Director: Craig Zobel
Writers: Nick Cuse, Damon Lindelof
Stars: Hilary Swank, Emma Roberts, Justin Hartley, Glenn Howerton, Ike Barinholtz, Wayne Duvall, and Betty Gilpin
12 strangers wake up gagged and unbound in a field. Disoriented and confused the strangers try to figure out where they are, how they got there and most importantly who is responsible. Soon they discover they are mere animals chosen for sacrifice, in The Hunt.
The Hunt is one of the most controversial films ever made and will likely enter the growing pantheon of cult classics. The original release was set for September of last year, however, two mass shootings just weeks prior to the release date caused the studio to reconsider. The plot involves a group deciding to murder people whose values and viewpoints differ from their own, a sentiment that hit far too close to home. Though the film is obviously a satirical allegory, demonstrating the irony of left-wing politics, pressure from many sources, including the white house nearly halted its release entirely. After months of speculation and reflection, the film finally has a release date. While some wonder if the wait was necessary, many more are questioning if all the hype is even warranted.
We assure you that all of the hype surrounding the cancellation and resurrection of this film is well deserved. It is an insanely entertaining, incredibly violent satirical thriller. Produced by Blumhouse, the production giant that brought us “Get Out” and “The Purge” the film follows the company’s grand tradition of mixing humor and horror. Like most of their films, every horror trope is explored, dissected and renewed with an insane twist. For instance, the moment the film starts and we see the 12 strangers emerge from their drugged sleep, we assume we’ll be learning about all twelve only to witness the slaughter of more than half of them in the next few minutes. The violence literally starts right after the title is displayed, with an eye-gouging you have to see to believe.
This film is not for the squeamish. Most slasher films ease you into the violence slowly building to a monumental climax, The Hunt runs in reverse, giving up all in the act 2 thrills at the start. The first 45 minutes of The Hunt is a non-stop, chaotic stream of violent deaths. People are exploded, shot in the head and one poor soul is shot, then impaled, only to be ripped in half before shooting themselves in the face. Though the biggest draw is the over the top oddly comical violence the plot does offer a unique perspective on the liberal agenda and our current political landscape. The elitist group much like many mass shooters ironically believe their cause is just. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank is the polished leader of the elites and often reduced to a disembodied voice over a speaker. She is maniacal as the pompous leader, spending the entire film arrogantly barking orders before finally entering the fray with a massive fight scene you won’t want to miss.
The beauty of this film is how it pokes fun at well-meaning liberals who with their self-righteous behavior see themselves as better, whilst committing the same crimes they rally against. In their eyes, the cherry-picked victims are a scourge on humanity and must be defeated. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned and the victims fight back harder than expected resulting in chaos and mayhem. Though the film’s release was delayed due to concerns over the intense violence, not a single frame from the finished work was removed. The Hunt film will be released in all it’s bloody, gory, uncut, glory on Friday, March 13, 2020.