The prequel "Prey" (prey in English), which is released Friday in France on Disney + and in the United States on Hulu, takes perhaps the most improbable turn of the saga Predator, which began in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Since then, the bloodthirsty hunting creatures have slaughtered humans in the Central American jungle, Los Angeles and on distant planets, even rubbing shoulders with monsters from the "Alien" franchise in two films.
The plot of the last opus takes place in North America and much earlier, in 1719, the predator there chasing pell-mell Comanche warriors, French trappers and bison.
During a preview at Comic-Con in San Diego last month, director Dan Trachtenberg explained that he drew his inspiration from the fact that "Native Americans, and more particularly the Comanches, are often relegated to the rank of sidekicks or villains, and never heroes" in the movie industry.
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In the 19th century, members of this tribe fought Europeans and other indigenous peoples on the southern plains of what is now the United States, earning a reputation as fearsome warriors.
Hollywood has often portrayed them as brutal enemies, as in John Ford's cult western, "The Prisoner of the Desert" (1956).
In “Prey,” Native American actress Amber Midthunder plays Naru, a young Comanche woman who must both fight sexism within her tribe and the invisible monster that stalks them.
Disney-owned 20th Century Studios' decision to "back an action movie that not only has a heroine, but an Indigenous heroine as well...That's something I don't think I've ever seen" , said the actress.
The lines of the film were recorded in English, French and Comanche, but the Native American actors then re-recorded their text so that the feature film could be played in its entirety in the native language, a first for a big production according to producer Jhane Myers, Comanche herself.
© 2022 AFP