Amber Midthunder -- who stars as main protagonist Naru in 20th Century Studios' new Hulu-exclusive Predator prequel film, Prey -- has spoken to just how dedicated director Dan Trachtenberg was to accurately depicting Native American life in the early 18th century.
Despite the project being a sci-fi action film, as opposed to a grounded period drama, the crew behind Prey took great care to paint an accurate picture of the Comanche Nation as it existed in the year 1717. While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Midthunder explained that a great on-screen example of this is how the character of Naru brushes her teeth.
"Dan at one point said, 'Did people brush their teeth [back then]? Like how did that work?'" Midthunder recalled. As it turns out, Prey producer Jhane Myers -- a member of the Comanche Nation -- not only provided the film's crew with plenty of reference materials, but knew how to make a period-accurate toothbrush. Naru can be seen using said toothbrush in the film.
Prey Is a Major Win for the Predator Franchise
Prey is the fifth entry in the Predator franchise (not counting the duology of Alien vs Predator crossover films), following Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018). Set 300 years in the past, the prequel film "tells the story of a young Comanche woman, a fierce and highly skilled warrior, who stalks, and ultimately confronts, a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal."
Prey has already proven to be a big hit with critics. The film currently holds a Certified Fresh rating of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning it's not only the best-reviewed Predator movie since the original, but the best-reviewed Predator movie, period. "The rare action thriller that spikes adrenaline without skimping on character development, Prey is a Predator sequel done right," the critics' consensus reads.
In his official review of the film, CBR's own Brandon Zachary said, "The action in Prey alone would make the film worth checking out, and there's so much else to the film that elevates it. It's easily the best-directed film in the Predator franchise, and the streamlined (but specific) storyline gives the cast plenty of room to flesh out their characters with only a relative handful of dialogue-heavy scenes... Even those who have never seen a Predator film before should make sure to check out Prey."
Prey is streaming on Hulu now.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter