Predator: Killer of Killers (dir. Dan Trachtenberg)

By: Adam Freed

It feels somewhat ironic for a franchise based on a breed of apex killers, to be given new life, but that is exactly what has happened to Predator.  Since its inception, there has been a mythical quality to the cult following of the Predator (1987) franchise.  It wasn’t difficult to see why Arnold Schwarzenegger’s jungle horror/mystery set the film world ablaze during the late Reagan administration.  John McTiernan’s film marked the perfect intersection of muscle-bound commando mission and fresh faced science fiction adventure.  Future iterations of the incendiary concept failed to maintain what McTiernan set forth until writer and director Dan Trachtenberg grabbed hold of the fertile intellectual property and piloted the visually and thematically inspired Prey (2022).  Thanks to his partnership with Hulu, Trachtenberg now holds the reins of the valuable franchise, a fact that Predator enthusiasts should celebrate at full throat.  As evidence of Trachtenberg’s epic vision, Predator: Killer of Killers is a beautifully rendered time travel animated adventure told across 1300 years of human history.

Prey was a vital first step for Trachtenberg, offering proof positive that an expanded universe of alien hunters in search of worthy opposition could be both visually stimulating and historically relevant.  Killer of Killers introduces three of Earth’s greatest warriors, each receiving a 20 minute vignette highlighting their laudable gifts.  While spending the first hour of an 85 minute film on character introduction doesn’t lend itself to a balanced narrative arc, there are very few minutes within Killer of Killers that feel wasted.  If anything, the brevity of the gloriously animated, blood-soaked romp may be one of its most redeeming qualities.  It feels nearly impossible that fans of the franchise will experience Killer of Killers and not be left begging for more.  Massive credit needs to be bestowed upon the heroic animation team behindthe film, fronted by Senior Animator Alaa Afifeh (Avengers: Infinity War, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) and Sound Designer James Miller (Alien: Romulus, Prey).  As much as Dan Trachtenberg’s film relies on the strength of its broad scope, it is driven by an engine of gorgeously detailed images and a blistering cacophony of battle-realistic sound design to accompany Alan Silvestri’s glorious score.   

Although many franchise fanatics await the release of November’s live-action Predator: Badlands, one would be remiss to ignore the Hulu original Predator: Killer of Killers on account of falling prey to the principle of perceived value.  Writer and director Dan Trachtenberg has more than exceeded expectations with this lightning paced time travel adventure that works as yet another worthy addition in his growing collection of Predator films.  

Target Score: 7.5/10  Delightfully dark, and blisteringly brutal, Predator: Killer of Killers is exactly what the long revered franchise needs to be.  Leaning into the race of Predators’ need to hunt only the finest warriors in human history, this exquisitely animated Hulu adventure is sure to exhilarate.