'The Prey: Special Edition' [2-Disc Blu-ray]
(Debbie Thureson, Steve Bond, Lori Lethin, et al / 2-Disc Blu-ray / NR / (1983) 2019 / Arrow Films UK)
Overview: It's not human, and it's got an axe! One of the most underrated efforts to hail from the slice-and-dice boom, 'The Prey' at last emerges from the VHS wilderness in a brand new 2K restoration from the recently unearthed original camera negative.
Three young couples set off into the mountains for a weekend of climbing, drinking and lovemaking. But little do they know that they are stumbling into the terrain of a fearsome predator - a wild man, horrifically burned as a child many years ago in a fire which engulfed his gypsy camp and left only him alive. Now he roams the woods in search of his next human prey.
Blu-ray Verdict: Horror film makers had it right in the '80s. Maybe they weren't the most talented directors and they probably had one movie to their credit, but what they did, they did a pretty good job of.
'The Prey' is a typical '80s effort for horror films. But what makes films like this so fun and actually quite scary is the location. The forest is a perfect setting for horror films. It is actually too bad that more films don't utilize the forest more.
But if you think of some of the good scary films from the early '80s, they utilized a forest in some way. Think of 'Evil Dead', 'Friday the 13th's and even films like 'Sleep Away Camp'.
There is something sinister and mysterious about a dark forest, late at night. You never want to walk alone in the woods. Even now later in life, no one wants to.
What is good about this film is some of the mystery and the gore is great. You can tell this film wasn't blessed with a huge budget, but what it had it did quite well with.
I'm not saying that this is classic cinema, even in a horror genre, but it is scary and it is effective with what it wants to be. And now that it's been brought "back to life" on crystal clear Blu-ray by those fine folks at MVD Visual, well, buy it and settle in tonight with it (and some friends, of course!)
I mean, come on now, you just might have some fun, because if you are one of the people that think 'Urban Legend' and 'I Know What You Did ...' are scary films, then check out a REAL film that knows how to frighten you. This is one of those films, trust me!
OK, sure, in closing, there definitely are much better films in this vein, but over all 'The Prey' may be watchable enough for die-hard slasher fans. Although one might be more rewarded to watch 'Just Before Dawn' (1981), 'Wrong Turn' (2003), or even 'The Final Terror' (1983) again. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs via a brand new Blu-ray (1080p) HD presentation and comes with the Special Features of:
Exclusive slipcover featuring original UK home video artwork
Three versions of the feature: Original US Theatrical Cut, International Cut and Composite cut!
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Original uncompressed mono audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on the film by Ewan Cant
Disc One - US Theatrical Cut:
Brand new 2K restoration of the filmmaker-approved US Theatrical Cut from the original camera negative
Brand new audio commentary with producer Summer Brown
Brand new audio commentary with Amanda Reyes and Ewan Cant
Audio Interview with director Edwin Scott Brown
Brand new on-camera interview with actress Debbie Thureson
Brand new on-camera interview with actress Lori Lethin
Brand new on-camera interview with actor Carel Struycken
Brand new on-camera interview with actor Jackson Bostwick
In Search of The Prey - Ewan Cant and actress Debbie Thureson revisit the original shooting locations in Idyllwild, California
Q&A from Texas Frightmare Weekend 2019 with Lori Lethin, Carel Struycken and Jackson Bostwick
Texas Frightmare Weekend 2019 Audience Reaction Track
VHS Trailer and TV Spot
Original Script (BD-ROM Content)
Disc Two - International & Composite Cuts
Brand new 2K restoration of the International Cut featuring the infamous gyspy flashback footage, added at a later date by the producers without the approval of the original filmmakers
Composite Cut combining footage from both the US Theatrical and International Cuts, for the ultimate The Prey fan experience!
Extended Outtakes reel - 45 mins of never-before-seen outtakes
'The Prey' Original Movie Trailer
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