A terrific essay.

I don't frequent TwitTok so am mercifully unaware of the idiotic responses to Prey you refer to herein. However, my only disappointment regarding Prey was that it went straight to Disney Plus here in the UK and didn't get a proper cinema release. I think it's a fine companion piece to the original film.

Regarding the core of your argument, you are absolutely correct that the original film satirises militarism, and is a Vietnam allegory in much the same manner as films like Aliens. Prey is a deft reinterpretation of the premise, and as you say, is exactly the same amount of "woke" as the original in that respect.