“Predator: Killer of Killers” (2025) / Z-View
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Screenplay: Micho Robert Rutare, story by Dan Trachtenberg, Micho Robert Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas, John Thomas
Stars: Voices of Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Rick Gonzalez, Lauren Holt, Lindsay LaVanchy, Jeff Leach, Piotr Michael and Andrew Morgado.
Tagline: Hunt the enemy, before they hunt you!
The Plot…
In the year 841, Vikings, led by warrior woman Ursa, have just defeated the Krivich clan. The Krivich’s leader, Zoran killed Ursa’s father when she was a child. Now Ursa and her son Anders will have revenge. A Predator is invisibly watching. Once a victor has been determined, the Predator will attack. It will be a vicious battle to the death.
In the 1629, Kenji returns to confront his brother. Twenty years prior, Kenji and his brother Kiyoshi had been boys. Each child was given a sword. Ordered to battle. The winner would become the clan’s new Warlord. Kenji refused to fight, even as Kiyoshi attacked. Rather than battle his brother, Kenji ran off.
Now Kenji sneaks into his brother’s fortress. As the brothers battle, a Predator, undetected, silently watches. The predator will fight the winner to the death.
The year is 1941. World War II rages. A small group of US Airmen take off to engage the enemy in aerial battle. On the ground, mechanic John Torres sees a strange craft destroying both US and enemy planes. Torres gets a beat-up plane working. He takes off to warn his squad. When Torres arrives, he and Captain Vandy are the only survivors. The Predator space ship is ready to engage them. It will be a fight to the death.
Ursa, Kenji and Torres are awakened from suspended animation. They are on a foreign planet. Predators led the three to the center of an arena. A large Predator incites the crowd. Ursa, Kenji and Torres will fight to the death. The winner will face the Predator gladiator/warlord. To make it even more interesting, a giant dragon-like beast is released. Who/what will survive?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Michael Biehn now joins Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen as the only actors to have roles in Alien, Terminator and Predator films.
Predator: Killer of Killers has many Easter eggs that are open to speculation. Is the Gladiator Predator wearing a cape made of Xenomorph tails? In one of the Predator cryo-tanks we get a glimpse of a muscular make human. Is he Dutch from Predator? Maybe it is Royce from Predators? Naru from Prey is definitely in one of the cryo-tanks. The flintlock pistol from Predator 2 and Prey makes an appearance.
I liked Predator: Killer of Killers, but not as much as most folks. It currently has a 7.6 rating on IMDb and at Rotten Tomatoes in has a 95% rating from reviewers and 90% from viewers. There were too many unanswered questions (including the final resolution) for my taste. Still, I enjoyed the film, just not as much as most everyone else. Your mileage may vary.
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars