The Hunt Review

The fun pace and zany energy that director Craig Zobel’s new action-comedy The Hunt manages to produce may not be for everyone. Still, the provocative sarcasm and brutality in its gore that’s accomplished throughout certainly make it difficult not to appreciate in some way. The unconventional narrative approaches and forced jokes are often complemented by the B movie lens that The Hunt presents itself through. It is a film that surely offers entertainment through multiple facets, but eventually becomes a bit too confident with its wittiness, sometimes shifting focus to a politically driven monologue in attempts to so say something worthwhile. The Hunt insists on attempting to make an endearing statement about the current climate, but it quickly becomes clear that the film is most effective when it is not taking itself too seriously. Ultimately, there is an undeniable charm to The Hunt that helps forgive some of the convoluted narrative decisions and inconsistent acting, resulting in a satire filled shoot-em-up that is worth a watch.

A group of strangers wake up in a wooded area. None of them know where they are, and not before long, find themselves wrapped in a conspiracy theory where violent elitists gather at a secret location to hunt humans for sport. However, their master plan starts to go to messy when one of the hunted begins to turn the tables.

The Hunt often shows an enjoyable self-awareness in much of its humour and themes. The combination of heavy violence and lighthearted comedy is surprisingly effective when played so on the nose. Nothing about The Hunt is subtle, and Zobel showcases his knowledge of this by maximizing every moment to borderline absurdity. It’s a creative choice that pays off more than it hinders, helping the films runtime fly at an electric rate.

However, The Hunt is not played entirely for outlandishness. While most of what is presented feel nothing more than an over-the-top action on the service, the film can sometimes get too caught up in its political foundation. There are predictable themes presented that feel tired, while some scenes rely heavily on played-out stereotypes that do little to add to the overall tone of the scene.

The over the top dialogue and performances are odd and interesting, and while not everything in The Hunt lands successfully, there is enough slapstick action and unpredictable story elements that keeps the film fresh and entertaining. Overall, The Hunt is a film that is easy to laugh both at and with, producing enough politically charged satire and action for many to enjoy mindlessly.

The awareness and vitality injected in both the humour and action helps The Hunt past many of its more generic problems.

Produced By: Blumhouse Productions
Runtime: 90 minutes
Rating: R