The Prey (French: La proie) is a 2011 French action thriller directed by Éric Valette, written by Laurent Turner and Luc Bossi, and starring Albert Dupontel as an escaped criminal who must outwit a dogged cop (Alice Taglioni) while he attempts to rescue his daughter (Jaïa Caltagirone) from a serial killer (Stéphane Debac).
However, despite his initially aloof relationship with Jean-Louis Maurel, Adrien comes to trust his cellmate and saves him from a savage beating by Russian mobsters.
Adrien's peace of mind is ruined when Manuel Carrega, a member of the National Gendarmerie, visits him and requests information on Maurel, whom he insists is a serial killer and rapist.
While Adrien attempts to check on his family, he encounters Claire Linné, a rising star who has been reassigned to capture him.
[6] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called it a "ridiculously diverting" film that "shouldn't work yet does.
[9] Anna Smith of Time Out London wrote that the film's derivative and increasingly unbelievable script causes it to degenerate into a Jason Statham or Steven Seagal style B movie.
[10] Tom Dawson of Total Film rated it 2/5 stars and called it a clichéd, ludicrous thriller.
[11] Justin Chang of Variety wrote, "Anchored by Albert Dupontel's impressive turn, this giddily implausible crime yarn barrels ahead with a propulsive sense of energy.