Predator: Killer of Killers Review

Three generations of warriors, separated by centuries, and from different parts of our world, face off against the deadly extraterrestrial hunters. For those who survive… a new nightmare awaits.

Killer of Killers is everything a Predator fan could want… action, violence, an impending sense of doom, and plenty of green blood-soaked gore. Falling – style wise – somewhere between Predator and Predators, it dives deeper into the ‘Yautja’ way of life, showing that there is more to it than lone hunters scouring the cosmos for a worthy adversary or a good death. Naturally, the Predators seek glory through their craft. The bigger the kill, the greater the glory. Which makes Killer of Killers a sort of boss level… not to mention, rather terrifying.

The movie is divided into four chapters. The first three introduce us to our warriors, while the fourth drops them into a new and even more frightening predicament. Although it’s amazing anyone lives long enough to make it that far! Each story is unique. Like a mini Predator movie all of its own, only not quite as cheesy. Featuring Vikings, Samurai, and US Navy fighter pilots. They quickly establish themselves with some form of vicious conflict, something to interest a blood-thirsty Predator – each one as different as the conflicts they observe. All of which allows us to get to know those who are facing a rather gruesome death, as we become surprisingly invested in their stories. It’s as if we’re watching alongside our invisible friend, as they wait for that perfect moment to strike.

In all three instances, when that moment comes, it’s beautiful and intense chaos. While the striking animation – developed using the famous Unreal Engine – not only means you can appreciate every shot, punch and splatter of green blood, it allows the filmmakers a real freedom with what they can do with these battles. A fight on a frozen Scandinavian shoreline against a Predator armed (in more ways than one) with a nasty pulse weapon, or an epic dogfight between a Yautja ship and several Navy fighters, off the coast of Vichy France. All of the combat is gritty, nasty, and about as real as you can get with a giant and often invisible alien hunter. The various fighters utilise a wide variety of weapons and fighting styles as they struggle to fight off their unwelcome guest. But the Predators also have some fun new toys, all of which are designed to dispatch their prey in ways that are horrific and oddly efficient. Seriously, it really is a wonder that anyone survives one of these encounters!

This all culminates in a battle that has some interesting ramifications for the entire franchise. It seems that just when you think the fight is over, it’s anything but. In fact, survival becomes a whole lot harder as those unlucky enough to survive, face off against what appears to be Yautja royalty. Directors Joshua Wassung and Dan Trachtenberg dramatically drive up the tension in this already intense nightmare, as our protagonists are forced to do something that doesn’t exactly comes naturally – which I won’t get into due to spoilers. But surviving is just their first problem, opening things up to the possibility of more adventures – or at least a continuation of their nightmare – as our heroes battle not only to survive, but to escape the Yautja once and for all.