SO, I originally had no intention of watching The Hunt, but due to political pressure Universal Pictures delayed its release and then pushed it to video on demand early because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All of this extra excitement around the film (plus good social distancing practices) resulted in my watching of The Hunt, my subsequent disappointment, and the following review.

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The Hunt essentially opens with 12 strangers awakening in a field, all from different origins. They do not know why they are there or who may have captured them, but they quickly realize their captors do not plan to keep them alive for long.

As the next 1hr 55mins plays out, The Hunt attempts to satirize the growing political divide in America. Emphasis on “attempts.” It takes shots at both sides, but they so routinely come across as ham-fisted and clunky they elicit more moans than laughter. And in making so many surface level jokes about everyone, the film fails to make a statement. It essentially points a finger at the worst qualities of the worst people on either end of the spectrum, screams, “haha isn’t that stupid,” and then cuts to black.

Sure, it depicts far-right conservatives as prone to fantastical conspiracy theories and paints their liberal counterparts as those who are just as likely to ignore truths in order to construct their holier-than-thou positions, but it peters out after that. The Hunt simply does not say enough to justify itself. In fact, The Hunt falls victim to the same trap its characters do, it constantly thinks its smarter than it is.

About halfway through the film, there is a “twist” (I use that word lightly) that reveals The Hunt as a smidge smarter than I originally gave it credit for. However, it uses its twist to launch another surface level critique instead of saying something more profound. Every time it has the opportunity, The Hunt stops just short of producing something meaningful.

The Hunt unfortunately does not live up to the potential of its premise. If a studio decides to delay a film due to controversy, I would prefer the film to at least be controversial. Betty Gilpin’s terrific performance as Crystal fails to be truly memorable due to the films constant stumbling. A chuckle here or there cannot make up for the persistent eye-rolling The Hunt induces. Ultimately, The Hunt closer resembles a middle schooler’s idea of political satire rather than anything of value.