Movie Review - Bible Based: The Hunt

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

Snowballing Conflict

Plot Overview

An Internet rumor called Manorgate turns into an urban legend and then into the worst nightmare of eleven of its propagators when they wake out of a drugged sleep to find themselves in a remote clearing with a box of weapons at their disposal and bullets whizzing all around them. They practice their second amendment right to defend themselves, and then a few survivors head over the wire to civilization where they avail themselves of a telephone in a convenience store—sporting hunting trophies on its wall—to call 9–1–1. They report “a murder spree.” Help is on the way. Right!

car rental A canny vet named Crystal (Betty Gilpin) shuns the crowd being herded to slaughter and makes her own way to the store. She was maladapted to her car-rental job after serving in Afghanistan; she is actually more at home here on the killing ground. She perceives that the nearby “civilization” is but a Potemkin village and its inhabitants of: The whole world gone mad save me and thee, and lately I'm beginning to wonder about thee.

Ideology

The revolution the politicals are trying to incite may be yet to come, but it had occurred already in the past, and in some parts of the world it's ongoing. (Eccl. 3:15) “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” We're supposed to have learned from it.

(Eccl. 3:16-17) “And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” In this biting satire, “the place of judgment” maintained by the law-and-order “rednecks” hides some “wickedness there,” and “the place of righteousness” of the bleeding-heart liberals harbors “iniquity there.”

box turtle (Eccl. 3:18-20) “I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” In “The Hunt” people are being hunted like feral pigs, and in fact they have a pig as a mascot that's likely to get killed in the cross fire. The hunt is set up (supposedly) within the oinkers' range of the Arkansas boonies. The political dialogue incorporates concepts lifted from George Orwell's allegorical novel, Animal Farm. A rather lengthy rendition of the story of the tortoise and the hare is also employed to good effect. The human carnage of a mess on the floor corresponds to some hunting trophies on the wall.

Production Values

“” (2020) was directed by Craig Zobel. It was written by Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof. It stars Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, and Ike Barinholtz. It had a standout performance by Betty Gilpin as unflappable Crystal (aka Snowball) who kept her cool no matter what.

MPAA rated it R for strong bloody violence, and language throughout. It was filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The blood & gore makeup effects were marvelously yucky.

Review Conclusion w/ Christian Recommendation

Here is an excellent film that suffers from poor timing in its release. It was delayed to allow certain public controversies to run out of steam rather than offend a worked-up audience. Instead, the controversies got worse and a pandemic arrived affording us lots of time to mull things over. We lost our innocence and became jaded. A film that originally would have seemed edgy, would now fall flat. As I write this I'm not entirely sure how the dust will all settle, but I can compare it to a thought from an Ace Atkins novel:

“As I'm sure you've read, Hollywood is going through tremendous changes,” Yamashiro said. “What might have seemed commonplace in the old days is frowned upon now. Just the idea that I had had this relationship with Miss Leggett might be construed as harassment by the twenty-four-hour outrage machine. The truth wouldn't matter. This whole so-called Me Too movement has taken down powerful men.” (90–91)

There's been a sea change in partisan politics, as well. This movie is like a surfboard held back for a better wave, but the ocean calmed down in the waiting and now the disappointed surfer can only paddle it on in to shore. Someone needs to put this movie out of its misery, but I'm too much a fan of retro material to do it. I'll just give my best remembered quote from Rhudyard Kipling:

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut off what remains,
Just lay to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And go to your Gawd like a soldier.

Movie Ratings

Action factor: Well done action flick. Suitability For Children: Not Suitable for Children of Any Age. Special effects: Amazing special effects. Video Occasion: Too late. Suspense: Don't watch this movie alone. Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.

Works Cited

Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software.

Movie: The Hunt

Bible Based Review