Other than the old-fashioned way of watching a film by visiting your local movie theater, there are tons of ways to enjoy cinema these days. With services like video-on-demand and streaming, along with purchasing or renting (is renting even a thing anymore?) DVDs and Blu-rays, it’s pretty easy to get your hands on any film you’d like. Even with all of these options, however, it is still possible to miss out on some great flicks that really deserve your attention. One of these flicks that I think deserves everyone’s attention is Let Us Prey, directed by Brian O’Malley.
On her first night at a new precinct, officer Rachel Heggie (Pollyanna McIntosh, The Woman) is thrown into some pretty intense action. After a mysterious stranger believed to be the victim of a hit-and-run accident enters the station, things begin to get a little more odd as the night progresses. It becomes clear rather quickly that this stranger has something to do with the peculiar events and as things become more terrifying and gruesome, Rachel must figure out a way to survive the night.
Let Us Prey is one of those films that captures your attention right from the start and refuses to let go, up until the end credits roll. Opening with a strange scene of the mysterious figure we’d later get to know more about, I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this one. As soon as things started up, though, my excitement quickly grew. It was clear to see that first time director, Brian O’Malley, and his entire team took great care in every aspect of this project. The acting is fantastic, the script is creative, and there is plenty of blood and gore to go around.
Everything about Let Us Prey is executed brilliantly. The entire cast does a wonderful job; The skill brought to the table by each individual coupled with superb writing make for a perfect combination when it comes to character development. Each character has a unique history to them, one more horrifying than the last. While I loved watching Pollyanna McIntosh, Douglass Russell as the twisted Sgt. MacReady, Hanna Stanbridge as Officer Mundie, and Bryan Larkin as Warnock, my favorite performance is delivered by Liam Cunningham, hands down.
I’ve always known Liam Cunningham was a talented actor from his performances in things like Dog Soldiers and even Game of Thrones, but his ability to play a character shrouded by mystery and surrounded by chaos is uncanny. From his first uttered words in the film, which also happen to be the title to this review (“And it’s a pale fuckin’ horse…”), he captured my attention. With each scene following, my eyes were glued to the screen in anticipation of what this unnamed character would do or say next. Cunningham is the perfect representation of a revealer of sin, an angel of death… the perfect movie version of the devil himself.
The amount of gore in this movie is enough to please horror fans of any level. It is amazing at how inventive Let Us Prey is. This is most evident with each kill scene. As the movie progresses, truths are revealed and things get more brutal, perhaps more brutal than you’d ever imagine. I know I was certainly shocked multiple times as the true nature of characters like Dr. Hume and even Sgt. MacReady played out in front of my eyes. As each character is picked off, a new and creative ‘technique’ is utilized, making this film completely and utterly unpredictable.
If you like supernatural flicks that contain plenty of gore, Let Us Prey should definitely be on your must-see list. With its deep character development, fantastic acting, and beautiful practical effects work, this film should be seen by all. Available now on Digital Download and Blu-ray from Dark Sky Films, be sure to purchase your copy today!
I give this one 4.5 matchsticks out of 5.
