This is a satire of the highest form, and it works because of the careful telegraphing from Cuse, Lindelof, and Zobel. Violence is used gratuitously for laughs and shock value with Tarantino-esque moments of sanguine comedy and dialogue. That’s not to mention the fine performances, from actors who are very in on the joke. As the ringmaster Athena, Oscar-winner Hilary Swank seems to revel in the evil machinations she leads while folks like Amy Madigan, Reed Birney, Glenn Howerton, Ethan Suplee, and Vince Pisani, pop in to offer their comic timing and gravitas. That’s not to mention the fine performances from Betty Gilpin, Wayne Duvall, and Macon Blair.
“This is a satire of the highest form”
America’s current habit of name-calling and immaturity pits reasonable people against each other, expecting the absolute worst from those who disagree with them. The Hunt takes those ideals, hands them weapons, and throws them in a cage match to the death to highlight the utter absurdity of the reactionist mentality. The idea for this movie could have gone horribly wrong. Instead, we are treated to carefully measured storytelling, razor-sharp wit, and maniacal mayhem that aims to level the playing field in hopes of getting us all to lighten up a bit. The Hunt is fun as hell and just as bloody.
"…fun as hell and just as bloody."
