Liberals Are On ‘The Hunt’ for Justice
Craig Zobel’s The Hunt has had quite the bad luck with its struggle of scoring a release date. The satirical horror film has been controversial with its graphic use of violence and dark humor, making it difficult for Universal and Blumhouse to release it. It was pushed back from its original release date, August 3, 2019, due to the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas, which all took place within that same month. The studio then decided to release it March 13, with the hopes for it to see its time on the big screen. But with the Coronavirus outbreak, The Hunt was made available on iTunes the following week, allowing those that are isolating at home to watch this fascinating film about the social divide in America.
Betty Gilpin (GLOW) plays Crystal, the heroine with the southern accent who dominates through the film. Crystal is among the 12 strangers that awakens in a clearing with no idea who or what got them there. Upon waking up, the strangers discover a wooden crate filled with guns that they arm themselves with as they are being hunted for sport by a group of liberal elitists. Athena, played by Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby), is the mastermind behind this game that allows her and her friends to hunt and kill the “deplorables'' and “rednecks” who they see as being inferior to them for their right wing ideals and politics. It’s an interesting and clever take on the polarizing divide between the liberals and conservatives in America today.
The liberal elitists, including Swank, are portrayed as condescending rich folk who pride themselves for being politically correct, therefore frowning upon those who are not on their same level of progressiveness. The film’s social commentary is refreshingly funny with its sardonic tone. Zobel interprets Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof script into a dark comedy that illustrates the lengths one will go in fighting for survival and staying on top. The film also alludes to a dark take on the classic tale of “The Hare and the Turtle”, tying it into the tenacity and persistence of both Swank and Gilpin’s characters. However, the objectives from Athena and her friends are not entirely clear or justifiable as there are still a few important questions that need to be answered, including why each stranger was chosen for “the hunt”. But what the film lacks in its thin-layered plot, it makes up for in Gilpin’s rebellious performance that shines until the end of the film with its gripping last half hour. Her placid facial expressions work brilliantly with her skilled fighting, proving Crystal to be the ultimate hero that audiences at home will root for.
The Hunt is an original dark comedy with its flaws, but its smart and exhilarating script will provide a lot of entertainment during this time of quarantine. The film’s themes and social commentary offers an interesting take on the divide between liberals and conservatives in America, while also catering to those that are fans of cult horror hits like You’re Next (2011), and Ready or Not (2019). The studio’s dedication in releasing this nuance controversial film, makes it worth the $19.99 rental price.
