‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Review (Disney+)
Features the voices of: Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Lauren Holt, Jeff Leach, Cherami Leigh, Andrew Morgado, Rick Gonzalez | Written by Micho Robert Rutare | Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
The Predator series saw a strong revival with Dan Trachtenberg’s historical entry, Prey. He returns with Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology that pits Predators against warriors from across human history.
The film unfolds across three time periods: In 841, a Viking shieldmaiden seeks revenge on the man who killed her father. In 1629, two samurai brothers clash following their father’s death. And during World War II, a young American pilot tries to prove himself. In each tale, these warriors face a deadly threat from beyond the stars.
Prey reinvigorated the Predator franchise by taking it back to basics, offering the kind of historic matchup fans had long hoped for. Since then, there’s been speculation about potential foes for the Predators: Roman centurions, medieval knights, and ninjas. Fan films like Predator: Dark Ages and Predator: Celtic Days have explored similar ideas, but Predator: Killer of Killers delivers them on an official and ambitious scale, while also allowing the series to explore new directions.
The film’s three stories converge by the end, and each is fully realised despite the short runtimes. The Viking segment plays like a mini-remake of the original film, featuring a tense raid. Each story blends emotional stakes with action, offering variety in tone and style: the Vikings rely on brute strength, the samurai on stealth and strategy, and the WWII tale even includes aerial dogfights. The samurai story stands out thanks to its near wordless, visually driven storytelling.
Visually, Predator: Killer of Killers uses cel-shaded animation, a style popularised by recent hits like the Spider-Verse films, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and Nimona. Its comic book-inspired aesthetic allows for stylish action and inventive designs, giving animators room to push boundaries. The film also taps into adolescent thrills with its blood-soaked battles and intensity; it’s refreshing to see an animated feature embrace full-throttle action, and made for adults. There’s room in the animation landscape for more films like this, and Predator: Killer of Killers could pave the way for a new wave of mature animated storytelling.
Predator: Killer of Killers is a treat for Predator fans – simple, fast-paced, and packed with action.
**** 4/5
Predator: Killer of Killers is available to stream now, in the UK, on Disney+
