With no duds in the chapters, “Predator: Killer of Killers” is one of the most successful anthology films ever made. Most anthologies have one part that simply doesn’t work as well as the rest, but there is no such lull in the latest entry to the “Predator” franchise. The animation is impressive, the action impeccably choreographed and rendered, and the storytelling is bare bones but engaging. The overall sparsity of dialogue is actually a strength in that it keeps each segment lean and engaging—the clear direction by Dan Trachtenburg and Joshua Wassung makes for easy to grasp narrative but doesn’t feel overly simplistic or lacking nuance. It’s an exciting installment that will leave viewers clamoring for more.
“Predator: Killer of Killers” concerns three different warriors and time periods. The first, “The Shield,” is the 9th century with a Viking chieftain named Ursa (voiced by Lindsay LaVanchy) who is hunting down another tribal leader while rearing her son in the ways of her bloodthirsty people. The second, “The Sword,” concerns a 17th century ninja (voiced by Louis Ozawa) seeking revenge against his brother. And the third, “The Bullet,” focuses on an untested 1941 pilot (voiced by Rick Gonzalez) who finds himself in a surprising dogfight. Of course, the variable in all these scenarios is the sudden insertion of an alien hunter with advanced technology pitting themselves against these warrior types.
What makes “Predator: Killer of Killers” so impressive is that the chapters are already compelling without the introduction of the Yautja (yes, that’s the alien species’ name in “Predator” films).
Screenwriter Micho Robert Rutare (working from a story he co-wrote with Trachtenburg) deftly establishes characters and tone in such a manner that you’re swiftly bought into the world and the story. The brilliance of the film lies in its simplicity and its gorgeous depiction of horrific violence. The filmmakers use familiar archetypes and narrative tropes in each of the installments to communicate the situation and the badassery of those involved, but it never feels trite or overheated. Yes, we’ve seen these scenarios before, but they are terrifically rendered with little dialogue and immersive animation in such a way that it never reads as a retread; it’s familiar, but not overly so. And that’s before the “twist” of inserting an invisible monster into the fray.
Trachtenburg’s former foray into this world, 2022’s “Prey,” already established the artist had a deep appreciation and understanding of what makes for a good “Predator” entry. Not only does the monster have to be formidable, but so too does its human counterparts in such a way that is surprising (but earned). That means a combination of being badass but also demonstrating ingenuity in tackling the problem of an eight-foot-tall hulking creature. The film sells these characters as being capable of impressive warfare but also makes their strategies plausible and natural.
A good “Predator” film also requires a certain willingness to display brutal violence with innovative camerawork and staging which “Predator: Killer of Killers” also maintains. There are action moves which would be impossible to capture in live-action format that are absolutely fluid and wondrously gory that drive home the aptitude of the humans and the aliens alike. “Killer of Killers” contains multiple sequences that will raise eyebrows in surprise and respect at the audacity and imagination behind some of its dismemberments and kills.
“Predator: Killer of Killers” proves that “Prey” wasn’t a fluke and that Trachtenburg and team deeply understand how to craft a fun “Predator” film that is equal parts classic and innovative. The human/monster balance is always hard to strike, yet all involve find ways through the narrative, animation, and voice work to efficiently place these characters and make them folks that we are invested in watching…especially with the promise of a gruesome clash with an extraterrestrial behemoth. The fact this is done as an anthology, and the entire movie clocks in under 90 minutes, just makes this all the more impressive as it’s all killer and no filler in the best of ways. “Predator: Killer of Killers” is an exceptionally exciting movie that streamlines and delivers on the promise of earlier “Predator” movies in such an energizing way that you’ll anxiously await returning to the world that Trachtenburg has crafted.
4 / 5 Stars
Directed by: Dan Trachtenburg, Joshua Wassung
Starring: Lindsay LaVanchy, Rick Gonzalez, Louis Ozawa, Michael Biehn
