Hunt Club – Film Review

Published July 4, 2023

Movie Details

Rating
D
Director
Elizabeth Blake-Thomas
Writer
David Lipper, John Saunders
Actors
Mena Suvari, Casper Van Dien, Maya Stojan, Will Peltz, Mickey Rourke
Runtime
1 h 27 min
Release Date
April 6, 2023
Genres
Action, Thriller
Certification

Follows a group of male hunters who regularly lure women to their island with the chance to win 100K in a hunt, only to discover that they are the hunted, but this time they mess with the wrong girls and must deal with the consequences.

Elizabeth Blake-Thomas‘ Hunt Club presents an intriguing premise that initially piques the viewer’s curiosity. Following a group of male hunters who entice women to their secluded island under the pretense of a hunt with a lucrative prize of 100K, only to realize that they have become the hunted, Hunt Club offers a potentially thrilling narrative. However, despite its promising concept, the execution of the film falls short on multiple levels.

One of the most glaring issues with Hunt Club is its overall production value, or rather lack thereof. From the very beginning, it becomes painfully apparent that the film suffers from a meager budget. Every scene exudes an unpolished and cheap aesthetic, reminiscent of the poorly made cult classic Samurai Cop. The lack of effort put into the visual aspects of the film severely detracts from the audience’s immersion and undermines any attempts to establish a sense of realism or tension.

The dialogue in Hunt Club also leaves much to be desired. Many of the lines come across as cringeworthy and wooden, failing to capture the authenticity and depth required for effective storytelling. Moreover, the film relies on a handful of supposed badass one-liners that instead elicit unintentional laughter from the viewers. This lack of finesse in the writing further compounds the film’s already evident shortcomings.

Another significant flaw is the film’s brevity, which hampers any potential character development. With a runtime that barely allows for meaningful exploration of the cast, the characters in Hunt Club are disappointingly one-note and lacking in dimension. Their actions and motivations remain shallow, preventing the audience from forming any substantial emotional connection. As a result, the story feels rushed and incomplete, leaving viewers unsatisfied and yearning for more depth.

Perhaps the most damning aspect of Hunt Club is its overall quality, or rather lack thereof. It is an exceptionally challenging film to endure and is unlikely to warrant a rewatch. The combination of its glaring technical flaws, stilted dialogue, and underdeveloped characters make for an unengaging and frustrating viewing experience. This lack of entertainment value diminishes any potential enjoyment one might derive from the film’s premise, ultimately rendering it a forgettable and regrettable venture.

Hunt Club directed by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas fails to deliver on the promise of its intriguing premise. The film’s apparent low budget is evident in every poorly executed scene, reminiscent of the subpar visuals seen in Samurai Cop. The cringeworthy and wooden dialogue further undermines the potential for engaging storytelling. With an insufficient runtime, the characters remain one-dimensional, denying viewers the opportunity to form any meaningful connections. The film’s overall quality makes it an arduous and nearly unbearable experience, making it highly unlikely for audiences to endure a rewatch.