Slash/Back (2022)

Streaming Service: Shudder
Movie Name/Year: Slash/Back (2022)
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Length: 1h 26min
Rating: Unrated
Production/Distribution: Good Question Media, Mixtape VR, Red Marrow Media, Scythia Films, Stellar Citizens, RLJE Films, Mongrel Media, Shudder
Director: Nyla Innuksuk
Writer: Ryan Cavan, Nyla Innuksuk
Actors: Tasiana Shirley, Nalajoss Ellsworth, Chelsea Prusky, Alexis Wolfe, Rory Anawak, Niviaq Mike, Paulette Metuq, Shaun Benson
 
Blurb from IMDb: When Maika and her ragtag friends discover an alien invasion in their tiny arctic hamlet, it's up to them to save the day. Utilizing their makeshift weapons and horror movie knowledge, the aliens realize you don't mess with girls from Pang.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
Slash/Back seemed like a fun watch from the moment I saw the trailer. We missed our trailer stream last month, unfortunately, because I had a pretty severe case of RSV – but we watched them all individually. It made my list at #12. It had a very fast-paced flow to it, the character interactions were endearing, and it made me feel like I needed to know exactly what was going on. It was a well-crafted trailer.
 
The movie is successful, especially as a low-budget film. The effects were much better than I expected, and there were a few effective scares. There was also an interesting look at the lives of a group of indigenous kids living in Pangnirtung.
 
Before watching Slash/Back I didn’t have very much knowledge of Pangnirtung or the Innuit people. I was introduced to a whole new culture that I’m going to have fun researching. I love using films as a jumping off point to learn new things.
 

The young actors did show some promise. They could absolutely do with a bit more training, though. The script was also a little clunky, even cringy, in places.
 
Despite the minor issues, Slash/Back was still watchable. I enjoyed the antics of the kids, and how they managed to overcome their alien issues.
 
Slash/Back is a great full-length feature film debut for Nyla Innuksuk (Stories from Our Land Vol. 2: Finding Home, Breaths, Future History). You can tell it’s a first for her, but it shows raw talent. I’d like to see more from her in the future, as she grows in experience.
 
If you’d like to see Slash/Back for yourself, it premieres on Shudder this Friday, November 18.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
The trailer for Slash/Back pitched an interesting story about a group of Inuit girls facing off against alien body snatchers. IMDb’s movie trivia page for this film offered a comparison with a mash-up of Attack the Block (2011) and The Thing (1982). I’d have to say, now that I’ve watched Slash/Back, that was a pretty apt connection. Just picture that combination mixed up with a little slice-of-life coming-of-age teen drama, and it would give you a generally accurate idea of what to expect.
 
The territory of Nunavut is just about as North as you can get for civilization on the North American continent. This region returned to Inuit control and self-governance back in 1999, though it does seem to still technically be a part of Canada. Areas of the world such as the little hamlet of Pang generally don’t get much mainstream attention. I was surprised, frankly, when I recognized the name of the territory at all. Then I remembered that the first season of Ice Road Truckers (2007–2017) from the History Channel was filmed there before branching to other regions of Canada’s Arctic Circle ice crossings, Alaska, and beyond in subsequent seasons. I digress…
 
The point I was getting to is that life in the Arctic Circle is already somewhat alien to most of us – especially if we live in the “lower 48” of the U.S. Some of these communities in the far North get cut off from the rest of the world for months at a time and are only reachable by boat or plane in certain weather conditions. If an alien species were to find its way to earth in an area like that, it’s not too far-fetched an idea that a group of kids would be the ones spotting it first.
 

I actually adored Slash/Back. The kids were cheeky and felt real. Their struggle of wanting to fit in with the mainstream and embrace modern things pitted against the pull of Inuit tradition and the superstitions of the older generations was something you didn’t have to be from that area to understand. Of course, the fact that the young actors were cast directly from the area where the production was taking place really helped. If these kids want to pursue further acting careers, there’s a bright future for several of them.
 
Writer and director Nyla Innuksuk’s understanding of the land and its people really shone through. There’s something to be said for drawing on a background of documentary work while crafting a work of fiction. There were also undercurrents subtly referenced regarding the Inuit people’s struggle to reclaim their land and culture, and the prejudices they face a lot of the time. It was brilliantly woven into the framework of the film so that it didn’t feel preachy at all, and still made the point clear.
 
If I had to pick a weak point for Slash/Back, it would be regarding the aliens directly. There really isn’t a lot to explain the creatures, their origin, or how they even work. Though, they did get a lot of great usage from practical effects. The CGI was minimal. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something felt missing. All the same, the creatures and the resulting horrific mayhem were seriously creepy.
 
If you’re looking for a break from the holiday rush, and definitely if you want to get a peek at the austere and impressive region featured in this movie; pull up Shudder and give Slash/Back a chance.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 93%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 45%
Metascore – 68%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score –5.6/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5
 
Trust-the-Dice’s Parental Advisory Rating: PG-13
 
Movie Trailer:

Prey (2022)

Streaming Service: Hulu
Movie Name/Year: Prey (2022)
Genre: Action, Drama, Horror
Length: 1h 39min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: 20th Century Studios, Davis Entertainment, Disney+, Hulu
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Writer:  Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Actors: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Stormee Kipp, Michelle Thrush, Julian Black Antelope, Stefany Mathias, Bennett Taylor, Mike Paterson, Tymon Carter, Skye Pelletier, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat, Corvin Mack, Samuel Marty
 
Blurb from IMDb: The origin story of the Predator in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Naru, a skilled female warrior, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
I like the Predator (1987) series. Maybe for a different reason than most, though.
 
The first Predator (1987) was a good movie, but very ‘of its time.’ I’m not saying it doesn’t hold up, because it does, but it’s just very much an 80s film. It had the same campy tone as most of the action films that were put out in that decade – and the 80s/early 90s feel just got amped up in Predator 2 (1990). Anyone who watches either flick is going to know exactly when it was made.
 
I believe that, alone, the movie might have had a following, but it wouldn’t have remained this big if they’d have stuck to a normal sequel setting.
 
Predator 2 was not as beloved as the original. Taking the antagonist to the city is not what I mean. I mean that they turned the series into a kind of anthology. The big bad remains the central theme, while the settings and protagonists change from movie to movie. It allows us to get close to the story, without putting all our connection into a single set of protagonists. It’s an expansion of the world/universe, instead of a deeper examination of one story.
 
Not only does that keep us invested, but it makes pulling in new viewers easier. You don’t need to see any of the films that came before Prey to get just as deeply involved as someone who’s been watching the story unfold for the past 35 years.
 
I believe that’s why the Predator series has as much staying power as it does – and why it will continue well into the future.
 
This is also the exact reason why I 100% support utilizing newer voices for the direction and writing of Predator sequels – like Prey.
 
Director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane, The Boys, Black Mirror) has done a few episodes of random TV shows (and one full-length feature), while Patrick Aison (Treadstone, Kingdom, Wayward Pines) has similar credits to his name. Neither of them are big enough to have any kind of hardcore following yet. As a result, no one could have possibly known what to expect from them. This may not be an anthology film, but as an anthology series – I think it has the exact same kind of benefit.
 

Going into Prey all we knew was that there would be a Predator antagonist, and that it was a prequel. Trachtenberg and Aison took those facts and built up a film that absolutely crushed any expectations anyone could have had. They may not have had a hardcore following before this, but that’s definitely changed. Anytime I see either name in the credits of future films, it’s going to increase my excitement ten-fold.
 
I’m not afraid to say that Prey is the best film in the series. Including the first.
 
In fact, I couldn’t point out a flaw if I tried. The story was on point. The setting felt right. The sound design was just as iconic as ever. Even the characters had a depth to them that those in the other films lacked.
 
I can’t even say enough about the acting.
 
Amber Midthunder (Hell or High Water, Legion, The Ice Road) is new to me, but she has got some serious talent. Whether her character was fighting the Predator or interacting with her tribe, I believed every second of her performance. Her name is going to stick out in my mind, and I will be looking for her in the future. I think I’ll even look up her past performances.
 
Equally, Dakota Beavers felt just as perfect for his part. They all did, but Midthunder and Beavers stood out the most.
 
If you haven’t seen Prey, you need to. Especially if you’re a fan of the series, but even if you’re not.
 
As of right now, Prey’s my favorite movie of the year.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
The original Predator (1987) was a great blend of action, sci-fi, and monster movie genres. It holds a special place in my heart as one of the first few R-rated movies I watched as a kid. The sequels that followed didn’t really catch the same vibe as the original. They were fine but just didn’t share the same spark of the original film.
 
Prey was a game changer for the franchise. I felt a similar thrill to the original Predator with this new prequel.
 
I understand there was talk about Prey retconning the events from the Alien vs. Predator (2004) crossover movie. Aside from having a bad-ass female lead, that production really didn’t have a lot going for it anyway.
 
The cinematography for Prey was stunning. I loved the natural settings used as both elements of the story and backdrop.
 

I also appreciated that the production team did a great job of casting an appropriately diverse cast with actors of indigenous heritage for the primary roles. I was actually shocked to learn that this was Dakota Beavers' feature film debut. He apparently has an extensive background in performing in a musical setting, so I’m sure that helped a lot with the transition. I couldn’t tell that this was his first big gig. Hats off to him on that. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Amber Midthunder. Her role in Prey was so physical and she aced it like a true warrior. I loved that her character was intelligent and resourceful as well as strong-willed. She was exactly what the story needed, and she delivered.
 
If I had to pick one thing that bothered me a little about Prey, I would have to scramble to come up with something. Perhaps it would have been cool to have English subtitle translations for the indigenous speech and the small amount of French dialogue in the movie, but honestly, that’s splitting hairs. You didn’t need to know a literal translation to understand perfectly what was going on. It’s a mark of skillful storytelling of the production team as a whole – cast and crew – that everything made sense.
 
All told, if you don’t already have Hulu, or the Disney+ bundle that includes it, Prey is absolutely worth the subscription for this exclusively streaming release. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Prey to fans of the franchise – or even those who might want to try it for the first time.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 92%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 83%
Metascore – 70%
Metacritic User Score – 6.3
IMDB Score –7.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
 
Movie Trailer: