In August of 2022, “Prey”, a late entry film in the “Predator” franchise, was released on Hulu. For a legacy sequel to a mostly dead franchise to be dumped on streaming, it was receiving mostly positive buzz. I had COVID at the time, and it was the perfect movie to watch in the haze of sickness. It was fun and felt like an original take on the franchise, but it was also a movie that never challenged me in any real way. Exactly what I want from a movie like “Prey”.
Which leads us to the most recent instalment in the “Predator” franchise, “Predator: Killer of Killers”. This new film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and Joshua Wassung. Trachtenberg previously directed “Prey” and is set to have another “Predator” film release this November under the title “Predator: Badlands”.
Similar to “Prey”, this film takes the threat of the Predator aliens and puts them in various non-contemporary points in history. What makes this film unique for the “Predator” franchise is that it is an animated film and also an anthology film. While these creative choices might not work for everyone, it does create exciting action moments in this franchise that feel like something new.
The film takes the viewer through time as we explore what a predator would be like at different points in history. The first chapter, “The Shield,” follows a Viking named Ursa who is seeking revenge against the man who killed her husband. The second chapter, “The Sword,” tells the tale of a ninja who battles his brother, who has become a samurai. The third chapter, “The Bullet,” follows the story of a World War II pilot.
The chapters are anywhere from 20-25 minutes, making the stories brief. The narrative beats of the story might not be the strongest aspect of this project, but the film is able to make up for it with its action, which all comes together in the fourth part of the film, taking the audience to the Predators’ home planet. All of the chapters do an effective job of showing the untapped potential that the “Predator” franchise has. Each of the chapters could hold its own as a standalone film, which does make it unfortunate that the stories are condensed regardless of their quality.
“Killer of Killers” does not stray away from violence; it makes that clear in the early moments of the film. This is where the benefit of animation comes in. Through the use of this filmmaking medium, the movie’s settings, action, and character design are allowed to thrive in a way that this franchise has never seen before. While a bit choppy during the action sequences, the animation always feels cinematic and portrait-esque.
While “Killer of Killers” might not have the most memorable story, it does a lot for the “Predator” franchise in terms of world-building. For a franchise that has had some real highs and some real lows, this is a high. It is an exciting new entry in the “Predator” series and proves that Trachtenberg is a good fit for these movies going forward.