Latest news with #KillerofKillers'
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Predator: Killer of Killers' on Hulu brings back the thrill of the hunt — and it's the most fun I've had in ages
'Predator' has always had a special place in my movie-loving heart. There's just something truly great about the idea of the galaxy's ultimate hunter going against some of the strongest humans throughout time. So when I heard Hulu was releasing a new animated entry in the franchise called 'Predator: Killer of Killers' (directed by Dan Trachtenberg, no less), I was immediately all in. I'll admit, I had high hopes. 'Prey' was a phenomenal surprise that reminded everyone just how good a 'Predator' movie could be. And while 'Killer of Killers' doesn't quite knock it out of the top spot, it absolutely earns the silver medal. And yes, that includes placing it above the original. This thing rules. From the opening minutes, it delivers exactly what I want from a 'Predator' story: brutal combat, clever kills and characters who don't go down easy. What really surprised me, though, was just how fun it all is. For a franchise that often leans gritty, 'Killer of Killers' finds a sweet spot between savagery and style. If you're a longtime fan like me or just someone who loves a well-crafted action thrill ride, this latest installment is some of the most fun I've had with 'Predator,' and it's now streaming on Hulu. Here's why this one's worth the hunt. 'Predator: Killer of Killers' is a Hulu-exclusive animated anthology movie that features three standalone stories set in wildly different time periods, each centered around a deadly clash between a skilled human warrior and a relentless Predator. The first chapter takes place in Viking-era Scandinavia, where a hardened raider, accompanied by her young son, goes on a brutal quest for vengeance after her village is decimated. Her path leads her into the wilderness, where she encounters something far more dangerous than any clan rival. The second story unfolds in feudal Japan, where two estranged brothers — one a disciplined samurai, the other a stealthy ninja — are forced into a confrontation over the future of their clan. Their final showdown is interrupted by a new kind of enemy. The final tale jumps to the skies of World War II, where an Allied fighter pilot begins noticing strange disappearances during missions over Europe. A routine investigation turns into a desperate fight for survival when he realizes an invisible enemy is stalking him from above. 'Killer of Killers' stands out from the rest of the franchise in two big ways: It's beautifully animated, and it tells three separate stories that ultimately converge. Right from the start, it's clear this is a 'Predator' movie that dares to do something different, and it succeeds on every level. The stories told are impactful and actually quite clever, using personal conversations and animated facial expressions to make us care about the characters. Not to mention the voice acting, which makes every scene feel that much heavier. Out of all three stories, the feudal Japan segment absolutely stole the show for me. It's the quietest of the trio (almost entirely free of dialogue), but that silence speaks volumes. What unfolds is a visually stunning, tension-soaked battle between a disciplined samurai and his estranged ninja brother. It's rare that a 'Predator' story feels this elegant. Like 'Prey,' which gave us a Predator perfectly matched to the time of the Comanche warriors, 'Killer of Killers' does something similar. Each Predator is tailored to its setting, both in design and behavior. The one in Viking-era Scandinavia is a hulking, primal force. The Japan segment gives us a fast, silent hunter who moves like a ghost. And in the World War II chapter, the Predator is almost machine-like as it flies a spacecraft. It shows that the creators put real care into adapting the Predator design and behavior to fit the culture and era. The animation style in 'Predator: Killer of Killers' really caught my eye, and it makes sense considering it took inspiration from 'Arcane' and 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.' It's a bold choice that gives the movie its own unique vibe while still staying true to the gritty, savage spirit of the iconic franchise. Honestly, it's one of the reasons I had such a great time watching it. Most of all, 'Killer of Killers' knows exactly how to be a standout 'Predator' movie. There's plenty of carnage and brutal deaths, including a Predator that wears multiple spines as a cape (yes, really). So, if you're a fan of the franchise, be prepared for the gory action you expect. 'Killer of Killers' is a really fun ride, and I'm glad to see the franchise keeping up its good streak after 'Prey.' Here's hoping 'Predator: Badlands,' coming later this year, can keep the momentum going. If you're even remotely a fan of the 'Predator' franchise or just love stylish action with serious bite, 'Killer of Killers' is absolutely worth your time. It's bold, beautifully animated, and packed with moments that'll leave your jaw on the floor. Each segment brings something new to the table, and together they create one of the most memorable entries in the franchise. So do yourself a favor: Fire up Hulu, hit play and enjoy one of the coolest surprises of the year so far. For even more streaming recommendations, see what else is new on Hulu in June 2025. Stream "Predator: Killer of Killers" on Hulu now.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: ‘Killer of Killers' honors ‘Predator's' legacy while setting a new gold standard
'Predator: Killer of Killers' is the best movie a 10-year-old boy could ever hope to see. That's because it's really a bunch of bloody, action-filled animated stories in one neat, 90-minute package. There's a Viking saga that could just as well be called 'Conan the Revenger.' A ninja versus samurai standoff comes next. World War II aerial combat like none you've seen before (well, maybe a bit in the new season of 'Love, Death & Robots') then fills the screen. And it all culminates in a gladiator match with otherworldly monsters. Of course, there are Predators too. Those trophy hunters from outer space, with advanced weapons and camouflage equipment, raid various time periods and Earth cultures to kill or capture humanity's best warriors. But while the dreadlocked aliens may have superior technology, they don't always succeed. 'Killer of Killers' continues the concept co-director Dan Trachtenberg applied to his 2022 live-action ' Prey,' only with the more elaborate action, wider scope and graceful, graphic kineticism animation can accommodate. The film's co-director, Joshua Wassung (who also worked on 'Prey'), presumably oversaw its animation aspects. He's the founder and chief creative officer of the Third Floor, which makes its feature animation debut with this project. The company has a long history of creating digital visual effects for films and television shows, but is perhaps better known as a preeminent provider of previsuals for those and other productions. Previs is a rough animated guide created to work out how scenes will be blocked, shot and later enhanced before cameras roll. They're not meant to be viewed as any kind of final product, and perhaps that explains why the sole aggravating aspect of 'Killer of Killers' is a sometimes jerky movement similar to that of many video games or the cheaper, frame-skipping kind of anime. This is most noticeable in the opening Viking sequence, particularly during that stretch's visceral, blood-and-thunder fight sequences. There's such beautiful brute force to the overall visual scheme, though, that this feels less distracting as the often headless body count climbs. The Japanese warriors are as agile as any Kurosawa directed (this segment even opens with a leafy homage to 'Yojimbo'). The dogfights over Vichy North Africa swoop and spin with vertiginous torque. By the time Earth's most resilient heroes must face one another, and heaven knows what else in an off-world coliseum, we're fully engaged by the physical struggle to survive. But what makes these mini-mayhem marathons extra tasty is how most of the protagonists are preoccupied with long-simmering agendas. They at first view the incomprehensible aliens as annoying interlopers impeding their dreams of glory or hate-driven payback. Communication issues are a running theme, adding to the difficulty of surviving the new superseding threat. Narrative-wise, it's all rather rudimentary but as dramatically effective as a battle-ax dismemberment. Trachtenberg's next movie, 'Predator: Badlands,' looks like it has enough VFX shots to blur the line between live-action and animation. Whatever that film's aesthetic turns out to be, the director's sensibility breathes exciting new life into a franchise that, let's face it, was an 'Alien' by way of 'Terminator' knockoff from the start. The inclusion of original 'Terminator' star Michael Biehn as a voice actor in 'Killer of Killers' feels intentional, underscoring Trachtenberg's desire to reboot this franchise at a higher level. The tween boy in all of us should be stoked.
