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While fans of the Predator franchise were eagerly awaiting the release of Predator: Badlands later this year, director Dan Trachtenberg announced that he’d secretly written and directed an additional Predator film—the animated thriller Predator: Killer of Killers—to be released to Hulu before the next live-action installment.
Predator: Killer of Killers tells the stories of three warriors who find themselves facing an otherworldly foe. Ursa (voiced by Linsday LaVanchy) is a Viking warrior on a quest to avenge her father’s death when she ends up battling an even more ferocious enemy. Kenji (Louis Ozawa) is a ninja warrior in 17th century Japan who turns his back on his family before teaming up with his brother to fight an invisible monster. And Torres (Rick Gonzalez) is a World War II pilot who takes on a craft unlike anything he’s seen before.
These three warriors from different periods in history all find their own battles disrupted by a vicious alien hunter who’s able to disappear and reappear and use alien technology to give him the upper hand. Each of the three parts is like its own short Predator film, setting up the character and the story—whether of war or vengeance or betrayal—before the Predator steps in to face off against another worthy adversary. Then all three of the stories come together in the end, bringing all of the warriors back for one last battle on a distant planet.
The animation here is eye-catching, in what almost looks like a mix of painting and video game art. All of the different settings are visually interesting, blending the different historical periods with the alien technology of the Predators and their weapons. Don’t let the medium fool you, though. This new Predator film may be animated, but that doesn’t mean it’s for kids. It’s still a Predator film—and the filmmakers didn’t hold back any of the graphic violence of the brutal fight sequences.
In the end, these three parts to one story make for an intriguing addition to the Predator franchise. Each is somewhat simple yet dramatic and action-packed. And while that doesn’t allow for a whole lot of story development, it provides plenty of alien warrior action.
If you’re anxiously awaiting the release of this fall’s new Predator film, Predator: Killer of Killers will help tide you over. It works within the franchise while giving the usual otherworldly action and violence an animated twist.
You can get your Predator fix with Predator: Killer of Killers when it streams on Hulu starting on June 6, 2025.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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