The Prey (2011)

How sad is this?

Best movie of this year hands down!

Absolutely Fantastic

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

You get just about everything in this movie. Who doesn't like stolen loot, prison scenes, fights, plots & twists, shoot-outs, betrayals, and the unexpected? Entertainment is presented and never lets up after a certain point. Only good movies can cause thriller, tensed up feelings where nails are ripe for the biting and one grips the arm rest. Its a good ride, decent story, exceptional acting and direction is good. It appears everyone liked being in this movie and because of that, we get what we wanted...a solid action flick back. Escape here with a tasty drink, some snack and no texting or distractions. Let the movie have you until it lets go...Well done.

Frank and Maurel are cell mates. Frank stole some money that is now hidden somewhere. Also in jail is one of his partners in crime who wants to know where the money is and who turns violent against Frank. There are some mobsters who have corrupted a prison guard. They try to to rape Maurel but Frank intervenes. Frank gets visits from his wife and young daughter who has some speech disorder. The wife has no money but he won't tell her where the money is since he is to be released soonish.We learn more about Maurel too. He seems like a nice laid back guy and when he's released because the charges against him are dropped he offers to help Frank anyway he can. He gives him a phone number and Frank tells him to tell his wife that she should visit his father for assistance. Then he gets a visit from a detective who tells him that Maurel is bad news, that he's a rapist serial killer and a manipulator.When the gangsters and corrupt guard corner Frank to beat him up, he kicks their butts and he uses that opportunity and the corrupt guard to escape jail. Cops are on his tail but he manages to elude capture. He arrives home to find the apartment empty--no wife, no daughter. At that moment the cops arrive but he again manages to escape barely. He goes to retrieve his money but finds the corpse of his wife instead. He then meets up with the detective who's looking into all of Maurel's victims and actually tracks down Maurel not before informing the police where Frank is. That leads to yet another chase and escape by Frank who now is going after Maurel after having been shot. Maurel set up Frank to take the fall for his crimes so everyone thinks Frank is the serial killer.Frank finds Maurel who by now is enjoying the good life with Frank's money and has "adopted" his daughter for his crazy girlfriend who actually helps him attack other girls. That leads to a final confrontation between cops, Maurel, Frank, a father of a victim.The Prey is a very good action thriller. It suffers from some issues. As is typical for French action movies, you can't expect too much realism. Frank is shot and injured but still manages to run and leap from windows and bridges. There are too many chase scenes. Frank doesn't get tired of running but the audience does. It's also a bit overly complicated with the detective, the cops going after a cop who takes things into her own hands, the father of the victims who tracks the cops' every move.Aside from that, The Prey has a strong story, is nicely filmed, the photography is crisp and bright which creates a certain intimacy between the viewer and the story. Had this been a Hollywood movie, half of the movie would have to take place at night, in the rain and mud. Frank is a likable character; you root for him even though he doesn't really say a lot. The villain is also very well played--he is one nasty fellow and his girlfriend isn't any better. If you're willing to look beyond some faults, you'll find a very thrilling action movie.

This is a first rate, hugely entertaining action-packed thriller directed by Eric Valette, following his already very good State Affairs. This time he handles a much bigger budget, but maintains tons of personality together with the testosterone. French star Albert Dupontel is amazingly intense as a tough bank robber pitted against an unpredictable killer and trying to save his family while he is chased by the police. Alice Taglioni is also very good as a Jodie Foster-flavored investigator, newcomer Stephane Debac nuanced and frightening as an average Joe who happens to be a psychopath. There's a wonderful appearance by Sergi Lopez as a retired cop who believes he can feel a criminal when he crosses his path. Surprisingly good script, great cinematography, music and editing and the chase scenes are really exciting. The last reel by night in the hills of Provence is especially beautiful. One of the few European thrillers to rival (often blander) Hollywood fare, catch this one before they remake it.

This movie is awful.This is nevertheless an action packed french thriller with amazing chases and fights sequences; in the line of NE LE DIS A PERSONNE or A BOUT PORTANT. But sooooo predictable !!!You can guess the ending after only twenty minutes of viewing.What a shame because Dupontel is here convincing as an actor and as a stuntman too. He shows the audience what Jean Paul Belmondo did in the seventies with features such as PEUR SUR LA VILLE, and many other films...The bad guy in this movie is interesting too, with his child molester and killer gentle sissy face. You may want to enter in the film and smash his pretty face of ideal son in law...and his wife as an accomplice is interesting too. Not so usual characters, far from clichés.But, unfortunately, I repeat, this film is too much in the American way for my taste. See what I mean?See the ending, for instance.And there are also too many improbabilities:-- How can an ex con, who spent eighteen months in the can, run faster than a trained police officer?-- And how can a man shot in the leg run like a rabbit?-- And how can the same man wounded in the belly by a buckshot bullet fall from a cliff and run away like anyone else?No, really, I hate this film. Even with his good subplots.I preferred LE CONVOYEUR, with the same Dupontel. This was a really poignant, dark and downbeat film noir as I love.This one, OUT !!!