20th Century (as ‘Fox’ and ‘Studios’) has tried reviving the “Predator” franchise multiple times in multiple ways. The 2018 reboot was only so-so, and I wasn’t a big fan of “Prey”, which many people thought should’ve been in theaters instead of debuting on Hulu in Summer 2022. The next live-action movie, “Predator: Badlands”, will be in cinemas in November. But until then, director Dan Trachtenberg presents a real treat.
I didn’t quite know what to expect heading into violent, R-rated animated feature “Predator: Killer of Killers”, including the ‘three stories coming together as one’ structure. The first two, about a viking and a samurai, are solid. These sections are mostly comprised of visually interesting fight scenes. Dialogue is at a minimum.
As much as these stories are engaging, with cool, painting-like animation, I wasn’t fully enthralled until no. 3, with a young WWII soldier involved in an aerial plane sequence that’s legitimately thrilling. Then you experience how three people, from three different cultures and generations (…centuries!), become one, in an epic face-off.
Family is a core theme of “Predator: Killer of Killers”, and the excellent music and sound effects help bring about that emotion, especially during the climax, which will leave you wanting more. As was the case with “Spider-Man”, “Transformers” and “The Lord of the Rings”, animation can be a fascinating and powerful way to take a beloved brand to a whole new dimension. You can add “Predator” to that list.
“Killer of Killers” teases a sequel. Since this installment wasn’t given a big screen release, maybe the next one will have it.
LCJ GRADE: B+
Running Time: 85 min.