ThePredatormoviePredator: Killer Of Killersis the anthology that viewers have been waiting decades for, and I’m so glad the franchise has finally used this ingenious premise.ThePredatorfranchise timelineisn’t entirely straightforward, but it is relatively easy to decode. AlthoughPredator 2takes place in a crime-ridden futuristic Los Angeles, most of the movies occur in chronological order. The lone exception is2022’s perfectPredatorprequelPreywhich, not coincidentally, is the franchise’s best outing in decades.
WhilePredator 2,Predators, andThe Predatorall tried to outdo the original movie with new monsters, bigger weapons, and more elaborate setups,Preytook things back to basics for its ingenious story. Set on the Great Plains in 1719,Preyfollowed Amber Midthunder’s Comanche warrior Naru as she battled the Predator without the benefit of modern weaponry. A pulse-pounding thrill ride from start to finish,Preyfinally asked what would have happened when thePredatorfranchise’s Yautjahunted on Earth in earlier epochs.
Killer Of Killers Is The Predator Anthology Movie Everyone Wanted To See
Killer Of Killers Depicts The Predator’s Hunts Throughout History
Of course,Preyproved that aPredatorsequel following the monster through different historical eras was what viewers had secretly needed for years. While the earlierPredatorsequels were busy with futuristic tech and far-flung settings, it was going back in history that really madePreyshine. As such, it should come as no surprise that the upcoming animated anthology moviePredator: Killer of Killerswill center on various historical warriors taking on Predators throughout the ages.
This project follows a Viking raider, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a World War II pilot as they take on the Predator, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of their approaches to the killer alien hunters. Althoughdirector Dan Trachtenberg’sPredator: Badlandssounds great, thePredatoranthology moviePredator: Killer of Killersis the project everyone has wanted to see from the series for years now. Ever sincePreyhighlighted how much potential a historicalPredatormovie has, the franchise has needed this anthology.
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The anthology approach ofPredator: Killer of Killersmeans the new movie can depict a variety of warriors using a diverse range of tactics against the Predator, instead of taking on historical eras one movie at a time. AlthoughPrey’s premise was a breath of fresh air back in 2022, it was hard to imagine the franchise making a feature-length survival horror installment set in a Viking village, another set in feudal Japan, and a third separate full-length movie set during World War II. This would have been prohibitively expensive and repetitive.
The Predator Hunting In Different Eras Should’ve Been A No-Brainer For The Franchise
The Predator Facing Off Against Humans Throughout History Is Ingenious
However, thePredatorfranchise’s future now looks brightagain thanks toPredator: Killer of Killerstaking the best parts of each potential movie and streamlining them. WhilePreyoffered viewers a full-length version of a historic Predator hunt,Predator: Killer of Killersprovides three shorter stories of historical heroes attempting to escape the clutches of the Predator. The Predator hunting in different historical settings is an obviously ingenious premise for the franchise, since there are endless other eras for more follow-up movies.
1987
80%
1990
29%
2004
21%
2007
12%
2010
65%
2018
34%
2022
94%
Furthermore, the anthology setup means the stories inPredator: Killer of Killersis unlikely to overstay their welcome. Naru’s character arc was a big part of what madePrey’s plot so compelling, much like Dutch’s story madePredatora standout ‘80s action horror upon its original release. However,Predator 2,Predators, andThe Predatorall struggled to give viewers a protagonist to get invested in, and this made their respective plots feel draggy and uninspired.Predator: Killer of Killerssidesteps this issue with shorter stories.
Prey Paved The Way For Predator To Embrace Its True Potential
Prey Proved Period Settings Work For Predator Movies
While I’m looking forward toPredator: Badlandsand still want to see Trachtenberg’s vision of the franchise’s future,Predator: Killer Of Killersis the most exciting project the series has produced in some time. That said, the anthology movie’s existence wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Trachtenberg’sPrey. The 2022 hit proved that the series could take major risks and offer audiences something unlike every earlier installment, thus paving the way forPredator: Killer Of Killersto arrive three years later.
Thanks to Prey’s risky premise, the Predator series feels full of potential once again.
If it weren’t forPrey, viewers would likely still be getting more reboots that tried to reinvent thePredatorseries for the umpteenth time with the same tired formula as usual. Instead,Predator: Killer Of Killersprovides not one, but three chances for the series to offer something truly new and fresh beforePredator: Badlandseven arrives. Thanks to the prequel’s risky premise, the series feels full of potential once again. Now, thePredatormoviePredator: Killer Of Killerscan showcase just how many untapped stories the franchise still has to tell.
