Prey
(2006/Weinstein Company)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: D Film: C
Peter
Weller and Bridget Moynahan are a couple who take their family to an African
game reverse, only to find out that they will become the Prey (2006) for a pride of hungry, angry, territorial, murderous
lions. If you think the concept behind
Darren James Roodt’s film sounds silly, you have to see it to see how bad it
is.
Although
the leads are likable, this film has little story and early on, it seems the
screenplay (by Roodt and two others!) knows this and tries to stretch out
things between attacks. It gets so
obnoxious you start rooting for the lions just to end the thing. The biggest mistake about these “nature
attack” films is that the few made since the 1980s have tried too hard, making
the attacks unnatural and unbelievable.
That is the tip of the many troubles this one has.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is not that good, with daylight looking
iffy and detail a problem.
Cinematographer Michael Brierley, S.A.S.C., offers images that are too
static and unmemorable to work or be effective.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 has surrounds that are good, but the screaming and
roaring get annoying quickly for a mix that is nothing special to begin
with. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
