Hunter Prey   Starring: Isaac C. Singleton Jr, Clark Bartram and Damien Poitier Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment RRP: £12.99 KAL8081 Certificate: 18 Available 06 September 2010

When their spacecraft crash lands on an inhospitable barren world, three surviving battle-hardened soldiers discover that the dangerous criminal they were transporting has escaped. Orders from the highest echelons dictate the quarry should be brought in alive at all costs. However, the troopers are not being told the whole truth; the so-called criminal is the last human, and he holds critical information. A game of cat and mouse ensues, but who will get the upper hand, and what is the crucial information which needs to be protected...?

I'm sad to say that my first statement has to be a reference to the film print carrying a 'Copy of Moviehouse Entertainment' warning across the screen. This is of course extremely annoying and detracts from what otherwise might be an entertaining experience. This treatment of the reviewer as a potential illegal pirate copier makes it difficult to be objective. Let's face it, we are giving their film publicity... And now with that justifiable rant over with, let's turn to the film itself.

The marketing blurb carries a quote from Totalfilm.com which compares Hunter Prey to classic Star Wars. Although it falls well short of reaching those simple but innovative heights, it does have its moments. It's one of those movies which somehow manages to be both tedious and compelling. The early scenes consist of three helmeted figures tracking a distant black-garbed escapee. Consequentially, there is an inordinate amount of sleep-inducing traipsing over sand hills and across rocks (the most fun you can have in a quarry when it's your day off from waiting for the kettle to boil). In fact, there is so much of this padding that the entire plot could comfortably be played out in a third of the running time.

There are pleasantly surprising moments of brilliance. The fact that the escaped criminal is a man would be a great reveal, if not for the film's tagline and cover pictures giving it away. However, the main strength of Hunter Prey is the dialogue, which is always grounded and realistic - particularly between one alien and the human. Without it I think the film would be unwatchable. Add to this the very impressive make-up and prosthetics, and the restraining hand with regard to effects, and what we are left with is a slightly above average film which could have been so much more.

I'm led to believe there are a couple of extras on the disc, but as I was only supplied with a basic DVD-R copy I can't and won't comment on them.

6

Ty Power