jimmy Henderson.” Oh, I see. He’s not really Korean; judging by his last four films, he’s Cambodian. Well, that clears that right up. Doesn’t it? No? Ok, bio time. Self taught film maker Jimmy Henderson worked in London and moved to Cambodia in 2011. Ok, I guess I sorta see that. Turns out he’s Italian. Wha…?
So this Anglo-Italian-Cambodi-Korea-Martian dude just made another Running Man, and we should all be pleased cuz, you know, Running Man. Sorta. Truth is The Most Dangerous Game is a running (man) theme in movie history; there’s even a James Bond with the plot of men hunting men for sport (although don’t ever admit to anyone that you saw Octopussy. Sshhhh).
In all hunting, I root for The Prey. I just don’t think playing God is all that sporting (“Pray for prey?”). And I pretty much loathe bullies, which is what hunting is all about … but that’s just me. You may have a different take and since I am no vegetarian by any means, you could call me hypocritical and, well, you’re not wrong.
Speaking of things that are wrong, there’s a barbaric prison camp in Cambodia where the inmates are chosen, released, and hunted for sport. I’d like to think we were above that in the 21st century, and although I know this is fiction, I don’t think we’re too far from it in the United States. You’re gonna tell me that unsworn border security yahoos in the US don’t get their jollies off hunting humans regardless of consequence? Yeah, right. I digress. Undercover cop Xin (Gu Shang Wei) gets arrested (on purpose?) and sent to the camp where the sadistic warden (Vithaya Pansringarm) makes sure that Delta remains on “Double Secret Probation.”
What follows is pretty much what one would expect – dudes pay for the right to hunt … and then do so. It’s better than Hollywood version of the same film because we get the feeling that the man with the gun does indeed have significant advantage over the man without one, despite respective skill sets. There is also tension built in the peripherals, like Xin feeling responsible for the other prisoner … and his Interpol partners … and the random farmer giving directions to the hunters … and for the plight of Cambodians who suffered under Khymer Rouge, Agent Orange, and the Steel Curtain. Whatever. The bad news is the action is difficult to follow all the time, especially when night falls and the lack of light makes the camerawork dicey.
There are better versions of this film. The Prey won’t put you entirely to sleep, but it certainly won’t measure up to films like The Raid, either. However, as 2018 goes, this title makes a really good double with The Predator, doncha think?
Hunting rarely explores shades of gray
Only one party opts to take life away
Dynamic? A bore
To even the score
Have you thought about arming The Prey?
Not Rated, 93 Minutes
Director: Jimmy Henderson
Writer: Jimmy Henderson, Michael Hodgson, Kai Miller
Genre: When hobbies get out of control
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Men who imagine themselves as action heroes
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: People who think murder for sport is barbaric
