The Prey (1984)

User Rating:

2.4/10   

Director:

Edwin Brown

Writers:

Edwin Brown (writer)
Summer Brown (writer)

Release Date:

November 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

It's not human, and it's got an axe!

Plot:

Six campers jaunt off to North Point, where they're promptly stalked and killed by a ghoulish man who ultimately is just looking for a little love.

Plot Keywords:

Sex In Car | Revenge | Lust | Police Officer | Monster

Cast

Debbie Thureson	...	Nancy
Steve Bond	...	Joel
Lori Lethin	...	Bobbie
Robert Wald	...	Skip
Gayle Gannes	...	Gail
Philip Wenckus	...	Greg
Jackson Bostwick	...	Mark O'Brien
Jackie Coogan	...	Lester Tile
Connie Hunter	...	Mary Sylvester
Ted Hayden	...	Frank Sylvester
Garry Goodrow	...	Sgt. Parsons
Carel Struycken	...	The Monster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Leslie	...	Gipsy (uncredited)

Directed by
Edwin Brown		(as Edwin Scott Brown)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Edwin Brown		writer (as Edwin Scott Brown)
Summer Brown		writer

Produced by
Edwin Brown	....	producer (as Edwin Scott Brown)
Summer Brown	....	producer
Frans Rasker	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Don Peake

Cinematography by
Teru Hayashi

Film Editing by
Michael Barnard

Production Design by
Roger Holzberg

Costume Design by
Julie Starr Dresner

Makeup Department
John Carl Buechler	....	makeup effects

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jesse Wayne	....	first assistant director

Stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt coordinator

Production Companies

• Essex Productions

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Thorn EMI Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Starmaker Video (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Norway:(Banned) (1986-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Utah, USA

Company:

Essex Productions

Trivia:

Jackie Coogan's last project.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Characters' voices don't match lip movement; numerous instances within the first 5-10 minutes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in WIthIN (2005/I)

Nature programme meets slasher movie. Strange stuff

I expected this to be dross, but in fact found it reasonably enjoyable. It mixes lame acting and a totally banal plot, with some thoroughly watchable stock footage of wildlife, and a pretty decent finale, with some reasonable killing. Fortunately the film isn't very long, so doesn't try the patience too much. Apparently most versions are cut by a few scenes, and I would like too see the complete film one day, as they might have made the slow first hour more interesting. A lot of people might call this a pretty bad film, but I was quite intrigued by it. The title, and the use of wildlife footage, especially that of animals feeding, seemed to suggest some kind of link between the murders and the natural world, or at least some kind of menace in the natural world. I thought it was a nice idea, implemented in an often successful though pretty strange way. All considered, an OK backwoods slasher, but with too many dull spells.