The Prey (2013)

THE PREY is yet another example of the riveting action thriller that the French have been putting out lately. The originator of the genre was Fred Cavaye's ANYTHING FOR HER, which really picked up in terms of intensity in the second half, while the recent likes of SLEEPLESS NIGHT, POINT BLANK, and MEA CULPA have shown that the French are head and shoulders above British or American attempts at the genre.Like those movies, THE PREY has a lean, pared-down plot which is basically a chase thriller. I won't spoil the storyline too much, suffice to say that the protagonist is a petty criminal who must escape from jail to go after an even greater foe. The narrative is chock-full of stunt sequences, intense and suspenseful chase moments, and even some brutal fight scenes which really propel things along.Albert Dupontel is really great as the put-upon lead but Alice Taglioni and Sergi Lopez are also particularly good among a solid supporting cast. The best things about the film are the direction and the cinematography which combine to deliver a realistic and gritty thriller and one that the viewer can thoroughly get caught up in. An eye-popping prison fight is the highlight here. The ending is a little lacklustre, but it's no matter when the rest of the film has been so fantastically engrossing.

Director Eric Valette isn't exactly breaking new grounds but this is well made entertaining action thriller. For those of you who enjoyed Henri-Georges Clouzots & Jean-Pierre Melvilles films, or Luc Besson and of course Olivier Marchals films this should be perfect for you.When it comes to casting this film doesn't disappoint...for example we have Albert Dupontel plays antihero Franck Adrien very convincingly, and he looks very tough while beating prisoners, shooting police officers, stealing cars etc while trying to save his family.Alice Taglioni as the sleuth who wont give up her chase after Franck Adrien is new face to me. I don't remember seeing her in any other before but she did a good job here.Stéphane Debac is very good and gives chilling performance as Jean-Louis Maurel, a person who might be more dangerous then Franck Adrien.Sergi López I always liked since seeing Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien (2000)here only has small supporting part but is very good.Biggest flaw here is some plot twists, screen writing could've been better and also, more depth in characters and story etc. It seems that Eric Valette has moved away from well written dark horrors like Maléfique (2002)and only focuses on the action.But strangely I found this to be more compelling then US produced action thrillers like The Bourne Identity (2002. Just wish Eric Valette could go back to this roots like Maléfique (2002)or at least get a much deeper script. But seems with this film and with Une affaire d'état (2009)that he is moving in another direction.

Is the "german" title for this movie. And while it isn't really a translation of the original title it does fit well. A very action packed thriller, that has a good setting, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm almost certain they will make an US remake of it, as they tend to do with good french thrillers nowadays.Actually you could say though, that this is a remake of sorts of an US film. If you don't want to know what I mean or think this might be a spoiler for the other movie just don't read the last paragraph (that's the next one). I can only tell you that if you like thrillers, than you will love this. And now onto the comparison: I think it's a bit like the Fugitive. Which of course itself was a remake and inspired by other movies. The Tommy Lee Jones role gets played by a beautiful young french actress here though, but don't be fooled by her looks. She can be as tough as she needs to be!

Don't miss LA PROIE. It's a fast paced action kidnapping thriller as I saw in TAKEN. In fact it is long time ago I gave to a thriller the highest vote. The actor Albert Dupontel was great here. He played the role as the prisoner so credibly and cool that he must get the Oscar. Director Eric Valette convinced me too. Bravo to all the staff. The stunts has been all executed at a very respectable level and without any help of CGI effects. They will take your breath away. There were puzzles to solve and I guessed all the time what will come next. The locations in South of France were pretty. This is how movies should be made nowadays. At the end I was without words there and I still cannot realize that I watched one of the best french thriller ever made. The french film industry created with cable TV companies once more an unforgettable work. And where are you Italian film people? It's long time ago I saw a remarkable movie from my origin country. I think the last one was LA VITA È BELLA with Roberto Benigni. So don't wait and see LA PROIE, you won't be disappointed. This DVD will find a nice place in my best of DVD collection.