6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The day after a weird green light is seen in the English sky, a strange young man stops at the country home of two lesbian housemates. It turns out that the man is an alien, and a hungry one.
Starring: Barry Stokes, Sally Faulkner, Glory Annen, Eddie Stacey, Derek KavanaghHorror | 100% |
Mystery | 10% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The behind-the-scenes story on 1977’s “Prey” is extraordinary, with the picture conceived, shot, and released in a matter of months, delivering a sci- fi/horror tale with the minimum of second thoughts, basically committing to the screen anything that was conjured during production. It’s important to remember such creative speed while watching the feature, with the low-budget endeavor often struggling to find things to do between scenes that advance the story. “Prey” is minor, but director Norman J. Warren does what he can with his frightening creative challenge, preserving a few provocative ideas screenwriter Max Cuff inserts into the work.
With its limited locations and handful of actors, "Prey" isn't a visual feast to begin with, but the AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation does a terrific job making the feature seem alive in HD. Detail is key here, with the viewing experience enjoying facial particulars, including make-up achievements (limitations of application are easily spotted), which come through as crisply as possible here. Clothing is fibrous, and the manor house setting is open for examination. Colors are capable, best with period fashion and decorative touches around the house. Violent encounters enjoy a bold blast of blood red. Skintones are natural. Delineation preserves evening encounters. Source is in strong shape, though some mild speckling and a rough reel change are detected.
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix manages to capture the semi-eerie vibe Warren is hunting for, with emphasis on synth coming through with vigor, generating necessary unease without slipping into fuzziness. Dialogue exchanges wrestle with some sibilance issues but remain loud and commanding, handling accents and screaming matches, which take over the third act. Atmospherics are acceptable, keeping wildlife in play with bird chirps.
"Prey" doesn't stretch inspiration far enough, creating a few dead spots where Cuff gives up on providing incidents to explore, and the last act involves a substantial amount of hysterical behavior, which is hard on the sense and does little for the performances. It's a tiny movie with limited goals, but Warren labors to generate something exciting, adding some creepy imagery and blasts of overt violence that highlight so-so special effects. Amazingly, "Prey" sticks the landing, finding way to close out conflicts with some "Tales from the Crypt"-style turns, exiting the picture with a genre sugar rush that almost makes up for the sluggishness of the midsection. Still, despite some gaps in imagination, the film has an appreciation for the macabre and the disorienting, looking to do something a little odder than the average alien visitation effort.
1978
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