Prey (1977 film)

For other films as well as other uses, see Prey (disambiguation) § Film.

Prey
Theatrical release artwork from a double feature poster for Prey and Charley One-Eye
Directed byNorman J. Warren
Screenplay byMax Cuff
Story byQuinn Donoghue
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDerek V. Browne
Edited byAlan Jones
Music byIvor Slaney
Production
company
Tymar Film Productions
Distributed byPremier Releasing
Release date
  • November 1977 (1977-11)[1]
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£50,000 (estimated)[1]

Prey (titled Alien Prey in some markets)[2][3] is a 1977 British science fiction horror film produced by Terry Marcel and directed by Norman J. Warren. The plot concerns a carnivorous alien (Barry Stokes) landing on Earth and befriending a lesbian couple (Sally Faulkner and Glory Annen) as part of his mission to evaluate humans as a source of food. It was filmed in ten days on a budget of about £50,000 (roughly £400,000 in 2023) using locations near Shepperton Studios in Surrey.[4] It had a limited distribution on release.

Critical response to the film has been mixed: verdicts range from "odd", "bizarre" or "eccentric" to "ambitious" and "experimental", while the film's "claustrophobic" atmosphere has drawn both praise and criticism. Prey has also received comment for its presentation of conflicting male and female sexuality, with some critics noting similarities to the plot of the D. H. Lawrence novella The Fox (1922).[5][6] It has been compared to a vampire or zombie film[7] and has been cited as an example of the exploitation (or sexploitation) genre.[3][8] Plans for a sequel, Human Prey, were abandoned.

  1. ^ a b Locks, Adam; Smith, Adrian (2021). Norman J. Warren: Gentleman of Terror. Creepy*Images. pp. 57–58, 65. ISBN 978-3-00-070720-9.
  2. ^ Newman, Kim; Marriott, James (2013) [2006]. Horror! The Definitive Companion to the Most Terrifying Movies Ever Made. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 206. ISBN 9781780973913.
  3. ^ a b Beldin, Fred. "Alien Prey (1978): Review". AllMovie. San Francisco, California: All Media Network. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference WarrenNotes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Burton, Alan; Chibnall, Steve (2013). Historical Dictionary of British Cinema. Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts. Lanham, Maryland and Plymouth, UK: Scarecrow Press. p. 183. ISBN 9780810880269.
  6. ^ Harvey, Dennis (1 April 2014). "British Horror, After the Hammer Fell". Fandor. San Francisco, California: Our Film Festival, Inc. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. ^ Reed, Jim (19 February 2014). "Film Scene: Young Pacino and Sexy Aliens". Savannah Morning News. Augusta, Georgia: Morris Communications. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  8. ^ Whittington, James (3 June 2016). "Brit films take centre-stage in Horror Channel's June line-up". horrorchannel.co.uk. New York City, New York: CBS. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.