the prey

Beating Friday the 13th's disfigured-man-child-stalking-the-woods routine by a good three years (depending on who you ask) 1980's The Prey has all the conceits of a routine slasher. But creative team Edwin and Summer Brown, whose previous experience was confined to pornographic features, deliver something decidedly left of center. Following three couples on an overnight camping trip who stumble into the hunting grounds of a monstrous gypsy burned in a forest fire, the film pads its short running time (in the theatrical cut) with Nat Geo-style nature footage of birds, raccoons and insects. Combine that with an often improvisational feel from the cast and The Prey sets an unusually soothing tone for a movie with the tagline "It's not human....and it has an axe!"

It's a sleeper in more way than one. Fans raised on the more intense pace of '80s slashers are in for a snooze. But there's something so unique and likeable about this little-known knock-off (and the cute as a button cast as well), that it might just be one of those you grow to love. And there's no better way to discover it than Arrow Video's new two-disc limited edition. The 2K restoration is see-it-to-believe-it beautiful and includes the theatrical cut, international cut (with 20 minutes of raunchy gypsy flashback footage) and a fan cut that combines the best of both. Extras are exaggeratedly extensive, including interviews with most of the cast, commentary, 45 minutes of outtakes, and separate audio-only interviews with Edwin and Summer Brown (Summer is your go-to source for the most info). Limited to 3000 copies, this one is really something special.