When it comes to films by Jimmy Henderson the first thing to expect is great pacing and action. I’ve always been fascinated by how the filmmaker takes the Cambodian landscape and creates all these different tales. THE PREY is a throwback to the old Cannon late night film genre where evil wardens live infinitely. New comer Gu Shangwei gives a strong performance as the lead which lines him up for tons of exciting action roles in the near future. If you like big guns, shady wardens and drug dealers with a taste of HUNGER GAMES then THE PREY is right up your alley.
Really you can replace HUNGER GAMES with any survival thriller when discussing THE PREY. What makes the film standout is the nostalgic feel of an 80’s movie on syndication getting a run. The story kicks off as expected but soon enough you get an enjoyment of watching Gu work. Henderson films are legendary on the entertainment factor so don’t expect to live in a particular scene for too long. Before you know if a prison yard fight breaks out of nowhere. All the pure elements of a “you can’t trust anybody” film are on display and the 93 minute watch is more than enough to get the point across.
THE PREY is engaging and vicious on so many levels. It's insane to think of the corruption in other countries but movies like this always bring it home. Action film fans will love the movement of THE PREY while horror films will enjoy the carnage. It’s not the best film from Henderson in my opinion but THE PREY is solid enough to stand with the filmmakers previous titles.
3.5/5
THE PREY is playing limited virtual theaters with a VOD release on August 25th. It is directed by Jimmy Henderson. Written by Jimmy Henderson, Michael Hodgson, Kai Miller. It stars Byron Bishop, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Nophand Boonyai, Vithaya Pansringarm (ONLY GOD FORGIVES), and Gu Shangwei.