About the film (courtesy of Universal Pictures):
Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don’t know where they are, or how they got there. They don’t know they’ve been chosen… for a very specific purpose … The Hunt. In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, a group of elites gathers for the very first time at a remote Manor House to hunt ordinary Americans for sport. But the elites’ master plan is about to be derailed because one of The Hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin), knows The Hunters’ game better than they do. She turns the tables on the killers, picking them off, one by one, as she makes her way toward the mysterious woman (Hilary Swank) at the center of it all.
Man, right off the bat, The Hunt hits the ground running and it doesn’t let up for a good bit. As a matter of fact, it almost feels like someone inadvertently started it at the midway point. That’s how you win over audiences that don’t truly know what they’re in for. Based on the trailer, you have a good idea of what the meat of the plot is going to consist of. That being said, director Craig Zobel jettisons the training wheels right out of the gate and you immediately realize that you’re in for a wild ride.
The Hunt features an impressive assortment of cast members that you’ll recognize from television as well as movies. Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz, Emma Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Justin Hartley, Usman Ally, Vince Pisani and Steve Coulter are some of the more recognizable faces. With an abbreviated runtime of only 89 minutes, you have to assume that not all of them will be hanging around for long robust scenes.
That’s the beauty of The Hunt. Its modest length allows for a brisk pace that is able to keep the intensity dialed up throughout most the mayhem that comes in constant spurts. The story itself is rather solid, surprisingly. Usually with movies like this one, it’s about about flash but the story is actually one that you’ll find yourself interested in once it starts to be revealed. Blumhouse Productions often aligns itself with solid features that are entertaining without breaking the bank. Universal Pictures should see a decent return on their investment despite the six month controversial delay it faced last year.
The Hunt is Rated R in all the right ways and Betty Gilpin is very solid in a role that I wondered if she could pull off. I consider this a pleasant surprise for the reasons I mentioned previously and because its also probably the most entertaining new release of the weekend by far. Good things come to those who wait and you don’t have to wait any longer for a worthwhile Friday the 13th horror thriller that’s full of action and humor. Check it out in theaters now.
