Film Review: 'The Naked Prey' Directed by Cornel Wilde

This Oscar nominated film was directed by Cornel Wilde, who also acts as the lead role. This compelling story was shot on location in Africa on a small budget. The film contains very little dialogue and takes place entirely outdoors. Following a group of men on a Safari, as the story unfolds and the characters are developed, even if only a little, the audience realizes a conflict within the first few minutes of the film. The leader of the Safari decides to ignore a tribesman's plead for a gift. Because it is custom to give a gift to tribes who welcome explorers, Man (played by Cornel Wilde) encourages the leader of the expedition to make the contribution. Because of the stubborn decision to not give the tribal men a gift, they are captured and all, except Wilde's character, are killed. As though it were a game, Wilde is set out in the desert and given a head start to run. The tribal men wait a given amount of time before taking turns setting out after him on foot to hunt him down. The majority of the film involves the action of Wilde's character running, evading and confronting these tribesmen in various scenarios. The story is highly compelling and reveals an appropriate example of how successful a film can be if it has a good idea behind it.

The technical quality of this film, while not superior, is very appropriate for the style of the film. It is shot primarily in the desert region and the style contains a very hot color that emulates the intensity of the sun. The brutality of the landscape is not only demonstrated in cinematography but also in the symbolic cuts to the harshness of the wildlife. Shots of lions killing antelope and toads eating other toads are dispersed into the film in order to parallel the imminent danger that Wilde's character faces. This film is not easy to watch, some scenes vividly depict various means of primitive torture and the lack of dialogue while often gone unnoticed can at times be awkward. However, the amount of success that is achieved through telling such a story without audible (that is, only visual) communication is astonishing. As danger is more present, the audience is led to suspense by the multiple camera angles, as though something could jump out from anywhere at anytime. In its essence, The Naked Prey resembles the same format as a horror film that reveals very little about characters, but instead relies on action and anticipation.

Cornel Wilde was extremely successful in his execution of this film because of the idea that it revolves around. Human vs. nature and human vs. human are two frequently used plotlines, but very few films successfully administer these themes. The Naked Prey takes an apparently hopeless man and gives him a chance to survive. Films such as Castaway, The Running Man, Swiss Family Robinson and even The Lord of the Flies all operate upon this principle. Mankind is drawn to stories with characters that they can relate to. In this case, Man, as he is called, is not exposed as a character to the audience, he instead represents everyone. This is why The Naked Prey draws so much attention and recognition as an achievement. Mankind wants to care, but they must have a reason.