A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
On Hulu on June sixth is ‘Predator: Killer of Killers,’ an animated anthology that has Predator creatures dropping in on three very completely different time durations of Earth.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg (‘Prey’), it options the voices of Rick Gonzalez, Damien Haas, Doug Cockle, Michael Biehn and Louis Ozawa.
Associated Article: ‘Prey’ Director Dan Trachtenberg Shot A Second New ‘Predator’ Pic Earlier than ‘Badlands’
Preliminary Ideas
A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Dan Trachtenberg actually introduced a breath of contemporary air to the ‘Predator’ franchise after even Shane Black couldn’t handle to breathe new life into it with the disappointing ‘The Predator.’ So Trachtenberg has naturally been given free rein to discover different avenues, and he’s been on a cherry selecting mission via the broader Predator mythology (which incorporates comedian books, novelizations and video video games) to seek out completely different appears for the Yautja aliens –– the Predators’ precise species identify –– and completely different human challenges for them to face.
But as with all try to construct on an current franchise, does ‘Killer of Killers’ set up itself as worthy?
Script and Path
A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Trachtenberg labored up the story for the brand new film alongside Micho Robert Rutare, with the latter tasked into turning their ideas right into a screenplay. The outcome, as with all anthology is a blended bag, with one of many tales standing out from the others; although all have one thing to suggest them.
The primary, ‘The Protect,’ takes place in Viking instances (841 A.D. in case you actually wish to get particular), and sees a Predator incursion interrupting a conflict between clan chief Ursa and Zoran, the struggle chief who murdered her father. Somewhat like ‘Prey,’ it follows a ceremony of passage, as Ursa’s son Anders is being inspired to struggle like a warrior. Suffice to say, there are many hacked limbs and slashed midriffs –– and that’s earlier than the Predator creature even reveals up.
‘The Protect’ manages some good moments undercutting expectations, although it is usually comparatively slight.
‘The Sword’ brings us ahead in time to Samurai-era Japan, the place a ninja has turned towards the Samurai brother he was raised reverse. This time, the story of vengeance is barely extra nuanced, and the Predator who arrives so as to add to the chaos nimbler than the earlier instance.
A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Lastly, ‘The Bullet,’ the third story, is ready throughout World Battle II and options one thing actually new and completely different –– not less than in big-screen ‘Predator’ motion –– whereas it’s the story of younger mechanic (and wannabe pilot) Torres, it’s largely set within the air, as American fighter planes tackle a Predator spaceship.
It received’t shock you to be taught, notably given Trachtenberg’s involvement, that there’s additionally extra happening right here –– however spoiler issues forestall us from speaking extra about that aspect. Suffice to say, there are connections right here that slowly reveal themselves, and deepen the story.
On the animation entrance, Josh Wassung’s crew acquit themselves admirably, creating subtly completely different kinds for every time interval, however discovering a solution to have them really feel of a bit. Whereas occasional moments can seem like a online game cutscene, and the jerky animation can take slightly getting used to, the general impact works.
And, as talked about, setting these tales in an animated world offers loads of scope for greater motion set items and wilder moments.
Solid and Performances
A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Barring one or two recognizable names (Michael Biehn, Rick Gonzalez, Lauren Holt, Louis Ozawa and Doug Cockle), the voice solid right here is usually made up of people that will probably be acquainted to die-hard avid gamers and animation followers.
Nonetheless, there are efficient performances right here –– Gonzalez will get an opportunity to shine as Torres, the younger mechanic with some severe piloting chops within the World Battle II entry, whereas Lindsay LaVanchy does good work as Ursa, the Viking warrior aiming to forge the subsequent era of fighter whereas burning with vengeful fury.
Although the script and, by nature the anthology format, doesn’t all the time give the solid probably the most rounded of characters to play, all of them work properly.
Closing Ideas
A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Some ‘Predator’ fanatics may quibble with just a few particulars right here and there, and the standard of the tales will be blended, however ‘Killer of Killers’ proves to be a welcome addition to the franchise, offering some visuals that might be prohibitively costly in live-action and leaning into the mythology.
A couple of lingering story tendrils push it into Marvel territory when it comes to questioning if that is all place-setting for Trachtenberg’s upcoming live-action ‘Predator: Badlands,’ however once more, to even speculate about that’s verging on spoiler territory.
And regardless, ‘Killer of Killers’ manages to inform a largely contained, strong story with some welcome, intelligent nods to the ‘Predator’ motion pictures of the previous.
What’s the story of ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’?
The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human historical past: a Viking raider guiding her younger son on a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns towards his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to analyze an otherworldly menace to the Allied trigger.
However whereas all these warriors are killers in their very own proper, they’re merely prey for his or her new opponent –– the last word killer of killers.
Who’s within the solid of ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’?
- Lindsay LaVanchy as Ursa
- Louis Ozawa as Kenji/Kiyoshi
- Rick Gonzalez as Torres
- Michael Biehn as Vandy
- Doug Cockle as Einar
- Damien Hass as Anders
- Andrew Morgado as Chief Zoran
- Britton Watkins as Warlord Predator
A scene nonetheless from twentieth Century Studios’ Predator: Killer of Killers.’ Photograph: twentieth Century Studios. © 2025 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.