Originally set to be released last September, The Hunt was delayed due to online backlash (which, as per usual, was a result of people getting the complete wrong end of the stick and blowing things out of proportion). Well, after arriving in theaters just one week ago, the Coronavirus pandemic has forced Universal Pictures to make the thriller/horror satire available on Digital platforms months earlier than expected. When the film's new release date was revealed, it was accompanied by a poster touting descriptions like, "Demented And Evil," "A Disturbance To Our Country," and "Not Appropriate." The question is, does director Craig Zobel and writers Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof's jabs at the political divide between the American left and right deserve such a skewering?
Not really! Yes, it points out the flaws in both sides of the argument, but no one here is really unfairly targeted, and it all feels like it's meant in jest rather than a particularly serious look at a split in opinion which has torn the United States in half in recent years. Perhaps it's easier not to be offended when you're on the outside of that argument, but calling The Hunt "controversial" could be a step too far.
The concept of a group of strangers being hunted by a "superior" one isn't a new one, but there are lots of great ideas on offer here, some of which are surprisingly original. The Hunt delivers some killer twists, while the gory deaths are bound to well-received by horror fans. It goes without saying that there are plenty of casualties, and some big name cast members being killed off relatively early results in some jaw-dropping moments which makes it hard not to want to stick around to see what comes next. With the lines between both sides somewhat blurred (there are villains, but which side you fall on might depend), it's not always easy to know who to root for; however, that's where Betty Gilpin's Crystal comes in.
If you've watched GLOW, then you'll know that the actress is great at what she does. Here, she delivers a real star-making performance, and proves that she's someone who can hold her own as a lead. With any luck, we'll see Gilpin's profile continue to rise on the big screen moving forward as she definitely deserves better than The Grudge! Ike Barinholtz, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, Justin Hartley, and Ethan Suplee are all also memorable, but there's only one person you'll be talking about after the credits roll (particularly after an excellently choreographed fight scene during the final act).
In some ways, The Hunt feels more like a TV pilot than a feature, and the fact it's never really a full-blown horror movie or political satire leaves it hard to fully understand what Zobel was going for. The ideas here are clever, yes, but they're never really explored beyond a surface level. Ultimately, it's a concept which probably would have worked better over the course of eight episodes rather than ninety minutes. In fact, yes, this is a film that would almost certainly made a better TV show...and not just because spending more time with Gilpin's badass military vet would have been a huge amount of fun.
The Hunt belongs to the amazing Betty Gilpin, and while it delivers some big shocks and thrilling moments, it's not quite as controversial as you might have been led to believe.