This week in the crypt we take a look at the new Shudder Original, Hunted. Premiering this Thursday January 14th on Shudder in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Clocking in at 86 minutes this film directed by Vincent Paronnaud and written by Paronnaud with Lea Pernollet viewers are treated to a ride that is sure to jar them.
While filmed in France, Belgium, and Ireland the film is presented in English. Which works well for the pace and build of the film, so if you get distracted trying to read subtitles and pay attention that’s a non issue here.
The film starts off with 8 year old Jeremy (Vladimir Ryelandt) and the huntress (Simone Milsdochter) as she tells him the history of the wolf woman. This scene flashes between well done animation and live action.
After the scene finishes we meet Eve (Lucie Debay) who is out of town for work. As we see her talking to her boss you can tell she is having a shitty day.
She decides to go to a local bar to have a drink where she meets a charming man (Arieh Worthalter) and his accomplice (Ciaran O’Brien). What Eve thinks is just a usual night out turns from fun to make it fucking stop.
Fueled by a techno at time soundtrack a majority of the film takes place in a lush forest and this plays to the story. While it’s a riff on Red Riding Hood it also a fresh take. Who’s more dangerous the wolf or the man?
At times Hunted feels more like High Tension then it does similar films in the kidnap/rape/revenge subgenre (I Spit On Your Grave, They Call Her One Eye).
Using a letter grading system this messed up camping trip gets a B+. What works for this is the setting and story. Also the sound, like seeing a bug crawling and hearing the legs move, you’re immersed in the film and the environment. Also the look of the film is visually stunning and it’s well acted. Making this feeling like it could really happen plays well with the story too. Add in a few what the fuck moments and you have a solid thriller.
Where it fell short for me was the ending, which I’m not going to go into detail about. I just would have liked to have seen something different. Some people may love the ending, others may hate it, it was just lukewarm to me.
Pair this with other films that have a cat and mouse thriller feel to them (Rope, Seven, Zodiac) and make it an evening of chills.
And remember kids, if you feel a chill…that’s not the cold. You’re in the crypt!