6 Brutal Animated Films to Watch After ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’

The prevalence of live-action reboots of standard animated media has led to a misguided perception that animation is one way or the other a testing floor for concepts that may later obtain a “definitive” non-animated model of the story. Not solely is that this perception offensive to animators, however it additionally ignores the truth that some tales work even higher when distanced from the bodily limitations of live-action cinema – particularly in the case of over-the-top style tales.

And if there’s one collection of films that has rather a lot to realize from embracing a extra stylized method to filmmaking, it must be the Predator franchise. I’m clearly not the one one who thinks so, as the newest entry within the collection already appears to be a bona fide hit, with Predator: Killer of Killers benefiting from the aesthetic freedom of its animated visuals.

And in honor of this horror-adjacent spin-off reminding audiences that gnarly cartoon violence could be simply as thrilling as the actual factor, we’ve determined to give you a listing recommending six different brutal animated movies to look at after Killer of Killers!

In order to make this a extra fascinating article, we’ll be avoiding the same old suspects in the case of grownup animation (resembling Heavy Metal and Akira) and as an alternative specializing in much less standard suggestions. That being stated, don’t overlook to remark under with your individual hardcore animated favorites should you assume we missed a very bloody one.

With that out of the way in which, onto the record…

6. Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)

In normal, I’m not an enormous fan of the narrative components of the Resident Evil franchise, as I’ve at all times thought that the collection’ overarching mythology was one in every of its weakest options. That’s why that is such a tough IP to adapt to the massive display, as when you take away intelligent useful resource administration and heart-pounding fight from the equation, all you’re left with is the memorable environment and a group of larger-than-life characters. In the case of RE: Damnation, nevertheless, these two components had been all that Makoto Kamiya wanted with the intention to craft a surprisingly thrilling addition to a franchise that has lengthy struggled with story-based mediums.

Following the fan favourite Leon S. Kennedy as he investigates the attainable use of Bio-Organic Weapons within the civil warfare plaguing the fictional “Eastern Slav Republic,” Damnation is a refreshingly accessible thriller that miraculously outshines the sport it was initially meant to advertise. It additionally contains a assortment of unique monsters that basically ought to have proven up within the video games by now!

5. The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)

Rob Zombie’s cinematic profession might not cater to each sort of horror fan, however you may’t deny that he at all times shoots exactly the movie that he desires to make. And should you can jive with tacky love-letters to basic B-movies mixed with the occasional dose of crude humor, I feel you’ll discover that one of many rocker-turned-filmmaker’s most fascinating tasks must be 2009’s animated curiosity, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto.

Based on Zombie’s eponymous comic-book, the movie is mainly a rapid-fire stream of area of interest style references and crude humor, however it’s laborious to complain when the animation is so attractive and the script is clearly the results of a deep-rooted ardour for each horror and animation. In reality, I feel this idea might need labored even higher as a TV collection, as I’d have beloved to spend extra time on this titular haunted world.

4. The Animatrix (2003)

I like each single entry within the Matrix franchise, however even a hardcore fan like myself has to confess that the primary movie is the one actual masterpiece within the collection. At least, it might be, had been it not for the existence of the 2003 animated anthology, The Animatrix. Meant to bridge the hole between the unique film and its first sequel, this experimental mix of Eastern and Western influences is so spectacular that it finally overshadows the film that it’s meant to be selling.

After all, the section connecting the movie to the then-upcoming Matrix: Reloaded (in addition to the Enter the Matrix videogame) is by far the weakest story of the bunch, with the remainder of the anthology specializing in various yarns starting from sci-fi parables exploring moral boundaries throughout warfare to haunted home tales deconstructing childhood nostalgia – all advised by masters of the craft together with the likes of Shinichirō Watanabe, Yoshiaki Kawajiri and even Aeon Flux creator, Peter Chung!

If you solely watch one Matrix film after the unique, be certain that it’s this one.

3. Vampire Hunter D (1985)

One of the primary anime productions to essentially make a splash within the western market, Toyoo Ashida’s post-apocalyptic thriller a couple of half-vampire battling monsters in a world ravaged by nuclear warfare nonetheless stays among the finest gateways into jap animation over 40 years later.

After all, even when the flick’s attractive hand-drawn isn’t sufficient to reel you in, the Hammer Horror-inspired tone will virtually definitely persuade you that this vampire yarn deserves to be taken severely.

And should you like this one, I’d additionally advocate trying out its 2000 follow-up, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

2. Unicorn Wars (2022)

By far the strangest movie on this record, Alberto Vázquez’s Unicorn Wars is a deeply absurd warfare movie a couple of army unit of bears who’re despatched right into a battle-scarred forest with the intention to rescue a squadron of fellow troopers within the ongoing warfare towards magical unicorns. This might sound just like the setup to a short sketch on a comedy present, however what follows is an exceedingly darkish examination of violence, brotherhood and fascism.

And whereas watching anthropomorphic creatures get violently butchered onscreen would possibly appear to be an off-putting expertise for some viewers, I’d advocate this Spanish gem to any style fan who’s ever puzzled what would possibly occur if somebody took the cutesy fiends from Happy Tree Friends and positioned them right into a grounded warfare story impressed by the likes of Apocalypse Now.

1. The Spine of Night (2021)

I’ve an enormous tender spot for the rotoscoped fantasy flicks of the ’70s and ’80s, however I had just about deserted all hope that we’d ever see this type of animation once more as a consequence of how impractical it’s to supply – to not point out the truth that some folks discover this aesthetic sort of off-putting. That’s why I used to be so excited once I first noticed the trailer for Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King’s R-rated animated oddity The Spine of Night.

A darkish fantasy journey weaving collectively a collection of interconnected yarns a couple of mystical flower and the folks it influences, this retro characteristic is among the most visually distinctive films on this record, in addition to probably the most visceral. And whereas the script can’t fairly sustain with the attractive dreamlike imagery, I discover myself revisiting this flick simply as usually as its inspirations.