Prey

SKM and Prey Producer Robert Galinsky

Last week I frocked up to attend the Melbourne premiere of the new Australian Candy Horror flick Prey. After receiving an appropriately disturbing invitation to the event, the night did not disappoint. Reaching the tall wrought iron gates of what appeared to be an abandoned manor house, we were greeted by a silent and morose gatekeeper who ushered us up a candlelit path. With no real directions to our destination we followed the candlelight.. and the sound of wood chopping. A lesser person would have turned on their heels at this point fearing an elaborate ruse, but with my love of the alternative, weird and the downright wrong, I was in my element.

And I wasn’t disappointed. Described by Producer Robert Galinski as the filmic equivalent of “KFC at 3am”, he was right on the money. Starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte, (with a somewhat disconcerting faux American accent,) the story starts slowly in a very shorthanded version of reality before descending into a fantastical landscape of moving paintings,  an oversized moon and more weird looking snakes than I’ve ever seen in one place.

“Prey tells the story of six friends who head to the outback on a four-wheel drive adventure and come face-to-face with an ancient supernatural evil. The three couples drive into a sacred site where they unknowingly awaken a 5000 year-old curse. Inspired by true unsolved events, Prey follows the group of 20-something’s into a vortex of serpentine fear; afterlife and psychological confrontations that make them question what is real and what is imagined.“

So you ask the question, did I enjoy it? Well, while I wasn’t scared out of my seat, that is until a chainsaw weilding manic crashed through the cinema door, I was laughing my arse off. (No need to hit the gym this week!)If you are looking for hidden depths, scintillating subtext and masterpiece theatre, then please don’t watch this film.  On the other hand, if you appreciate some serious schlock horror and like to be in on the joke, then Prey is for you. This film hits the mark perfectly for its audience. It is just the thing to watch after a big night out with friends. Break out the biggest bowl of popcorn you can find and don’t go easy on the beer, Prey is the perfect accompanyment to midnight munchies.  Just watch what you’re eating.. you never know what could be in that bowl in the dark.