Prey (1977 film)

Prey
Prey
	Theatrical release artwork from a double feature film poster promoting Prey and Charley One-Eye (1973)
Directed by	Norman J. Warren
Screenplay by	Max Cuff
Story by	Quinn Donoghue
Produced by	Terence Marcel; David Wimbury;
Starring	Barry Stokes; Sally Faulkner; Glory Annen;
Cinematography	Derek V. Browne
Edited by	Alan Jones
Music by	Ivor Slaney
Production; company	Tymar Film Productions
Distributed by	Premier Releasing
Release date	1977;
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£50,000 (estimated)

Prey (known as Alien Prey in some markets)^[1]^[2] 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 under two weeks on a budget of less than £60,000 (approximately £470,900 in 2023) using locations near Shepperton Studios in Surrey. 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 attracted commentary for its presentation of conflicting male and female sexuality, with some critics observing similarities to the plot of D.H. Lawrence's 1922 novella The Fox.^[3]^[4] It has been compared to a vampire or zombie film^[5] and has also been cited as an example of the exploitation (or sexploitation) genre.^[2]^[6] Plans for a sequel, Human Prey, were abandoned.

^ 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.
^ ^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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ 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.

[Newman_and_Marriott-1] 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.

[Beldin-2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[Reed-5] 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.

[6] 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.

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