Predator: Killer of Killers officially anoints Dan Trachtenberg as the savior of the Predator franchise. He follows up the superb Prey with an equally awesome animated anthology that’s loaded with bloody action, sharp storytelling and big surprises. Killer of Killers dives deep into the ruthless aliens’ culture via historical conquests, jumping between three different time periods that feature unique warriors battling their predator adversaries with raw nerve and savage cunning. Their collective efforts lead to a fascinating third act that reshapes everything we know about the monstrous trophy hunters.
Predator: Killer of Killers begins with an alien spaceship then hurtling towards an icy Nordic ocean in the year 841. “The Shield” follows the Viking raider Ursa (Lindsay LaVanchy), a feared warrior branded as the “Valkyrie of the Northern Seas,” on a quest for vengeance. Anders (Damien Haas), her young son, accompanies Ursa on his first mission. Ursa explains that their enemy tribe and its leader, Zoran (Andrew Morgado), must be annihilated for crimes against their family. Anders will get the honor of his first kill as they storm a frozen beach, completely unaware of a greater threat lying in wait nearby.
Dan Trachtenberg Delivers Again
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/5
- Release Date
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June 6, 2025
- Director
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Dan Trachtenberg, Josh Wassung
- Writers
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Micho Robert Rutare, Dan Trachtenberg
The second segment, “The Sword,” takes place in 1609 in feudal Japan. Autumn leaves fall as a pair of brothers play fight with sticks in the forest. No dialogue is spoken as their shogun father brings them into the castle for a real duel. Kenji and Kiyoshi are handed swords to prove who will be the shogun’s heir. Kenji cannot fight his brother, but Kiyoshi does not have that problem, and Kenji flees under a withering assault. Years later, as bells signal the shogun’s death, the adult Kenji (Louis Ozawa) has a score to settle. His clandestine infiltration is keenly watched by a cloaked predator.
The third chapter is a spectacular aerial dogfight set aboard an aircraft carrier during World War II. Torres (Rick Gonzales), the youngest member of the Texas Aces, has engine problems with his beloved fighter, “The Bullet.” Vandy (Michael Biehn), his commanding officer and squadron leader, questions Torres’ ability to stay in the air, but their conversation is short-lived as the carrier’s deck explodes into flames. The Aces soar towards what they think are German fighters, but sifting through the wreckage, Torres finds an incredible weapon that’s obviously not of this Earth.
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Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) and co-writer Micho Robert Rutare craft separate stories, but they all have a unified purpose. Ursa, Kenji, and Torres are pieces of a bigger puzzle, and it all comes together in a truly awesome finale. The protagonists are defined by their eras, and face death according to their customs: Ursa, for example, doesn’t have a drop of fear or self-preservation. She believes Valhalla awaits the courageous. Kenji, on the other hand, shuns his father’s brutal test, embracing brotherly love over honor. And Torres, who’s always underestimated, proves to be agile and innovative against a far superior enemy. These traits are all recognized by the predators as worthy, and the fandom is going to be absolutely thrilled with where the plot goes.
Predator: Killer of Killers gets top marks for its visuals and animation style. Trachtenberg and co-director Joshua Wassung blend 2D animation with 3D elements that look like paintings; the action is also not fluid, and seemingly unfolds at a slower frame rate. This gives the film a sense of gravitas as the scope of what’s really happening dawns on the characters. Each story then takes its own approach to how the violence commences: Ursa is engaged in knockdown, limb-hacking combat. Kenji is more like a ninja, picking off baddies in the shadows. But Torres and the Aces trying to attack a predator spaceship stuns as the artistic highlight of the movie.
New Predator Twists
That being said, infusing fresh ideas into the Predator mythos is Killer of Killers’ most important achievement. Killer of Killers is the eighth installment in the series, and audiences know the predators’ technology and weaknesses by this point. Trachtenberg understands this, and makes an effort to go in an unexpected direction. You’ll recognize the standard predator gear, but they have wicked new weapons and behave in interesting ways as they take stock of their human opponents. They want to get their claws dirty, but the river of blood flows both ways as the hunted return the lethal favor.
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Predator: Killer of Killers can be enjoyed by neophytes as a standalone animated feature with gruesome action and good characters. But the filmmakers are building towards something else, and there’s an assumption that viewers will be familiar with predator lore and ready to see another aspect of their society. The climax opens new doors that were previously unthinkable: Let’s just say there’s a lot more going on with the predators than we thought. Trachtenberg has another live-action predator film, Predator: Badlands, slated for November, and his sterling track record with the franchise sets expectations for this next installment very high.
Predator: Killer of Killers is a production of 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Animation, Davis Entertainment and The Third Floor, Inc. It will be available to stream June 6th exclusively on Hulu.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
