MOVIE REVIEW: Does animated life suit the titular creature in 'Predator: Killer of Killers?'

Daily Record

2 days ago

Awesome anthology takes in different time periods and eaves franchise in exciting place for the future.
For its sixth solo outing - and eighth overall flick if you include clashes with Aliens - the Predator enters the world of animation for the first time.
Helmer Dan Trachtenberg is bridging the gap between his well received 2022 entry Prey and Predator: Badlands, due for release later in the year, with this anthology tale.
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Three of the fiercest warriors in human history take on the titular beasts across different time periods which take in Vikings, samurai and World War II pilots.
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Using animation allows Trachtenberg to go to town with historically accurate surroundings and weapons as well as graphic, gory kills that would otherwise possibly fall foul of the censors.
Killer of Killers builds on the series' selling point of seeing Predators take on humans in different environments, which really travelled to an exciting world in Prey after the previous more modern settings.
Perhaps the anthology's greatest flaw is that it peaks with its first instalment - the epic The Shield.
Viking warrior Ursa is a truly wonderful warrior who is gifted remarkable depth - involving her father and son - considering her solo tale lasts less than half-an-hour.
The 17th-century Japan-set The Sword is visceral and shy of dialogue as brothers Kenji and Kiyoshi collide with each other and a Predator.
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The Bullet is a long way off bad but suffers in comparison to its chapter predecessors, with WWII pilot Torres full of too many wisecracks, although it's cool to see an airborne battle involving the alien antagonist.
Without wishing to spoil too much, the epilogue sees Predators square off with more than one foe in a gladiator arena-like sequence containing flowing blood and self-sacrifice.
However, it's how this comes about, and a jaw-dropping mid-credits coda, that really gets the excitement flowing for where the franchise could go from here.
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Another triumph for Trachtenberg, Killer of Killers keeps the Predator series going in the right direction - and leaves you counting down the days until Badlands hits cinemas.
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● Predator: Killer of Killers is streaming now on Disney+.