If someone had told me that through Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Studios, they would completely revive the “Predator” franchise, I would’ve laughed in your face. But here we are, now two movies in and the franchise looks to be on a heater. Seemingly enough, director Dan Trachtenberg is in the driver’s seat and hasn’t missed an exit yet. First there was “Prey,” and now “Predator: Killer of Killers,” and both were executed almost flawlessly and are available to stream on Hulu.
“Killer of Killers” is an anthology film, of which I am usually not particularly fond. However, Trachtenburg keeps it simple with three separate stories that meet at the end for a solid conclusion. There’s no confusion or misguiding, it’s just straightforward, simple math of adding the three different stories from different periods in human history together.
“Predator: Killer of Killers” (2025) Review: Another Dan Trachtenberg Hit
Animation Brings Out the Best in “Predator”
It’s pretty easy to see why they chose animation to tell these stories. First of all, it looks incredible. I loved the style they chose, and how it feels modern yet looks like old-school hand-drawn animation at times. It melds nearly perfectly with the action and brutality you’d expect from a “Predator” film. There are some gorgeous shots in this and I could see them doing this again down the road.
The kills in this are, bar none, the best in the franchise. Again, it’s another thing that they could probably only pull off so successfully because of the animation. These are brutal kills, very graphic, and I lost count how many times I audibly said, “Holy shit!”
The Anthology Pieces of Lore
As far as the three separate stories go, being a Minnesota boy, I have to say the Viking one is most likely my favorite. It easily harbors the most brutal and strongest “Predator” in it, which makes complete sense considering Viking history often also holds the reputation of being brutal and unapologetic.
But that doesn’t mean I didn’t also enjoy the other two stories! The second one finds us in feudal Japan and the fights between the lean, mean “Predator” and the Samurai are great. I actually think that this story looks the best and I love how they pair each of the creatures perfectly with who they’re hunting. The final story takes place during World War II and although I think it’s the weakest of the three, it definitely has some highlights, especially during the airplane dogfight.
Dan Trachtenberg Continues to Shine as Director
The conclusion and final melding of the story is where the lore of the “Predator” franchise really expands. The many Easter eggs and hidden pieces from previous films really provide fun fan service, but if you blink, you’ll most likely miss them. It just goes to show how much more is left to be told with this classic character and the world they’re building.
I loved this movie and it might be the easiest four-out-of-five-star review I’ve ever had the pleasure of writing. It also makes me incredibly excited for the next film in the franchise, “Predator: Badlands,” which is due in theaters on November 7th. Dan Trachtenberg is again set to direct and as long as he stays involved, I’ll be watching. He obviously has a passion for the “Predator” franchise and it shows.
“Go forth among the stars and seek only the strongest prey. They shall be your trophy. Become the killer of killers.”
Personal Rating: 4/5 Stars
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