I went into Predator: Killer of Killers with mild curiosity and very low expectations. An animated Predator movie? On Hulu? In June? It sounded like franchise filler at best.
And then it absolutely kicked my ass.
Directed by Prey’s Dan Trachtenberg (who is clearly becoming the stealth MVP of this franchise), Killer of Killers is an anthology film that jumps between three distinct time periods, three unique protagonists, and three incredibly brutal Predator encounters. Every segment delivers—no dead weight, no throwaway stories. And somehow, it all ties together with a final scene that drops one hell of a reveal: Naru, the protagonist from Prey, frozen in a cryopod.
More on that in a second.
The animation, powered by Unreal Engine 5 and handled by The Third Floor, is slick as hell. Stylized but not cartoony, violent without feeling juvenile, and filled with moments that would be practically impossible in live-action. It’s a genuine step forward for both the Predator franchise and adult animated films in general.
Trachtenberg made some bold creative choices here. The Predators themselves aren’t carbon copies—they’re as varied as the humans they hunt. Different armor, different builds, even different fighting styles. He’s on record saying he wanted to ditch the idea of the Yautja as a monoculture. Instead, he pulls inspiration from Spartan warriors, Frank Frazetta’s Conan artwork, and even samurai ethos to craft a species that feels more mythic and layered. These are not just monsters—they’re personalities.
The three segments are tightly crafted. The Viking-era “Shield” chapter might be my favorite, following a mother hellbent on vengeance after her village is wiped out. “Sword” brings us to feudal Japan for a brutal samurai showdown between two rival brothers, and “Spear” drops us into a near-future war zone where things get real messy. What ties them all together—beyond the blood and heat vision—is the core idea that the Predator only hunts the worthy. And that worthiness? It’s not about brute strength. It’s about heart. Resolve. Survival instinct. The kind of stuff that made Prey work so well.
And then there’s the ending. That “Warehouse” codename wasn’t just studio misdirection—it teases a whole vault of frozen warriors and enemies, which could become the springboard for future installments. Including Predator: Badlands, which Trachtenberg says will connect—but not require—viewing Killer of Killers. He’s playing a long game here, setting up a slow-burn franchise expansion instead of cramming Easter eggs into every scene like it’s 2017.
What I love most is that it never forgets the human stories. Each chapter centers around someone underestimated, someone forced to rise. That underdog energy is baked into the DNA of the Predator franchise, and this movie wears it proudly.
Bottom line: Predator: Killer of Killers is proof that you can take bold swings in a long-running franchise and actually hit. It’s smart, savage, stylish as hell, and better than it has any right to be. More of this, please.
Bring on the sequel.
Listen to my full review here.
Hollywood After Dark 