Nerdly » ‘Hunt Club’ Review

11th Apr2023

‘Hunt Club’ Review

by James Rodrigues

Stars: Mena Suvari, Casper Van Dien, Will Peltz, Maya Stojan, Jessica Belkin, Jeremy London, Jason London, David Lipper, Kipp Tribble, Mickey Rourke | Written by David Lipper, John F. Saunders | Directed by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas

After being abandoned at a diner, Cassandra (Mena Suvari) finds herself in the company of the Stetson-wearing Carter (Casper Van Dien) and his son Jackson (Will Peltz). Readying themselves to partake in a traditional hunt, the pair invite their new friend to join them for a chance to win $100,000. Upon arriving at the island, it becomes clear the tradition includes male hunters luring women to become the hunted. Yet not all is as it seems, with Cassandra already knowing the truth.

Writers David Lipper and John Saunders have crafted a new take on The Most Dangerous Game, attempting social commentary in how the hunters are a club of insecure men wishing to reclaim their masculinity. These self-appointed “alphas” desire to feel big through victimising and murdering women, as evidenced in a cold line about how the victims blend together. It may be life and death for the captive women, yet it’s just a game for these men desperately clinging onto the past.

Carter is driven to ensure his son is made in his image, believing Jackson can be “fixed” by being transformed into his own vision of masculinity. This leaves Jackson torn between being himself, or the idealised version his dad wants. Infiltrating her way into this dynamic is Cassandra, trying to spur the son to make the right choice while on her own personal quest. Despite working with clumsy dialogue, the performances bring some believability to the characters and their journeys. The key exception is a comatose Mickey Rourke, who it’s difficult to say is phoning it in because that requires believing he initially picked up the phone.

As the titles of hunter and hunted swap around, action scenes unfold to convey this life-or-death situation. Despite being a fight for survival, the excitement feels lacking courtesy of the perfunctory action, not helped by how many kills feel edited around for potential budgetary reasons. The key exception involves an elongated subplot involving rapist brothers, which contains a cathartic ending that is appropriately gory.

While the execution may be muddled, director Elizabeth Blake-Thomas delivers a story with something on its mind. More could be done with the social commentary, while there are questionable choices involving overlit scenes and an opening sequence which is needlessly replayed later. Regardless, Hunt Club is a passable time to watch pathetic men torn apart by the very people the patriarchy oppresses.