The Hunt

Starring: Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz, Ethan Suplee, Emma Roberts, Sturgill Simpson, Glenn Howerton, Wayne Duvall, Amy Madigan, Kate Nowlin, Macon Blair

Director: Craig Zobel

A group of confused people (Ike Barinholtz, Emma Roberts, Wayne Duvall, Sturgill Simpson, Kate Nowlin, Ethan Suplee) wake up gagged in the middle of a field. After discovering a crate with weapons, they find themselves under attack and must fend for their lives. Also among the group is Crystal (Betty Gilpin), who is able to navigate the treacherous land ahead and discover that she is among a group that has been kidnapped and is being hunted by a group of liberal elite (Glenn Howerton, Macon Blair, Steve Coulter, Vince Pisani) led by Athena (Hilary Swank). Soon, Crystal discovers the truth behind why she and the others are being hunted and must use all her skills in her fight for survival.

While I greatly enjoyed this unapologetically violent and bloody satire, the story behind its release is almost as interesting as the final product. Originally intended to be released in September, the movie's release was scrapped after President Donald Trump learned that the movie was supposedly about liberals hunting 1 percenters for sport and used the film as a weapon to fire back against Hollywood. Despite the producers saying that no one has seen the movie and that the movie wasn't what they were saying, the damage was done and the movie was taken off the schedule to presumably never see the light of day.

This is obviously not the case and I am also happy to report that the movie isn't at all like what was originally advertised. The film is a dark comedic satire about today's society, something the recent trailer swung into.

The script, by Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof, is very funny if you let it be and has a unique structure. While Betty Gilpin's character Crystal is the lead, she doesn't really step into the spotlight until maybe 20 or 30 minutes into the film. While the opening is chaotic and brutal, with the stakes being clearly set that no one is safe, it makes for an admittedly odd transition. It also might leave people scratching their heads when they leave the theater due to the film really not picking a side politically. I dug it but I know some won't.

But when Gilpin does get to take the stage. WOW. If this isn't enough evidence for Hollywood to give her the keys to her own action franchise I don't know what they are waiting for. Many will know her as Debbie from Netflix's G.L.O.W., but she has been popping up in features in small supporting roles. This is hopefully the jump start she needs to get more leading roles. Crystal is a smart, sarcastic, mentally unstable badass. A climactic fight between her and Hillary Swank is a well choreographed and ferocious fight to the death. It's worth seeing for her performance alone.

Director Craig Zobel, who made his stunning debut with the low budget ripped from the headlines thriller Compliance, has never made a feature this big but shows he has the chops for it. I can't wait to see what he tackles next.

This bloody satire won't be for everyone, but I'm glad it got to see the light of day. Come for the controversy, stay for the star making turn from Gilpin.