Predator: Killer of Killers

I was skeptical about an animated Predator movie. But the animation was very good and the style lends its self very well to the subject matter.

It seems to be an anthology but its all tied together at the end and leaves things open for much more in the future.

Speaking of tying things together there are interesting references to the other films and hint at a much wider universe that we hopefully get to see.

Don't be put off that its a cartoon its much cheaper to tell a story this way than with live action so more chance of followups.

In Dan Trachtenberg it seems they have someone who can take the Predator franchise in a much better direction than it had been going prior to Prey.

If Prey's journey into the past ignited your imagination for more Predator encounters across diverse historical landscapes, then brace yourself. Predator: Killer of Killers takes that very fan desire and crafts something truly epic: a breathtakingly animated anthology where individual tales of survival and savagery cleverly weave together into a larger, interconnected narrative.

This isn't just a collection of standalone "what ifs." The film presents a series of visually stunning and distinct animated shorts, each plunging us into a different era to witness new warriors confronting the relentless Yautja. The animation itself is a masterclass - incredibly stylish, dynamic, and unafraid to depict the brutal reality of a Predator hunt. While each segment offers a unique and thrilling glimpse into a specific confrontation across time, they are designed to gradually converge, with threads and characters building towards a more encompassing storyline. This ambitious structure, showcasing varied settings and conflicts while still telling a cohesive, broader story, is where the animated medium truly shines, offering a scope that would be a colossal undertaking in live-action.

Be warned: this is an intense, mature-audience experience that revels in the ferocity of its premise. It's wildly creative, visually spectacular, and a visceral thrill from start to finish. For fans who've longed to see the Predator's lethal prowess tested across history, Predator: Killer of Killers delivers not just isolated skirmishes, but a cleverly constructed saga of interconnected hunts.

So the very first episode the viking is running around killing people with BROKEN WOODEN SHIELDS. How strong would someone have to be to hack of heads and limbs with broken shields?!? Like seriously did they get the idea for this from Elden Ring or Assassin's Creed Valhalla?? Also the bad guys went to the Prometheus School of attacking one at a time. I was confused as to why the writing was so atrociously bad until I remember this was done by the person that wrote Prey. I know Vikings were pretty handy in a fight, but to imply one would run around with two broken shields instead of spear and shield? Axe and shield? Sword and shield?

This movie had an interesting concept but as a full length film it disappoints. It feels like a longer episode of Love+Death+Robots and should probably have been reserved for that series instead. The plot is very rushed and considering this is supposed to be a first encounter with an alien everyone just seem to accept that they are now being hunted by monsters as if that's just the norm. There is no build up, it's just straight to the action. The characters seem interesting but just when you feel like you're getting to like them their story is over. There are also some weird sequences where you really have to suspend your disbelief, especially in a certain flight scene. Also one of the characters apparently knows how to use the Yautja tech even though he has never seen it before, almost as if he is actually a Predator fan who has seen all the movies beforehand. Considering these fighters have no prep time to deal with the very sudden Predator attacks they make Dutch from the first movie look like an amateur. The fights seem way too even between human and Predator and that makes the predators seem kinda weak despite some really cool and gory kills on their part. I don't know how much Trachtenberg was involved with this film but it has me slightly worried for the next installment Predator: Badlands.

Stepping into an animated Predator experience, one anticipates a certain level of visceral thrill. This film delivers: the animation itself is exceptionally stylish, painting each frame with a polished sheen, and the action sequences unfold with brutal, well-choreographed fluidity. Visually, it's often stunning, from the glint of alien blades to the stark landscapes. The pacing, effective in its quick jumps from era to era, initially promises a sprawling, epic hunt.

However, and I realize this might sound a bit contrarian given its visual appeal, my core expectation for substantive storytelling found itself at odds with the film's execution. While I often appreciate simplicity, Killer of Killers veers into being too paint-by-numbers for its own good. The initial two chapters, though visually distinct - one draped in the furs and steel of 841 A. D. Scandinavia amid clashing Viking war parties, the other sharp with the silks and swords of 1609 feudal Japan as samurai duel - quickly reveal strikingly similar narrative beats. Each sees a protagonist on a quest for revenge, dispatching numerous foes, only for a Predator to suddenly appear with little narrative justification, leading to a mirrored, predictable resolution. The repetition dulls any potential for surprise.

Worse, the characters inhabiting these vivid backdrops are frustratingly undernourished archetypes, given little room for genuine psychological complexity or authentic emotional depth. Their struggles feel shallow, failing to justify any true investment. The third chapter, set against the grim backdrop of World War 2, suffers even more dramatically; its protagonist, Torres, seems to exist merely to fly, and then flies to save comrades from a Predator in a flying vessel. Action and gore are plentiful - from the spray of blood against ancient stone to the metallic whine of alien tech - but the narrative content is sparse. The predictable finale attempts to tie these disparate threads together, hitting familiar "work together instead of fighting amongst ourselves" notes that feel more like an obligatory Avengers trope than an earned thematic conclusion.

Ultimately, I'm not upset by Predator: Killer of Killers; it certainly offers moments of visual spectacle and satisfies the primal urge for creature-feature action. But for me, it simply doesn't deliver enough narratively or thematically to earn more than a recommendation as a casual diversion. I suspect, however, that it may be the straightforward, action-heavy romp that many viewers are looking for.