Film Review: ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ is an Inventive if Repetitive Way of Toying with the Iconic Hunter

When Prey came out a few years ago (reviewed here), filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg found a really exciting way to tackle the Predator IP. By going back to basics, as well as suggesting how different time periods easily lend themselves to stories of this hunter, it really did seem like something was unlocked. The sequel to Prey, Predator: Badlands, is coming soon, but first, we have the animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers. This film leans into the different time periods element, telling three different stories of warriors going up against the ultimate warrior. The results, while occasionally repetitive, are largely entertaining.

Predator: Killer of Killers only suffers from each of the three main segments feeling a bit similar. Aside from that, watching a viking, a ninja, and a World War II fighter pilot duke it out with the Predator in different time periods is a lot of fun. The animation doesn’t blow you away, but the concept certainly does the trick. What’s ultimately a violent lark for the franchise certainly has a bloody charm to it.

The film features three segments, plus a final section that ties everything together. The first is called “The Shield” and centers on ninth century viking warrior Ursa (Lindsay LaVanchy). Haunted by childhood trauma, she’s also a protective mother to teenage son Anders (Damien Haas). On a violent hunt for a lifelong foe, she comes across the Predator, shifting her to focus to protecting Anders. A battle ensues. Next, in “The Sword” we have an essentially silent section in feudal Japan. There, we have a pair of samurai brothers in the midst of a fight to the death over family history. At least, they are until you know who arrives on the scene, causing them to team up, even with deep-seated wounds still on their minds. The last of the main three segments is “The Bullet” and takes place in 1941 during WWII. Torres (Rick Gonzalez) is a young Air Force mechanic dreaming of flying. When the Predator’s ship takes out all of the other pilots, Torres gets the opportunity to become the fighter pilot he’s yearned to be.

Finally, there’s one more segment, which should remain a surprise. This part is the biggest expansion of the Predator universe, in a number of ways. It feels both a bit too different from what’s come before as well as a welcome refresher at the end. If you see the movie, you’ll understand what I mean, but this is likely to be a divisive section for audiences.

There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about the voice work here, but it’s certainly solid enough across the board. Rick Gonzalez, Damien Haas, and Lindsay LaVanchy each do their jobs, allowing you to focus on the action being put forth. Other voice actors here include Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Lauren Holt, Louis Ozawa, and more.

Co-directors Dan Trachtenberg and Joshua Wassung find a certain look to the flick, that’s for sure. The animation isn’t quite as lush as high end productions these days, but it is distinct and fits the work. Trachtenberg has a story by credit he shares with Micho Robert Rutare, who wrote the screenplay, and they rightly saw that none of these ideas would sustain as a feature. Put together, they have trouble avoiding a bit of repetition, though when the film is humming along, it is a really decent amount of fun.

Predator: Killer of Killers is unlikely to blow you away, but if you like the idea of the franchise trying something like this, you’re likely to get a kick out of it. Trachtenberg and company certainly could do another one of these, especially if they figure out a way to tinker with the formula a bit. The Predator franchise has never been more active, with this a solid addition to the series.

SCORE: ★★★