The Hunt Is On

Blumhouse's latest offering is a gory action-thriller steeped in political satire that works as a black comedy, but not much else

While they may seem unrelated on the surface, "The Hunt" and Fox's "The New Mutants" may actually be brothers of the same struggle. They're two movies with intriguing premises, but due to unfortunate circumstances, have had some of the unluckiest fates in recent memory. Originally slated for 2018, "New Mutants" was bumped to February and then August of 2019. Likewise, "The Hunt" generated buzz with its initial rollout campaign, but was subsequently pulled from the release schedule after the Dayton and El Paso mass shootings this past August. Both films would resurface this year, only for "The New Mutants" to be delayed again due to the pandemic, while "The Hunt" slipped into theaters just before many of them shut down. It was released on digital platforms the next week and while that allowed viewers to still see the product, the move undoubtedly cut into its potential profits.

The plot involves a group of "deplorables" who are kidnapped and hunted by liberal elites. Among those vying for survival are some recognizable faces like Ike Barinholtz, Justin Hartley, Emma Roberts and Ethan Suplee. The hunters feature notables, too, like Glenn Howerton and Hilary Swank, who portrays Athena, the mastermind behind the violence. The two sides trade bullets and verbal barbs until the climactic showdown where, predictably, there will only be one sole survivor. Betty Gilpin stars as a wildcard that's a lot more prepared than her fellow captives, which leads to some interesting twists. Directed by Craig Zobel and penned by Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof, carnage and comedy are the main draws.

While its social commentary contains humorous jabs against various political alignments, it feels pedantic at times. In the same breath, it never feels fully developed or takes the opportunity to make any actual statements. While the marketing smartly capitalized on the controversy surrounding its shelving, none of its content is as bold as its advertising. Instead, it's simply a farce that lampoons political voices while jokes and body parts fly across the screen. It gets a little sloppy towards the end when trying to tie everything up, but its comedy and surprisingly spirited action staging keep it entertaining. It most likely would have been another quick cash-in for Blumhouse, however, it's not nearly as good as its hype. So, dig in if you're in the mood for some blood and laughs, but you might want to look elsewhere if that combination doesn't sound appealing. B-