Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Prey.
New set photos from Prey reveal a closer look at the impressive practical suit used to bring the new Predator to life. The first Predator film became a big hit upon its release in 1987, kickstarting a franchise that continues to this day. Prey, the most recent entry from director Dan Trachtenberg, transports viewers back to the early 18th century and tells the story of one female Comanche warrior's fight against the first alien Predator to land on Earth. Thus far, the film has been warmly praised by both audiences and critics alike.
As first shown off in trailers and promotional material for the film, the Predator featured in Prey is a little different from previous incarnations. Instead of the distinctive black helmet that the creatures usually wear, the Predator in Prey wears a headpiece that is beige in color and looks like it's made out of bone. Similarly, the new Predator doesn't have the enemy's signature plasmacaster, as first featured in the 1987 original film, and instead wields a laser-guided projectile-based weapon. Despite the differences in design, however, the new Predator in Prey is just as ominous and deadly as ever.
In new set photos shared by Monster Legacy on Facebook, fans of Prey can get an even closer look at the new Predator design and the practical work that went into bringing the monster to life. The photos appear to be from one of the first major confrontations between the Comanche hunting team and the Predator, with several images even showing actor Dane DiLiegro in the Predator costume without his headpiece on between takes. The photos also show off the incredible detail of the Predator suit, with life-like musculature and skin built into the suit's exterior. Check out the set pictures below:
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Although the filmmaking landscape has changed drastically in the years since the first Predator was released, Prey still clearly relied on practical techniques to bring the alien creature to life, just like in the original film. The updated Predator design is similar to the creature's design in other entries in the franchise, but the new set photos also highlight many of the subtle differences, especially in terms of the design of the head and face. The overlook of the creature is also notably less "tactical" and more stripped down and animalistic, playing into the larger themes being explored in Prey.
Some sequences in Prey clearly wouldn't be possible without the use of CGI, but it's refreshing to see such a big emphasis on capturing the Predator as practically as possible. If the creature were entirely CGI, as has happened with Predator's sister franchise, Alien, it's likely that many of the scenes in the film wouldn't have been as impactful or felt as visceral. Considering the positive reaction to Prey thus far, fans are evidently enjoying the new take on the Predator franchise and the new design of the alien hunter itself.
Source: Monster Legacy/Facebook