Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)

Out of all the Predator films, the only ones I had seen before were the original one with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the movie Prey. After I watched Prey, I was curious to see where this franchise was heading and so far, I think it’s on the right path after having just watched Predator: Killer of Killers. When I saw the trailer, I wasn’t sure how to feel about an animated Predator movie but with Dan Trachtenberg at the helm, I don’t think I had much to worry about. In fact, this particular critic would call this two wins in a row for the guy. I don’t know about anyone else, but I think Trachtenberg has proven that this franchise couldn’t be in more capable hands than his. I know action and violence isn’t for everyone but if you’re cool with all of that, then this movie will be pretty damn fun for you. It features everything you would hope for in a Predator movie: intense action, creative Predator kills, an intriguing story, and characters that kick ass. I can’t wait to delve deeper into this so let’s jump right in.

     The movie tells three different stories and is set in four different time periods. The stories center around a Viking raider, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a World War II pilot, who each encounter a creature more obsessed about their one goal. Sounds a little familiar to me in a weird twisted way. Not only are the stories actually well-told but the animation is pretty impressive as well. It blends 3D and 2D animation to bring a visually striking and brutal film experience to life, and this film shows why animation is perfect for a story like this. I’m not an expert or a filmmaker so I can’t say for sure, but I don’t see how this film could have been told in live action. There’s advantages and disadvantages to both live action and animation and you can definitely see all the advantages of animation here. It brought all the different worlds you see here and these characters to life in a way that I don’t think could have been done in live action. Another thing I loved about this movie was how fast-paced it was, being only 85 minutes long. It kept me glued to the screen throughout and it kept me in suspense the whole time. Nothing felt rushed and I was able to connect with the characters, which is not something I could say for a lot of movies with a longer running time. This was a pretty sick journey from start to finish and I can see the franchise getting better from this point on. If anyone can make that possible, it’s Dan Trachtenberg.

     I’ve had a pretty good week of watching movies and it felt nice to make this my next watch. I can’t wait to see where Trachtenberg takes this franchise next and without spoiling too much, the ending of this film is proof of that. I feel like I have so much more to discuss about this film but I’ll let the viewer be the judge of that. And I couldn’t be more glad that this is on Hulu because I can see myself coming back to this film every now and then. Overall, I would give this movie a 9 out of 10. If you’re a fan of the Predator franchise or if you’re just looking for a fun, bloody, and action-packed adrenaline rush, then definitely check this film out. Brutal, relentless, and utterly badass.