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.

Human hunting films have been done on a few occasions, but The Hunt feels like a completely fresh take on it.  Part action film, part horror, part thriller, and quite a bit of dark humour for good measure, this film is very easy to enjoy.

Written by Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof, and directed by Craig Zobel, the film features a very solid cast, even if the majority of the roles are minor.  Ethan Suplee, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, Wayne Duvall and Ike Barinholtz all put in solid work, but the real star of the piece is Betty Gilpin from Netflix series, Glow.  She is an absolute badass in her role.

This is a whip smart, but violent film, full of twists and turns and social and political commentary, which is handled in a somewhat satirical way.  It’s certainly not your “run of the mill” horror film.  There’s definitely an intelligence to the way it’s been written and executed.

The Hunt will pull the rug out from under you a few times.  Just when you think you have it figured out, a sharp left turn will throw you once again.  This was really a great movie, and one that I will rewatch again very soon.

9/10

Rick Trewin.