Bullet Points: Prey of the Chameleon
When something bad happens to someone or there is a major life change, many religious folk like to say they will pray for you. I can do you one better. I have some prey for you. Prey of the Chameleon to be exact. The 1992 action thriller is just what the doctor (or priest) ordered. So sit back, or get on your knees if you want to, and take a look at Prey of the Chameleon.
- Sex and a Murder – There might not be a stronger opening to a movie than starting it with a couple having sex followed by a murder. A murder by wire hanger no less. Prey of the Chameleon hooks us in and then jumps to J.D. (James Wilder) returning to his home town in West Texas. We eventually learn about his backstory and how he left his high school sweetheart Carrie (Alexandra Paul) at the altar. Carrie is now a deputy sheriff and not happy to see him. Until that James Wilder magic wins her back over.
- Enter the Zuniga – Things are going too good in Prey of the Chameleon, except for that dead woman at the beginning. We soon learn she was murdered by Patricia (Daphne Zuniga), at least Patricia is the name she goes by for most of the movie. See, Patricia is what you call a serial killer, and not your average serial killer, but an escaped mental institution serial killer that takes the identity of her victims. Kind of like how a chameleon changes colors. J.D. makes a fateful decision when he picks up a hitchhiking Patricia. Picking up a hitchhiker is a terrible idea, but not as bad as taking the hitchhiker to a bar, when they need help, but at least Prey of the Chameleon understands when you go to a bar in an action movie, there needs to be a fight. Oh yeah, J.D. and Patricia sleep with each other after… poor Carrie.
- G-Men – One of Patricia’s victims is found and the FBI is all over it, well, just Agent Resnick (Don Harvey). Resnick provides all the backstory on Patricia and her abusive mother that Patricia killed at age 10 and caused her to go nuts. Resnick also gives Carrie the rundown on Patricia’s murder streak and how she has assumed the dead person’s identity. Carrie says it is just like a Chameleon changing its colors. Great police work, Carrie. I came to the same conclusion one Bullet Point earlier.
- A Chameleon Can’t Change Its Spots – Patricia starts to turn into J.D., although slowly at first. She starts with wearing his clothes and doing cool stuff like drinking beer and playing with his gun while riding in his truck. I kind of want to hang out with these two. Patricia goes a little too far for me when she robs a gas station, and I guess the murdering is pretty bad also.
- Karma – Patricia really crosses the line when she knocks out J.D., locks him in a trunk at a junk yard and ends up robbing a bank, killing two more people in the process. Patricia looks and sounds like Daphne Zuniga but since she is wearing J.D.’s clothes he becomes suspect numero uno. I still can’t figure out how everyone in the bank thought Patricia was a man other than to say it was movie magic. Patricia also adds FBI Agent murder to her tally, and I don’t think I would like hanging out with her anymore.
Prey of the Chameleon is a unique action thriller, and even though the ending may be predictable how it got there is not. The crazed female might be a little cliché, but a female serial killer is not and Carrie as the hero saving the males involved was a nice surprise. Seeing Alexandra Paul solving crimes and saving lives reminds me of her doing the same on the beaches of Los Angeles County. Prey of the Chameleon is a tangible film that you can watch, but just in case whatever higher power you believe in is reading, I will not say it is better than praying to said higher power. Also here are some Prey for the Chameleon Bonus Bullet Points to appease your all knowing and all powerful higher power.
- The Girl Without the Chameleon Tattoo – One of the main reasons I first watched Prey of the Chameleon is for the awesome poster with the awesome chameleon back tattoo. Sadly, there is no tattoo to be found, but the cowboy hat is there.
- Familiar Face – Red West, the poor auto parts store owner in Road House, is Carrie’s boss, Sheriff Pritchard.
- If You Ever… – Wanted to see a nun bury a naked woman, then Prey of the Chameleon is for you.
- Power Producer – Prey of the Chameleon was produced by Saban Entertainment whom I really only knew from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but I like that they went a little more grown up with Prey of the Chameleon and quite a few others that are now on my watchlist.
- We’ve Got to Prey Just to Make it Today – If Prey of the Chameleon isn’t enough for you, I can also suggest Prey, Prey of the Jaguar, Prey for the Hunter, The Naked Prey, Hunter Prey and even an episode of Raven titled “Prey”.
