Killer of Killers’ Isn’t AI-Generated

This all started with The Guardian’s review. In her three-star review of the newest Predator entry, writer Catherine Bray noted that while the animation featured in the almost hour-and-a-half film was adequate, there was something dearly missing. According to her, Predator: Killer of Killers lacked a visually rich soul that made other non-live-action movies feel so exciting. She then hypothesized that AI was possibly involved, which was the reason behind the 20th Century Studios/Disney title being too stylistically acceptable. While the suspicion she raised is admittedly out of this world, is there any real merit to her claim? Well, let’s first look at the facts.

If this is true, it wouldn’t be the first time Disney (the current owners of the Predator franchise) has taken advantage of AI. The timeline-accurate Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian was brought to life with the help of artificial intelligence. Additionally, rumors have been circulating since October 2024 about the House of Mouse taking an unprecedented step towards AI collaboration (The Wrap stated that this initiative would focus on post-production and special effects). With that in mind, let’s get back to the crux of the matter. It seems that some people are not happy with this movie’s stylistic approach. Is that the reason the AI angle is gaining momentum — because it creates a shield for them to go against the positive acclaim wave?

‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Tries Something Different

Predator: Killer of Killers is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 97% critic score and 89% audience score. Director Dan Trachtenberg seems to have hit a home run yet again. However, many voices question his latest film, even though they are quickly argued against or downvoted. Even mere speculation about Predator: Killer of Killers’ AI usage promptly sparked heated debates, with some arguing that it made the film less enjoyable.

The few that tried to pick and prod the Hulu exclusive were quickly met by Predator fans, who seemed to now defend AI because of the theoretical notion that machines perfecting animation were attached to their beloved franchise. Whatever the case may be, it looks like the days of movies receiving extreme criticism for implementing AI, like in the case of 2023’s Late Night With the Devil or 2024’s The Brutalist, could already be behind us.

Aside from the subtle remarks found in The Guardian review, the animation style itself in Predator: Killer of Killers seems to have led people to this same conclusion. Admittedly, it is chunky and clunky, but that’s on purpose. It does appear to have a low frame rate at times (like computer games from the late ’90s), but that’s on purpose, too. Some Reddit users have proclaimed their distaste for this look and feel, while others are thrilled by the special presentation.

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In a Polygon piece published on June 4, Trachtenberg lets out a telling statement that everybody seems to be overlooking: “That’s one of the unique things about [Predator: Killer of Killers] — to be start to finish in Unreal is pretty special.” For those not in the know, the Unreal he refers to here is Unreal Engine, a 3D creation tool used to make games, produce and animate films, and much more.

An Interview With ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Director Reveals All

The Film Took Inspiration From Some Huge Hits

Trachtenberg also named Netflix’s Arcane and the hit anime movie Akira as inspirations for the way he went about crafting Killer of Killers (if you’ve seen either, the approach in this new Predator flick now makes a lot of sense). Surprisingly, he also named a 2000 under-the-radar, live-action comedy called Best in Show as a source of inspiration for this new Predator flick. If he could pull that movie out of the depths of the unknown for a shout-out, he could surely do the same for AI, if it were used. But that pretty much puts a nail in the coffin. Let’s shine a light on Mr. Trachtenberg for a moment. With Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and the upcoming Predator: Badlands all under his belt, he seems to be injecting what this franchise needed for the longest time.

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In the very same place where AI’s role in filmmaking is being debated day in and day out (namely, Reddit), countless fans continuously plead with 20th Century Studios to give the director even more leeway when it comes to the Predator cinematic universe. He’s bringing more lore, going down new storytelling avenues, and even attempting to connect old fans with new ones (which is a challenging task in itself). After the futile attempt that was 2018’s The Predator, we all needed saving grace. Even if there was AI used in the making of this movie (which there seems to be absolutely no supporting concrete evidence for), a little help went a long way in making this movie a delightful experience. If you want to see the film for yourself, Predator: Killer of Killers is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.