• Release year: 2020
• Director: Craig Zobel.
• Producers: Damon Lindelof and Jason Blum.
• Screenplay by: Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof.
• Cinematography by: Darran Tiernan.
• Music by: Nathan Barr.

Shotgun Commentary: The clearest way one can explain social polarisation and the stupidity of letting those in power pit the people below against each other.

Review

The Hunt is an unhinged version of The Hunger Games (2012); only there is no fantasy, and it is not intended to end with a victor. As far as action comedies go, this one is among the most decent I have streamed this past year, so if this particular combination of genres is your jam, do keep reading; this might be your next movie-night watch.

The feature starts strong: a bunch of rich people kidnap regular people to hunt them. They wake up gagged and tied next to a huge crate full of weapons. The twist? All the kidnapped are Republicans or at least anti-Liberal. These gun-loving team seem to have a pretty fair chance of survival, but as luck would have it, most of them die within the first ten minutes, fifteen minutes at most.

Soon, the feature transforms from a Hunger Games situation into a Ready or Not (2019) one, with one blond final girl taking down that group of rich *ssholes that are trying to kill her for a slimsy-at-best reason. While it is disappointing to lose so many interesting characters so quickly, her journey is so satisfying to watch that you will soon forget all about anyone you might have seen at the beginning.

The messanger

Crystal May Creasy (Betty Gilpin), the blond final girl in question, has military training and a bright mind, a Jack Reacher kind of combination that provides a certain reassurance to the audience that no matter what, she will be fine. Sure, she is no muscle cupboard, but she is strong. More importantly, she knows how to use her strengths.

Gilpin does a fantastic job bringing Crystal to life with all her insecurities and flaws, as well as the genuine way in which her character could not care less. I shall forever be haunted trying to find the reason why a person would want to wear a dress and heels after barely surviving a massacre, but I guess you had to be there.

The message

As for the substance of the film, the message is painfully straightforward. However, this is not necessarily a flaw. In fact, quite the opposite. The contradictory and extreme lines of thought that divide not only the US but also the world are described here in a comedic and straightforward way.

There is no space for nuance or misunderstandings, unless you are Trump, that is. What you see is what you get, and, honestly? There is no better way to critique the surreal extremes into which society has been pushed than a mere description. This comedy might have looked a lot wackier in 2020 when it came out. But in 2026? It merely feels like a description of the everyday thinking of people.

Here is where the real question comes: how far will the comedy go? At what point is the surrealism that surrounds us too much to keep laughing? This film touches upon many issues that hit hard. The kind that make you laugh nervously while secretly freaking out over the direction of the world.

All in all, The Hunt puts a mirror in front of the very bleak, dark, hateful society we’ve become and asks you to understand that all those things that make you hate your neighbour are ultimately bullsh*t. This is not a peace and love movie; there is far too much blood and anger for that, but it does serve as a great reminder of how ridiculous we can be when we let others determine what is right and wrong for us.

Advice to take from this movie:

• If you are being hunted, taking cover should be a priority.
• Beware mines and bear traps when running through a field.
• Everyone is an *sshole if you investigate them deep enough.

What’s your take? Have you watched The Hunt? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