Back in 2022, director Dan Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison breathed new life into the Predator franchise with Prey. Dropping the terrifying alien hunter into a different time period was a stroke of genius that opened up new possibilities for what the nearly forty-year-old series could be. A blood-thirsty Predator battling Vikings, samurai and other warriors throughout time? Predator: Killer of Killers says yes to all of the above in one fell swoop.

An animated anthology feature, Trachtenberg has collaborated with co-director Josh Wassung and The Third Floor—their first fully animated film—to create a bloody gorgeous ride. The mix of painterly brushstrokes with 3D models creates a distinct style that is visually pleasing—if you can say that about disembowelled organs and torn limbs. A live-action sensibility to the shot design paves the way for beautifully lit and composed frames, but thankfully the team utilise the animated medium to great effect.

A standout element is the action. The slick animation lets the fight choreography come to life in exciting and brutal fashion, showing off the prowess of the human and alien killers. Highlights include an extended oner of a Viking raid through a settlement, and a hilariously tense sequence of a ninja attempting to discreetly dispatch guards. Character development is present even as the body count rises, with wonderful moments—a defeated sigh, a look of terror—keeping the cast engaging throughout each story. As in Prey, each Predator sports a unique design and characteristic that will excite those fans of the franchise itching to see something new.

Unsurprisingly, being an anthology, Killer of Killers' weak point is the narrative. Following a vengeful Viking raider, a ninja in feudal Japan, and a World War II pilot, we get a good sense of their character through lovely visual cues, but their arcs are rushed and undercooked. Each segment is often predictable in its plot and outcomes, largely thanks to how each follows the same structure and beats. Trachtenberg and co-writer Micho Robert Rutare do what they can with the anthology format, however, and the finale (without spoiling anything) is an exciting, action-packed surprise.

Killer of Killers confidently solidifies the bold new series direction found in Prey: original stories tapping into modern human history. Each segment here could have easily been expanded into its own feature-length film, and there's plenty of Predator mythology for fans to sink their teeth into and for Trachtenberg and other filmmakers to explore in future projects. At the end of the day, we want to see killer aliens duking it out with earthly warriors across time, and Killer of Killers delivers on that front in gruesome and exhilarating fashion. The Predator franchise seems to be in very good hands.

Predator: Killer of Killers is available on Disney+ from 6 June.