Prey (1977 film)

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

Prey (known as Alien Prey in some markets) is a 1977 British independent 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 (Glory Annen and Sally Faulkner) 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 in various 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 noting similarities to the plot of D. H. Lawrence's 1922 novella The Fox. It has been compared to a vampire or zombie film and has also been cited as an example of the exploitation (or sexploitation) genre. Plans for a sequel, Human Prey, were abandoned.

At night, a carnivorous, shape-shifting alien named Kator lands in the woods of rural England. The vanguard of an invasion force, his mission is to evaluate the suitability of humans as a source of food for his species. Stumbling across Anderson and Sandy, a couple having a tryst in their parked car, he kills both and assumes the appearance of Anderson. The next morning, he encounters Jessica-Ann and Josephine, a lesbian couple who live in a nearby manor house. Although Jessica owns the property, having inherited it from her Canadian parents, the dominant of the pair is Jo, who is unusually possessive of Jessica and deeply suspicious of men. Simon, Jessica's boyfriend, has mysteriously disappeared. The women are vegetarians and live in seclusion with only a few chickens and a pet parrot, Wally, for company.