Plot: What’s it about?
Alex (Jellali Mouina) is a journalist for a tabloid magazine, so he needs sensational stories to fuel both his career and sales of the publication. But he has been unable to produce such a piece in a while, so now he is under pressure to either deliver a dynamic story or pursue new employment. His girlfriend is a dominatrix, so she has contact with unusual people and she is able to give him a lead. One of her clients has talked about an estate deep in the woods, where rich and powerful men gather to engage in high stakes events. As he investigates, Alex learns that the men are engaged in a hunt, but none like he has ever seen before. The men place insane wagers about who will survive the hunts, as people are killed left and right. When Alex gets a little close and his cover is blown, he finds himself in the middle of this lethal hunt. Can he survive this horrific ordeal and can he bring himself to murder other people in order to save his own life?
In case you couldn’t tell from the synopsis, this is another take on the classic The Most Dangerous Game. The plot sticks close to the original, but makes some minor changes to modernize things here and there. The spirit of the story remains intact and while The Hunt doesn’t break new ground, it does provide solid entertainment. The switch to high stakes hunts with multiple hunters allows a more kinetic, action oriented experience, which works well. The tone is more thriller than horror, but there is still bloodshed and of course, ample atmosphere and tension. Even so, there are horror elements and with this kind of frantic environment, there is also a good amount of action. I also appreciated the rather short duration, as it allows The Hunt to refrain from excess exposition and focus on the important elements. The Hunt has basic intentions and fulfills them, delivering a solid thriller with some effective action. So if you’re interested, The Hunt is recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The Hunt is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a solid transfer, one that helps compensate for the film’s low budget roots. The image is clean and while not quite film-like, detail is good and depth is better than expected. There is some light softness, but nothing out of the norm for a standard resolution release. I found colors to run warm, but still natural in scope, while contrast remains well balanced at all times. In the end, a rock solid visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original French soundtrack is present via a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The track is quite good, with more presence than I had expected. The more action driven scenes pack a nice punch, while the surrounds also ratchet up the tension, which enhances the movie a lot. So a nice balance and power and subtle presence, impressive work. The dialogue is also well handled, so overall this is one terrific soundtrack.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.