By Justin Partridge Predator: Killer of Killers
Starring: Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn
Story by: Dan Trachtenberg and Micho Robert Rutare
Screenplay by: Micho Robert Rutare
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg & Josh Wassung
ONLY ONE LIVES!!!
The Yautja renaissance continues apace with the thrilling animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers. Now streaming on Hulu. Told through four interconnected tales of various gimmicked humans running afoul of various gimmicked Predators, Killer of Killers makes more than few schoolyard dreams and debates come true. Rendered in a sketchy-lined, but strikingly painterly overall style of animation. But even more impressively, this Dan Trachtenberg and Josh Wassung directed anthology gamely expands the scale and characterization of the Yautja race as a whole. Priming audiences for perhaps an even further expansion in the upcoming Predator: Badlands.
But even if that doesn’t come to pass, Predator: Killer of Killers stands proudly on its own as a gorily entertaining and constantly driving Predator effort. Taking the baton of Prey and then sprinting further across time with it, taking audiences and fans into some neatly unexpected places. And then dropping them with a bold statement of intent for the coming tales centered around these hunters who sometimes find themselves hunted.
We open with “The Shield”, the first in our tales. Set in 481 A.D., we revel in the blood-drenched crusade of Ursa (a powerful Lindsay LaVanchy) who leads her Viking war-band across the oceans in pursuit of revenge. Little does this sea-queen know, however, that another hunter stalks her mission; a Predator armed with a lever-action sonic cannon, affixed to it’s left arm like a pirate’s hook.
From there we encounter another personal war in “The Sword”, as in 1600’s Japan two brothers (Louis Ozawa in a smoldering dual role) are pitted against one another by their domineering father. But as the boys grow into adulthood, and a new Yajuta, this one with ninja inspired weaponry, makes planetfall, their revenge against one another must take a backseat to survival.
Lastly (or is it?) we have “The Bullet”. It is 1941 and young Torres (Rick Gonzalez bringing some much needed levity to the whole bloody affair) scrambles for a way to join the war effort via the Air Force. And while he gets his wish nearly a year later, he still finds himself grounded and under the thumb of deck commander Vandy (an always appreciated Michael Biehn).
That is, until, a new threat from beyond the warzone makes itself known. Forcing Torres (and our survivors from the previous tales) into aa much larger conflict.
Now taken as a whole, all three of these tales are top-shelf Predator action. They are massive in scale thanks to the animation, but further have a more intimate, almost dance-like quality to the fight scenes. Also something that made 2022’s Prey connect with audiences as much as it did. Better still, they are all gas, no breaks. With the pointed exception of “The Sword”, itself a more quiet, but altogether still thrilling affair, every new story feels like a build up. Naturally, as they continue to build, you would hope that they have somewhere to build to, right?
And I am more than happy to say, you bet yer bones, Killer of Killers does, and that place is…maybe a bit too good to fully spoil here. But rest assured, you are going into this experience with FOUR tales in the wings and the fourth absolutely does not disappoint.
And even though we’ve never seen this sort of story real estate explored on film before, Killer of Killers makes a powerful effort do it justice in it’s final moments. Providing audiences with juuuust enough alongside it’s bittersweet conclusion, hopefully laying a plentifully baited trap for the incoming Badlands. I’ll say for my own experience, that’s a big hell yeah. That trailer was one thing. But seeing how far Killer of Killers was willing to go, in terms of design, scale, and sheer bloody drive, now I’m just in a near frenzy for it.
But don’t take my word for it! Experience for yourself and I’m sure you’ll at least have some of a good time. Connection to the franchise or not. Though undeniably for the Predator fans, Killer of Killers provides handsomely gory anthology action and another big win for traditionally animated features.
Predator: Killer of Killers is streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.
