Blumhouse’s “The Hunt”: Is it worth the watch?

On Sept. 27, 2019, the movie The Hunt was set to hit theaters. Due to the Dayton and El Paso shootings, the movie was postponed for release on March 13, 2020. (Spoilers Ahead) 

The Hunt is considered a very controversial movie, as it lays over politics and the polarization of parties. While the movie seems to be inspired by The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, the film includes references in the movie to George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The movie even uses a pig to symbolize the bloodlust found within the liberally-affiliated characters.  

The movie seemed very promising because of its great cast including Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, and Glenn Howerton. The trailer made it seem heavily action-packed and entertaining, while still adding comedic jabs. However, it went from zero to 100 faster than anticipated, with its first death in the first five minutes of the film. As the movie begins, liberal party members, who later hunt members of the conservative party, are on a private plane drinking expensive champagne and snacking on caviar. Suddenly, one of the conservative men that was kidnapped to be hunted, wakes and chaos ensues, with a swift death to the man who didn’t make it to compete in the “death game.”

Once the conservatives were taken and put into the arena to be hunted, almost everyone died instantly. They focused on every one of the characters being hunted as if they would be the protagonist, but then that person would die, and move to another character. After the conservatives were dead, except for one, they movie then faced on Crystal (Betty Gilpin). The entire movie then focused on Crystal’s revenge towards Athena (Hilary Swank), who created the hunt.

When Crystal finally found Athena, the two had a very cheesy and unrealistic fight to the death, where Crystal, of course, came out on top, unlike the movie. The only thing from this movie that I can appreciate was the lighthearted humor to take away from the heavy politics.

However, I’m not the only person disappointed in this movie. Adam Graham (Detroit News) wrote, “It's a movie that's trying to hold up a mirror to modern America and show us that we all need to come together or we're all going to go off the deep end and do something we really regret. Right message, wrong movie.”

As well as Paul Asay (Plugged In) said, “Whatever point The Hunt may want to make, or whatever value it might hope to have, is pretty much obliterated by its violence.”

The movie had a clear message from a political standpoint, but the delivery was childish and all over. So, when I ask, is The Hunt worth the watch? No, it's not. Save your pennies, and don’t waste your time.