The Prey

Director– Edwin Brown

Starring – Steve Bond, Debbie Thureson

Country of Origin- U.S.

Distributor - Arrow Video

Number of Discs - 2

Reviewed by - Scott MacDonald

Date- 09/17/2019

   The Prey on Blu-ray from Arrow Video is a true example of why we are living in a golden age of physical media on home video.   The Prey was a late 70's lensed early entry into the "Backwoods Slasher" genre that also encompasses such films as Don't Go in the Woods, Just Before Dawn, and The Final Terror.   The Prey was purchased by Roger Corman for New World Pictures, and then cut up leaving rumors for decades as to what was missing from the final product. Now, we have Arrow Video not only releasing the U.S. theatrical cut of the film from New World's distribution days, but we also get the international cut which includes an extended flashback to the events that set up the film, and we also get a Fan-Made Composite Cut taking all the various footage from both cuts and turning it into one ultimate version.

    The international version opens with a forest fire that kills a group of gypsies (is that the proper term still?) leaving just a young boy behind. The film then opens with a group of friends going up the formerly burnt down forest to have a weekend of fun.  The group will find more than they bargained for (but viewers would expect nothing less), as a disfigured backwoods killer begins to take them out one by one.

   The Prey has not had the best reputation in the horror community.  It's a rather slow affair, that is loaded up with nature footage, enough that Bruno Mattei was probably jealous (see the classic Hell of the Living Dead).  That being said it's a decent enough slasher time waster with some decent FX by John Carl Buechler, and a conclusion that goes off the rails in the best way possible.

   Arrow Video uses a newly discovered original camera negative to bring the film to life. Everything here looks quite solid, and film like, without any obvious issues. Audio is handled by an LPCM mono track that sounds clear, and audible without noticeable issues. Extras include a commentary track by Amanda Reyes and Ewan Cant. This is followed by a number of interviews with the cast and crew including one audio interview with the film's producer.  There is a documentary exploring the filming locations, a piece shot at Texas Frightmare Weekend, and much more.  The Prey isn't the best backwoods slasher, but it is solid entertainment, and the Blu-ray with 3 different cuts is hard to resist. RECOMMENDED.