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Timeline

Prey (2022) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 99 min · English
Echo score 62
JustWatch #7,525 5
Directed by
Dan Trachtenberg
Starring
Amber Midthunder, Julian Black Antelope, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Geronimo Vela, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat
Budget
$65M

In the Comanche Nation, 300 years prior to European contact, a young and skilled warrior named Naru senses a growing danger threatening her people. She sets out on a challenging hunt to protect her tribe, facing a terrifying and technologically superior alien predator. The encounter leads to a fierce and deadly battle of wits and survival, pushing both hunter and hunted to their limits in a desperate fight for dominance.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (16)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Prey
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Prey (2022)

Where can you watch Prey? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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16 events in order · contains spoilers

Prey Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Prey (2022) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Naru's Aspiration

    In 1719, in the expansive Great Plains, Naru, a young Comanche woman skilled in healing, aspires to become a renowned hunter. She wishes to prove herself worthy of admiration, much like her brother, Taabe, who is already celebrated for his hunting skills.

    When
    1719
    Where
    Great Plains
  2. The Thunderbird Lights

    While tracking deer, Naru witnesses strange lights in the sky, which she initially believes to be the mighty Thunderbird, a sign of her readiness for the hunt. Unbeknownst to her, these lights actually originate from a Predator's dropship.

  3. The Lion Attack

    Tragedy strikes the tribe when a member becomes the prey of a lion. Naru, driven by her sense of duty, joins the search party to rescue the injured man, determined to prove her worth in overcoming the beast.

  4. Setting the Trap

    As Naru and the search party discover large, strange tracks and a skinned rattlesnake, they hurriedly return. They set a trap for the lion, demonstrating Naru's growing understanding of hunting tactics, yet it ends in disaster when Paake is killed by the beast.

  5. Naru's Encounter with the Lion

    Bravely confronting the lion herself, Naru faces a terrifying moment when she loses consciousness after being distracted by ominous sounds and lights. This incident deepens her resolve to face the dangers in the wilderness and discover the source of these strange occurrences.

  6. Recognition of Taabe

    After Naru awakens safely at home, Taabe returns victorious with the lion's carcass, earning him respect and the title of War Chief among their people. This moment highlights the pressure Naru feels to achieve similar recognition.

    Where
    Village
  7. Naru's Wild Journey

    Sensing a greater threat in the woods, Naru sets out, accompanied by her loyal dog, Sarii. During her quest, she narrowly escapes a bear attack in a bog pit, illustrating her perseverance despite the dangers lurking in the wilderness.

    Where
    Bog pit
  8. Ambush by the Predator

    As Naru is trying to regroup, the Predator ambushes her and her companions, unleashing chaos and bloodshed among the group. This encounter marks the beginning of a deadly game of cat and mouse between Naru and the extraterrestrial hunter.

  9. Capture by the French Voyageurs

    Following the ambush, Naru and Sarii are captured by French voyageurs. During her imprisonment, she meets their translator, Raphael Adolini, who reveals his own terrifying experiences with the Predator, hinting at the malevolent creature's prowess.

  10. The Predator's Fury

    In a fierce clash with the Predator, many Frenchmen are slaughtered, showcasing the creature's lethal capabilities. Naru and Taabe seize the opportunity to escape, further heightening the stakes as they realize the true nature of their adversary.

  11. Raphael's Last Lesson

    Naru's compassion leads her to tend to a dying Raphael, who imparts crucial knowledge about wielding a flintlock pistol in exchange for her aid. This pivotal moment equips Naru with a means to confront the Predator more effectively.

  12. Taabe's Sacrifice

    In a tragic turn, Taabe arrives just in time to save Naru but ultimately falls victim to the Predator himself. This heart-wrenching moment fuels Naru's determination to take revenge and protect her people from the alien threat.

  13. The Final Showdown

    Naru cleverly uses the lead Frenchman as bait, masking her body heat with herbs in a desperate strategy to outsmart the Predator. In an intense confrontation, she knocks off its mask and leads it into a bog, setting the stage for her revenge.

    Where
    Bog
  14. Victory Over the Predator

    In a fierce struggle, Naru manages to turn the Predator's deadly weapon against it, leading to its demise in the mud. She claims victory by decapitating the creature, symbolizing her triumph over her fears and her enemies alike.

  15. A New Beginning

    Returning to her village, Naru is celebrated as the new War Chief, marking a transformative moment for her identity. With the threat seemingly abated, she inspires her tribe to embrace the future, leaving behind the pain of the past.

    Where
    Village
  16. A Dark Omen

    As the narrative closes, a series of ledger art paintings depict the events of the story, culminating in a haunting vision of three Predator vessels approaching the tribe. This serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing struggle between hunter and hunted.

Last updated: November 03, 2024 at 12:38

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Timeline questions answered

Prey Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Prey (2022): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Naru want to become a hunter in Prey?

Naru wants to prove herself as a skilled hunter to earn recognition and respect within her tribe, much like her brother Taabe. Despite being skilled in healing arts, she feels pressure to demonstrate her worth as a warrior. Her desire is driven by wanting to be seen as equal to the men who typically hold hunting roles.

  • naruf
  • comanche
  • hunter
  • prove herself
  • taabe
Q2

What are the strange lights Naru sees in the sky?

The strange lights Naru sees are not the Thunderbird as she believes, but rather the landing lights of a Predator's dropship arriving on Earth. This occurs early in the film, establishing that the alien hunter has come to the Great Plains for its hunt.

Foreshadowing: Naru interprets the lights as a sign from the Thunderbird, believing it signifies her readiness for the hunt.

