The Predator remains an iconic character even in 2025. Even though 20th Century Studios doesn't seem to quite understand where to take the franchise. However, the animated anthology film "Predator: Killer of Killers" gives hope that the space hunter is finally on the right track. And all thanks to the talents of Dan Trachtenberg, who strives to take all the good elements of the classic Predator from 1987 and supplement them with modern audiences' ideas about science fiction and fictional worlds.
| Name | Predator: Killer of Killers |
| Genre | anthology, animation, horror, science fiction |
| Director | Dan Trachtenberg |
| Cast | Lindsay LaVanci, Luis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, Michael Biehn and others |
| Studios | 20th Century Studios |
| Timing | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Year | 2025 |
| Link | IMDb |
Predator: Killer of Killers is a fast-paced journey through real-life human history. The concept is relatively simple: what if the galaxy's most dangerous hunters, the Yawtja (that's what the Predators are called, if you haven't been following the franchise closely) were always looking for opponents among Earth's greatest warriors?
The anthology features three separate stories: a brutal clash with Vikings, a silent duel in feudal Japan, and a World War II dogfight. Each segment explores how different cultures and warrior types confront the ultimate predator, before all the stories come together in a finale.
It's interesting to compare Predator as a franchise to another cult series, Alien. These two 20th Century Fox titans have had similar paths: a successful start, cult status, decades of uneven sequels, crossovers, and reboots that have either disappointed fans or given them cautious hope. However, in recent years, their fates have begun to diverge.
While Alien continues to search for itself, even resorting to blatant self-referentiality in Alien: Romulus, Predator seems to have finally found its savior. Dan Trachtenberg, who gave the world Prey in 2022, proves that its success was no accident. Predator: Killer of Killers is a confident step forward for the Predator universe, as well as an interesting experiment with the format.
Visually, the cartoon makes a bold bet on the style popularized by Arcane and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This is modern 3D art that imitates two-dimensional graphics with a deliberately reduced frame rate to give movements special weight and dynamics. And it is worth admitting, technically the work is done at a high level.
Animation allows for spectacular and bloody action scenes that would be impossible or too expensive to do live. However, the chosen style is where one of the film's few shortcomings lies. Trying to imitate unsurpassed works, Predator: Killer of Killers does not offer its own unique style. It lacks the ingenuity, riot of colors and creative diversity that make the same Arcane so unforgettable. Animation in Dan Trachtenberg's work is more a tool that does the job well than an independent achievement.
Fortunately, the narrative component compensates for any complaints about the visuals. Each of the three segments is a self-sufficient, concise and tense story. The first, about the Vikings, serves as a straightforward and bloody prologue, immersing the viewer in an atmosphere of primal cruelty.
The second, about the confrontation in Japan, is perhaps the strongest part of the anthology. Almost devoid of dialogue, it tells its story through impeccably choreographed fight scenes and expressive character animation. It also captures the Japanese aesthetic perfectly.
The third episode, about a WWII pilot, successfully changes the tone, adding more humor and moving the action into the sky, which adds a nice variety. Together, they create a wonderfully balanced picture, where there are no obvious weaknesses.
The secret to the success of these short stories lies in their scripted simplicity and effectiveness. The authors do not try to create something too complex and multidimensional, instead they use familiar archetypes – the avenging warrior, the rival brothers, the inexperienced hero – to instantly engage the viewer and make them empathize. Thanks to the minimum of dialogue and the focus on action, each character is revealed through their actions.
We believe in their skill, we understand their motivation, and we feel a real sense of threat when an alien monster with a plasma cannon on its shoulder appears on stage. This is a masterclass in concise storytelling, where there is nothing superfluous - only sweat, blood, and the fight for survival.
But Predator: Killer of Killers is more than just a collection of successful shorts. Its value lies in how the final act ties all three stories together, revealing new, previously unknown aspects of Yautja lore.
The film isn't just about another hunt. It begins to build a mythology, hinting at the purpose of these visits and the possible hierarchy in Yautja society. And it does so so skillfully that the ending leaves you with not a sense of cheap intrigue for the sake of a sequel, but a genuine excitement and desire to learn more. It's a smart expansion of the universe that respects the franchise's legacy but isn't afraid to move forward.
Predator: Killer of Killers is a triumph, especially considering how the Predator's place in modern pop culture has been shaky over the years. It's a confident, stylish, and incredibly entertaining anthology that proves the franchise is in good hands. While the film's animation falls a bit short of its more famous inspirations in terms of originality, its narrative coherence, inventive action, and clever expansion of the universe make it one of the best installments in the series.
Dan Trachtenberg isn't just making another Predator movie; he's building an entire era, and it's a joy to watch. So after such a strong production, expectations for Predator: Badlands will automatically creep up even for skeptics.