Predator: Killer of Killers Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

A secret animated Predator release on Disney+ by the director of Prey? Sign me up! But can this adult cartoon, playing in the world of the Yautja, live up to its live-action counterparts?

Genre: Action / Animation / Sci-Fi 

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

Cast: Lindsay LaVanchy, Damian C. Haas, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, Britton Watkins, Andrew Morgado, Felix Solis, Doug Cockle & Michael Biehn.

Run Time: 85 min.

US Release: 06 June 2025 (Hulu)

UK Release: 06 June 2025 (Disney+)

German Release: 06 June 2025 (Disney+

This was a real surprise; I just heard of this film in April, when the trailer plus title were officially released to the public. Honestly, I wasn’t captivated by the idea of an animated streamer being released before the actual big feature later this year, as was done by the Matrix sequels with The Animatrix. Nonetheless, I was looking forward to seeing what it had to offer that was new to this cinematic world. Now that it is finally out on the House of Mouse’s platform, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. So let’s get down to it, as we laser our way through my review for Predator: Killer of Killers. 

An anthology story, telling three accounts that span across a thousand years of human history, as three fierce warriors need to face the ultimate hunter, a killer of killers.

Director/producer Trachtenberg could have been very well listening to online chatter, after his prequel Prey hit the Hulu and Disney+ platform mid-2022. I remember the internet exploding with ideas about feudal Japan or the Viking age, as new settings for more Predator content. What is true is that this, as well as the live-action project, had been shot back-to-back to secure releases in 2025.

I think that this is a fun extension of the lore, with some intriguing ideas to explore in further material. Nevertheless, there is one big issue I feel this movie suffers from, which is the fact that the first two tales should have been told in live-action on the big screen. There is no denying that these two contain the most interesting proposals, possibly even including material for two standalone premises. The narrative focused very much on subjects of anger, vengeance, betrayal and trust.

The third segment, while fun, contained much weaker storytelling. The idea of a Yautja hunting during World War II makes sense, though given how pedantic they are about not getting caught by the wider public, getting involved in a whole battleship, aerial fight with a spaceship is out of character for these extraterrestrials. The finale intertwines the three separate plots, but was very much rushed, feeling like the gladiator battles of Episode II in Star Wars.

The dialogue is limited, giving the animation the space to tell the narrative visually. Conversations are natural, sounding true to their historical eras, as well as using the language spoken in those regions. The ending could have used a little more dialogue to deepen the alliance between the protagonists.

Each character displays a set of unmistakable personalities, rooted in the era plus geographical location they are from. This gives them cultural authenticity. 

Ursa, acted by Lindsay LaVanchy, is a standout protagonist, driven by her rage. A tragic leader, having lost everything in battle, her character's path is the most emotional of the three protagonists. LaVanchy gave her role a believable voice.

Kenji & Kiyoshi are both voiced by Louis Ozawa, who also played Hanzo Kamakami in Predators. The brothers’ narrative adds some depth to the samurai premise. 

Torres, though being quick-witted, has the most basic of the three arcs. Spoken by Rick Gonzalez, the World War II soldier gives the trio a modern edge. 

Trachtenberg maintained the dynamic camera movements used in live-action movies, creating a gritty, immersive, and fluent adventure. Stand-outs for this technique are the combat scenes, emulating the heaviness of a smashing axe, the elegance of a flying dagger, or the thrilling forces of an aerial dogfight. Freed from any physical limitation, the camera can defy natural laws to increase the suspense, while each historical section uses a specific colour palette.

The regisseur drew heavy inspiration from features like Akira, meshing them with the striking animated style from the show Arcane, giving the franchise a fresh new spin. Each era is distinctly animated; from the cool, snowy cliffridges of the Fjords, the creeping fogs in Japanese woodlands, to the breezy, fluffy freedoms of the skies. The mix of watercolour-like characters, with motion capture, gives the movements artistic fluidity. Finally, each Yautja was explicitly deigned to fit its surroundings. However, it looks at times a little overpolished.

The music, edited by Benjamin Wallfisch, draws from the score of the Predator theme, reimagining it for this streamer, even interweaving it with some of Alien’s tunes. The Sound effects make use of the haunting signature clicks of the Yautjas.

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Verdict: This animated anthology flick might be the surprise of the year, as it was announced mere two months before launch on the Hulu, respectively Disney platforms. Director Dan Trachtenberg was working on this streamer, simultaneously, while working on Predator: Badlands, which is going to be released later this year. The three distinct plots contain topics of loss, betrayal, vengeance, and wrath, with each giving a clear, different optical style. The finale seamlessly transitions these tales from episodic to a shared story. Unfortunately, this type of genre lacks the punch that live-action physicality contains. It even displays action, sometimes, a little over the top. The animation is gorgeously looking, blending the savage brutality of Akira with the design of Netflix’s Arcane. Killer of Killers is a nice, solid instalment in this series. I’ll give it a 7.5 out of 10. 

Have you seen this new release on Hulu or the Disney platform? Do you think it's an effective addition to the Predator franchise? Let me know by leaving a comment below. As always, thank you very much for reading & if you like the content, don’t forget to subscribe, like & share.