PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Jimmy Henderson’s (RUN! 2012) latest film, The Prey, is an electric combination of both drama and action. The film stars Gu Shangwei (Bloody Destiny 2015), Byron Bishop (Back In Bangkok 2018), Sahajak Boonthanakit (No Escape 2015), Nophand Boonyai (Gold 2016), and Vithaya Pansringarm (Only God Forgives 2013).
Synopsis:
Xin (Shangwei) is an undercover Chinese detective. When the criminals that he is investigating are arrested, he is mistakenly sent with them to a remote Cambodian prison. He quickly discovers that the warden (Pansringarm) has no intention of rehabilitating the prisoners, instead offering wealthy businessmen the ultimate hunting experience: human prey. Xin has no choice but to fight for his freedom in a brutal and sadistic game of hunter verses prey.
I was very excited going into this film. I’m a huge fan of martial arts and action films in general. The Prey is a cross between The Most Dangerous Game (2016) and The Raid (2012), and it positively crackles with action, making it a lot of fun to watch. The action sequences are fluid and skillfully handled. There is a scene in front of a waterfall where Xin fights for his life that is absolutely breathtaking. Gu Shangwei as Xin is an electric presence onscreen. The majority of the film takes place in the jungle, and the cat and mouse style filming keeps the energy from lagging.
Vithaya Pansringarm chews up the screen with glee as the Warden, a character obsessed with unleashing the animal nature inside men. Another standout performance is Nophand Boonyai as the hunter Ti, whose cool confidence hides an unstable interior. But it is Gu Shangwei who carries the film with quiet confidence. He excels at his fight scenes, and his expressive face shows his physical and mental fatigue.
Absolutely anyone who enjoys action, martial arts, and breathtaking scenery will love The Prey. This may be a story that has been told before, but this time, it’s being told with real style.
