So wrong, and that makes it so right.
So many assumptions about filmmaking, screen writing and directing are destroyed here. 99.99999% of any and all points of coincidence with the world that you and I live in on a daily basis are obliterated with extreme prejudice.
Sheer entertainment that has no connection with truth, or life, or death, or anything. Pure puffery. The cinematic equivalent of chugging raw sugar water. No nutritional value whatsoever, but will give you a vigorous, thrusting rush of pure adrenalin direct to your brain pan.
The filmmakers set out to create a tall tale about the toughest dude in the history of forever, who makes Rambo look like Woody Allen. A man whose very mullet demands the utmost respect. A man who can single-handedly take out ENTIRE ARMIES, using little but twigs, rocks and his own incontrovertible bad-assery, while simultaneously BAREFOOT AND CLAD IN NOTHING BUT CUT-OFF JEAN SHORTS.
The plot? Does it really matter? Okay, some fascist paramilitary thugs kidnap people off the streets of Los Angeles, and take them to their (painfully non-hidden) military camp out in the desert, where said kidnap victims are stalked in a live hunt as part of their evil "training." But they, like many movie bad guys, made a crucial, careless mistake that would seal their doom: THEY KIDNAPPED THE WRONG DUDE. That's right. They made the cardinal error of grabbing the most awesome, kick-ass retired former special forces mercenary to ever eff up your skull. And now, HE'S MAD.
That's about it, but I can assure you that the ensuing carnage is as stupidly awesome as you can imagine, probably even more so. Not really giving away anything that many others have not already mentioned, and that would be the movie's most stunning, jaw dropping moment, in which the hero CUTS A GUY'S ARM OFF AND BEATS HIM TO DEATH WITH IT. Then, he scalps him. Holy moly.
About the only thing of note I can add here to direct all fans of Deadly Prey to check out another similar film from around the same time, David Heavener's KILL CRAZY. Not nearly as over-the-top as Deadly Prey, but definitely enjoyable and in the same ballpark. I have a review up of that film as well, so check that out.
Also, I hear that David Prior and Ted Prior are...wait for it...supposedly working on DEADLY PREY 2! Can it be true? Can it be possible? Can they even come close to the results they achieved the first time out? Stay tuned, fans of action film nuttery. This should be interesting.