  • thunderbird
  • lights
  • predator
  • dropship
  • comanche
Q3

Why does Taabe become War Chief in Prey?

Taabe becomes War Chief after successfully killing the lion that has been attacking tribe members. After Naru loses consciousness during her encounter with the lion, Taabe returns to the village with the lion's carcass, earning the tribe's respect and the title of War Chief.

  • taabe
  • war chief
  • lion
  • hunter
  • village
Q4

Why does Raphael teach Naru to use a pistol?

Raphael Adolini teaches Naru to use his flintlock pistol because he is dying from his injuries and wants to give her a chance to defend herself against the Predator. In exchange, Naru treats his wounds using herbal remedies to lower his body temperature and slow the bleeding.

  • raphael adolini
  • pistol
  • flintlock
  • weapon
  • naru
Q5

How does Naru defeat the Predator?

Naru defeats the Predator by using the lead Frenchman as bait and consuming herbs to mask her body heat, making her invisible to the Predator's thermal vision. When the Predator approaches, she knocks off its mask and leads it into a bog pit. She then manipulates the Predator's own spear gun, causing the creature to fatally impale itself in the mud.

  • predator
  • bog
  • mask
  • spear gun
  • naru
  • victory
Q6

Why can't the Predator detect Naru's heat signature?

The Predator's thermal vision fails to detect Naru because she consumes herbs that lower her body temperature, significantly reducing her heat signature. This is the same technique Raphael taught her after she treated his injuries, allowing her to approach the Predator undetected.

Foreshadowing: Raphael mentions his reduced heat signature saved him from the Predator earlier.

  • thermal vision
  • herbs
  • heat signature
  • naru
  • raphael
Q7

Why does Taabe die in Prey?

Taabe dies while trying to save Naru from the Predator. He rides in to help her during the final confrontation, but the Predator kills him. His sacrifice fuels Naru's determination to defeat the creature and protect her people.

  • taabe
  • death
  • predator
  • sacrifice
  • naru
  • brother
Q8

What do the three Predator vessels at the end of Prey mean?

The three Predator vessels seen in the closing ledger art sequence hintend at a larger invasion or future conflict. This ominous ending suggests more Predators are arriving, implying the conflict between humans and the alien hunters is far from over.

  • predator
  • vessels
  • ending
  • ledger art
  • invasion
  • sequel
Q9

Why do the French voyageurs use Naru and Taabe as bait?

The French voyageurs capture Naru and Taabe to use them as bait to lure the Predator. The French want to capture the creature themselves, believing it holds value. They torture Taabe and threaten Naru to force the Predator into an ambush.

  • french
  • voyageurs
  • bait
  • capture
  • predator
  • taabe
Q10

What does Naru call the Predator?

Naru refers to the Predator as Mupitsi, which is a creature from Comanche folklore. This name reflects her attempt to understand the alien hunter through her cultural lens and beliefs.

  • mupitsi
  • comanche
  • folklore
  • predator
  • naru
Q11

Why does Naru lead the Predator into the bog?

Naru leads the Predator into the bog because it's the same location where she earlier escaped a grizzly bear attack. The muddy terrain immobilizes the Predator, neutralizing its speed and agility advantage. This allows Naru to turn the creature's own weapon against it.

Foreshadowing: Naru previously fell into the bog pit while escaping the bear, giving her knowledge of the terrain.

  • bog
  • mud
  • predator
  • trap
  • naru
  • terrain
Q12

Why does Naru paint her face with the Predator's blood?

Naru paints her face with the Predator's glowing green blood as a ceremonial act of triumph, symbolizing her victory over the creature. This marks her transformation from a hopeful hunter seeking approval into a proven warrior worthy of leading her people.

  • predator blood
  • victory
  • war chief
  • paint
  • triumph
  • naru

Movie threads

More Movies Like Prey, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Prey tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with high-tech vs. primitive survival battles like Prey

Underdogs using wits and grit against overwhelming technological superiority. If you enjoyed the desperate fight for survival in Prey, this thread features similar movies where characters use primitive skills and intelligence to battle highly advanced threats, focusing on similar high-stakes action and resourcefulness.

  • survival
  • desperate
  • tense
  • brutal
  • strategic
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories follow a direct, high-stakes conflict between a technologically outmatched protagonist and a formidable opponent. The narrative is driven by a cat-and-mouse game where survival hinges on adapting primal advantages against futuristic weaponry or abilities.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by the core tension of an asymmetric fight, where brains and bravery are pitted against overwhelming power. They share a fast pace, intense action, and a focus on the clever use of environment and ancient skills.

Movies with bleak and bittersweet survival endings like Prey

Victories that come at a heavy emotional price, shadowing the success. For viewers who appreciated the complex ending of Prey, this thread collects other movies where the heroes survive a brutal ordeal but their triumph is mixed with profound loss and a sense of ongoing peril, creating a heavy emotional impact.

  • bleak
  • bittersweet
  • desperate
  • heavy
  • grim
  • anxious
  • Tone: bleak, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative journey is one of intense struggle and hard-won success, but concludes without simple resolution. The ending acknowledges the protagonist's growth and victory while emphasizing the traumatic costs, often leaving them—and the audience—with a somber, uncertain feeling.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films based on their shared emotional throughline: a heavy, impactful story that delivers a satisfying conclusion for the protagonist while refusing to sugarcoat the consequences. They blend triumph with tragedy, resulting in a powerful, thought-provoking experience.

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Movies Like Prey

Similar movies to Prey: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Prey (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Prey in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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