Import/Export: Dick Maas' Uncaged/Prey (2016)

 A Film that comes from the Netherlands, makes it big in China and then shows up in America.  What could this be?

If you are a Chinese-Native Reader of the site, first, welcome.  Secondly, you'll know the Film as 2019's ‘Violent Fierce Lion.’

Despite not being a hit anywhere else, it made lots of Yuan in China!

In (not New, but Old) Amsterdam, a Cameraman and a Zoo Biologist/Veterinarian are in a rocky relationship.

Well, danger can bring you together!

Said danger comes in the form of an escaped Lion, that proceeds to kill a number of people.

Since this is not an American Film, kids actually die (off-screen, mind you).

 
Just a heads up.

The deaths continue as the Police don't do nearly enough to stop it.

There's some Social Commentary about how the Press don't believe it.

That sure does nothing to help this poor guy.

Said Lion is a mix of (mostly bad) CGI and (pretty unrealistic-looking) prosthetics/animatronics.

I'm glad that you get to see the beast...but I wish it looked better.

Can our intrepid Heroes stop the Lion?  Will they somehow keep shooting it to no effect?

Did I somehow make it to the end of this Review without joking that the Director is a dick (since his name is Dick Maas)?

To find out the answer to TWO of those questions, stream the Film.  It's on Amazon Prime or other services.

A pretty fun, if kind of cheap Film.  Is it mean to pick on a Film for its Budget?  Maybe. 

 Will I keep doing it?  Yes.

  Simply put, the Movie is a bit too ambitious.  They want to show the Lion in action...and can't do a great job of it.  There's a part that should be amazing where it chases a guy who is on a Moped.

  Unfortunately, the CGI Lion has a 'floaty' quality that takes away from the visual of it running full speed.  Later bits do work better, so it is not like they *couldn't* do it at all.

  They do commit the Cardinal Sin of Movie a CGI Animal- showing a real one.  Once you see a real Lion about halfway through, the animatronic one's face takes on a real Uncanny Valley feel.  Some Scenes that should be really scary just quite aren't when you can tell that you're looking at either sprites or something that the Henson Company would have rejected.

  The Dubbing here- I watched it that way for convenience sake- is alright, but a bit spotty.  I'd stick with the original Language if I were you.  Hey, if you want to see Jaws with a Lion and in Amsterdam, this is a solid pick.  

If you expect something just above a B-Movie, you can accept the budgetary issues.

  Just don't mix the Film up with 2007's Prey or a *different* Film from 2016 that is also called Uncaged...

A simple, but effective Thriller that is hurt by its Budget.  It wouldn't be a great Film with more money...but it would have helped.