Blumhouse is known for throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks to theaters and/or Netflix. It’s tough to fault them for their shotgun approach to content, even when their aim tends to be abysmal. In 2020 alone, the studio pumped out ten films, several of which essentially dropped into the void. Their most controversial 2020 offering was The Hunt, a film that inspired some controversy but very little actual box-office success.
Director Craig Zobel has been mostly comfortable on the small screen since the release of The Hunt. His magnum opus may be his work on HBO’s Mare of Easttown, but he also put together three episodes of the streamer’s excellent Penguin series. Before The Hunt, Zobel co-created the beloved internet comedy series Homestar Runner and directed the almost violently unpleasant Compliance.
Blumhouse’s The Hunt Hits #7 on Netflix
The Hunt began life as a script by Nick Cuse (Watchmen, Masters of the Air) and Damon Lindelof (Lost, World War Z). It reached Zobel’s desk in 2018 with the intent to drop in 2019, but the film experienced a six-month delay. While Blumhouse would have you believe that its controversial subject matter attracted enough division from both sides to earn a delay, the real answer is both sadder and more obvious. Two mass shootings in Texas prompted Universal to delay the film, reframing their choice to market it as a “controversial thriller” in a slightly less tasteful light. That behind-the-scenes story is a lot more compelling than the actual plot. The Hunt bends the Battle Royale death game format until it breaks, depicting a tradition in which wealthy liberals kidnap and hunt “deplorables.” It’s a satire piece packed with familiar jokes and an action film full of unconvincing CGI.
This is far from the first Blumhouse movie to drag in theaters and find success on Netflix. In fact, the Blumhouse movie model of spending nothing to rake in the cash is only occasionally effective. The beauty of low budgets is that Blumhouse only needs one investment to pay off. The Hunt was not that investment. Despite a modest $14 million budget and a very loud marketing campaign, The Hunt only captured $12.4 million at the box office. Ironically, a film all about political division caught the brunt of a defining political event, the COVID-19 pandemic. Theaters shut down as The Hunt slipped into them, making its questionable box-office performance seem incredible, given the circumstances.
The Hunt couldn’t catch a break. Its satire of performative liberals and conspiracy-minded conservatives hit one snag after another. You could reasonably argue that those big moments are perfect arguments for a satire film in this mold’s necessity. I would counter that The Hunt has all the political awareness of a great uncle’s Facebook meme. If you want to see the film’s one enjoyable fight sequence, skip to the end. If you’re looking for political satire, you’d be happier checking The Onion. Most importantly, those looking for something fun for family Thanksgiving get-togethers should keep hunting.
