Discussing the Climactic Conclusion of 'Predator: Killer of Killers'
Bloody hell, the final scene of Predator: Killer of Killers left me speechless! After an already action-packed film, that damn final image added a whole new level of intrigue. We had to pick the brains of the filmmakers to get some answers.
Naturally, this means diving headfirst into some major spoilers, so if you haven't watched the movie yet, have a bloody good watch right here, then come back to us.
It's hinted quite early on that Ursa, the Viking warrior voiced by Lindsay LaVanchy; Kenji, the feudal ninja voiced by Louis Ozawa; and Torres, the World War II pilot voiced by Rick Gonzalez - each of whom have killed a Predator - have been captured and transported to an alien planet. No, we're not talking about some freaky time travel nonsense. Each character is, well, frozen in their own time and then awakened when needed. "That's why we specifically put in the line that Torres says 'I feel like I've been asleep forever,' to try and help because I know it could be misconstrued," director Dan Trachtenberg revealed to io9.
They wake up, fight some Predator creatures, and manage to escape in their own unique ways. For example, Torres and Kenji literally escape, but let's face it, neither of them have lived in an era where space travel was a reality, so even if they make it off the planet, they'd have no flipping idea how to get back to Earth. And, last we saw them, they were still being hunted by a horde of Predators, so we gotta assume they'll be arrested again at some point.
As for Ursa, her sacrifice gives Torres and Kenji a fighting chance, and in return, she's frozen once more. This is a method used by the Predators quite frequently, according to the filmmakers. Ursa is moved into a kind-of Raiders of the Lost Ark storage facility loaded with pods containing warriors frozen in time. Pods, as far as the eye can see, and one of them just happens to hold Naru, the lead character from the film Prey, played by Amber Midthunder. "Bloody hell!"
This revelation, of course, raises a whole heap of questions, including the possibility that Mike Harrigan from Predator 2 might be frozen too. We don't see him now, but the Predators capture anyone who defeats them, so he could be there, along with Dutch from Predator (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger). This implies that these pods contain countless other species that have triumphed over a Predator as well.
The discovery of this Predator storage facility vastly expands the Predator universe, giving us some intriguing insights into their culture. For one thing, it suggests that Predators can indeed be defeated, but they're then captured and frozen, likely to be used in future battles or ceremonies. But why? Do they all get to fight the Warlord Predator? Are they just there for entertainment? Are they studied? The answers aren't entirely clear, but perhaps they'll be revealed in the future.
The tease of Naru raises questions about a potential Prey 2, such as whether a second movie starring Naru will focus on her capture or if she was caught after the events in the film. The future scenarios are fascinating, with Naru's story taking place years before Torres', so it could be happening in the 1940s on Earth, or it could be the 4040s. We don't have a bloody clue for sure. Nevertheless, reintroducing Naru was an anticipated decision by the filmmakers.
"It was thrilling," co-director Josh Wassung said about the Naru reveal. "We knew it would be something that fans would get excited about."
So what do you think of all this? Are we gearing up for an Avengers: Endgame mega-crossover event? Can the Predators ever truly be defeated? And what about Predator: Badlands, which stars a Predator as the hero? All very exciting things to ponder.
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- The Predator universe is expanded with the discovery of a storage facility filled with warriors frozen in time, raising questions about potential appearances of characters from previous Predator films such as Mike Harrigan and Dutch.
- The revelation of Naru, the lead character from Prey, being held in the same facility as Ursa, suggests a possible future for a Prey 2, leaving fans to ponder whether the film's narrative will focus on her capture or if it happens after the events in the first film.
- The Predator storage facility reveals insights into the Predator culture, hinting that Predators can be defeated, captured, and frozen, potentially for use in future battles, ceremonies, entertainment, or study.
- With the introduction of streaming platforms like Disney+, fans can now enjoy reruns of classic movies and TV shows, such as movies-and-tv from the sci-fi-and-fantasy genre like Star Wars and Predator, enriching entertainment culture and providing endless opportunities for discussion and speculation.
