Dan Trachtenberg’s surprising new entry to the Predator series proves why he’s the best person to lead the franchise forward.
Predator: Killer of Killers
Directed By: Dan Trachtenberg
Written By: Micho Robert Rutare
Starring: Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, Michael Beihn
Release Date: June 6, 2025 only on Hulu
My love for Predator has been well established, and the success of Prey with wider audiences has made me eager to see if they’d be able to follow it up. As we (eagerly) await the arrival of Predator: Badlands, Predator fans got a surprise treat with the arrival of Predator: Killer of Killers on Hulu. The feature length animated film ties together three separate stories in a way that not only makes for an engaging watch on its own, but manages to add to the overall Predator lore in some fun ways.
The movie tells essentially three different stories before bringing it all together in an “epilogue” that shows how they disparate characters become intertwined. The Shield puts the focus on Viking warrior Ursa (and her son Anders) in 841 as she leads a daring expedition of revenge against the person who killed her father. As they clash, an absolutely MASSIVE Predator attacks, forcing Ursa to use all her skills and wits in order to defeat him.
The Sword takes us to feudal Japan as the sons of a Samurai warlord, Kenji and Kiyoshi, find themselves at odds as they seek to curry their father’s favor. As adults, they find themselves battling once more, only to be interrupted by a crafty and skilled Predator. The brothers must set aside their rivalry and work together in order to take down the dangerous alien.
The Bullet brings us closer to modern times (1942) when John J. Torres is drafted to fight in World War II as a fighter pilot. When a Predator’s starship attacks their forces, Torres must use his quick thinking and deft flying skills in order to take down the far superior craft.
Each of these stories bring their own unique flair and story. Despite telling what is, essentially, the same basic story (unsuspecting person has to deal with an alien Predator), they all bring something new to the table. Ursa’s story is brutal and straightforward, as befitting that era and her mindset. Kenji’s tale is presented almost like a silent film, with almost no dialogue, harkening to the idea of the stoic Samurai warriors in constant control of themselves. Torres’ story brings an element of comedy and adventure (almost like Indiana Jones).
Even better, all three of the Yautja they encounter are vastly different from one another. While their stories aren’t really delved into, the visual elements do a fantastic job of showcasing what makes each of these Predators unique. You can see how their different hunting styles, and even skillsets, making the alien creatures themselves feel more diverse than ever before.
It’s an impressive mix that makes you engage with each story differently in a way that takes advantage of the storytelling medium used. Honestly, I’m not sure this kind of film would work in live action. The separation of stories and bringing them together feels like something audiences would struggle with in any other format. The exaggerated animation style lets you look at the stories almost as fables/myths; something “based on” a real story. This allows a higher level of suspension of disbelief, while a more realistic (i.e. live-action) approach would likely make the stories feel to similar.
And that’s not to mention the crazy amount of action on display. Seriously, I lost count of the times I exclaimed out loud, or said, “holy shit” due to the action and kills and display. It’s insane/brutal in all the best ways with a flourish and scale that’s better suited to animation.
While I enjoyed each individual story for what they offered—The Sword is probably my favorite—I really loved how the film brought them together. Remember the movie Predators? The one with Adrian Brody (and is way better than people want to tell you), where all these different kinds of killers from Earth are brought together on a Yautja gaming preserve. That’s kind of the idea here with Killer of Killers.
Everyone who’s managed to defeat a Predator is captured and kept in stasis until they are awoken for some ritual combat action. The most recent Predator comics have kept this lore as well, showcasing whole ships filled with the deadliest creatures in the galaxy being held in stasis in order to be hunted or provide other sport.
This is what brings Ursa, Kenji, and Torres together. Despite the language barrier and cultural differences, they must find a way to work together if they have any hope of escaping the Yautja intent on keeping using them for their own warrior purposes.
It’s just…neat. As someone who genuinely enjoys just about all of the Predator films (despite some of their weaker reputation), I’m thrilled to see Dan Trachtenberg find ways to incorporate elements of those films/lore into these new stories. It’s a way to acknowledge what’s come before, handpicking the best parts of them, while still moving the franchise forward in new ways.
On its own, Killer of Killers is a fantastic entry to the Predator franchise and something I can easily see myself coming back to. On top of that, it left me even more eager for Badlands, if only see to how Trachtenberg continues to expand things. What a time to be a Predator fan!
