WHAT’S IT ABOUT
It follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a World War II pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
The Predator franchise has just gotten a major boost with the launch of Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated movie that brings fresh blood into the franchise. Director Dan Trachtenberg, who also helmed 2022’s Prey, reteams with Josh Wassung to create something completely new – an animated anthology covering three time periods and cultures. The movie is separated into three main segments, each of which shows how Predators have been hunting human beings for all their existence. Think of it like getting three small films rolled into one wonderful experience. “Shield” (841 AD) provides the backdrop in brutal Viking lands. Ursa, a tough Viking fighter and mother, brings her son Anders on a revenge quest. She’s after the man who killed her father, but her brutal pursuit draws something even nastier – a Predator hunting worthy prey. The Viking setting feels raw and violent, exactly what you’d expect from that era. “Sword” (Feudal Japan) brings us two brothers who couldn’t be more different. One became a disciplined samurai. The other chose the sneaky ninja path. After twenty years apart, they finally meet again when their personal grudge gets interrupted by an alien hunter. This chapter scarcely has any dialogue but tells its story in magnificent action and breathtaking visuals. “Bullet” (1941) shifts to World War II, and Torres, a Latino flying ace, discovers an unseen foe annihilating his squadron in the skies. Unlike the stoic, subdued portraits of the other films, Torres adds levity and warmth to the film. He’s a talkative and likable fellow and makes you really care about whether he survives or not. The animation style is incredible – imagine Arcane mixed with Spider-Verse but darker. All of the Predator designs are unique and terrifying in their own fashion. One even has a cape made out of the spine of their victim, which is awful and awesome. The green alien plasma-blood sorta glows against the more realistic backgrounds, and it looks some of the best it has ever looked. Since it’s animated, the violence can be intense. Expect a lot of gore, blood, and horrible deaths that wouldn’t be feasible with live-action. The R-rating is applied for a purpose here. It’s not just about the sweet Predator battles. Every story addresses issues such as family duty, revenge, honor, and what happens to individuals psychologically from being violent. The Viking lady has the psychological baggage of losing her father. The Japanese brothers must contend with family expectations and rivalry. The pilot must contend with the brutality of war and getting friends home in one piece. These underlying themes prevent the movie from being nothing but mindless action. You do care about these characters, even if each segment is rather short. This is where things really get going. The three stories are not arbitrary tales – they cross over with a cleverness that will not be disclosed here. The conclusion wraps everything up and sets up new avenues for potential Predator films in the future.Fanboys will enjoy catching Easter eggs that are hidden here and there. Michael Biehn (from Terminator and Aliens) does the voice of Torres’ mentor, rounding out his sci-fi film set. A famous pistol from the first Predator also appears in a humorous manner. The pacing goes quickly enough to keep you engaged without speeding through all the major moments. Every cultural environment is believable and distinct from the rest. The Predator costumes fit their human counterpart to a tee – the Viking goes up against a tank-like beast while the pilot fights a sky pirate. The voice acting gets the job done, although it may not be totally mind-blowing. The Viking segment incorporates proper period dialogue, and the Japanese segment is all about action rather than dialogue. Torres is granted the greatest lines and personality, so it’s easy to care about him. The brevity of the films means that you’re just starting to get to know characters when their movie ends. Some individuals might be more hungry for time with a particular tribe. Additionally, while the animation looks wonderful, it takes a few minutes to adjust to video game-style imagery. If animated action movies are your thing, you’ll probably gobble this up. Hardcore Predator fans will definitely want to see it. But normal moviegoers who don’t have a thing for gory science fiction can skip it. The movie accomplishes what it set out to do, exciting fans for the future of the franchise. It proves that Predator stories work no matter what time period or ethnicity, leaving us with limitless possibilities in the next films. Predator: Killer of Killers proves that the franchise has lots of life left in it. It’s smart, nasty, and visually appealing without insulting the origins and other cultures. The movie works both as a standalone experience and a lead-in to more Predator ventures. Trachtenberg and his team understand what makes these alien predators terrifying and intriguing. They’ve done something original but considerate of the legacy that came before. The climax sets up more to follow, and honestly, we can’t wait to see what’s next. The cartoon experiment works big time. It’s the kind of movie that will remind you why the Predator franchise became such a hit in the first place – combining great action with genuine storytelling ability. “Predator: Killer of Killers” gets it right on both great alien hunter action and surprisingly good character development. Definitely worth watching, especially if you’re already a fan of the series.
OUR RATING – A KILLER 8