Entertainment
Controversial banned horror with ‘riotously violent’ plot now available on Netflix-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro
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A ‘riotously violent’ horror film that was once banned is now available to watch on Netflix.
The Hunt, released in 2020, follows 12 total strangers who wake up in a clearing with no idea where they are or how they got there.
They’re soon plunged into a fight for survival as a group of bloodthirsty elites hunt them down for sport.
However, tired of being hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin) hatches a plan to turn the tables on her pursuers.
Directed by Craig Zobel, the film featured a star-studded cast alongside Glow star Gilpin, including Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, Glenn Howerton, and Ethan Suplee.
It became one of the most talked about films of 2020 that, as posters stated, no one actually saw, as it was swiftly pulled from its September 2019 release.
The Hunt follows 12 strangers selected for a twisted game (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
Betty Gilpin appears as Crystal who begins to hunt the hunters (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
The film became notorious after it was pulled from release (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
Universal pulled the plug on The Hunt following several mass shootings in the US in the space of a few days.
Marketing for the film ceased after the deaths of 31 Americans in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio in separate shootings.
A statement from the studio read: ‘After thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film.
‘We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film.’
Days later, President Trump also criticised the film at the time of its release for being ‘racist.’
‘Liberal Hollywood is Racist at the highest level, and with great Anger and Hate!’ he wrote on X.
The Hunt was pulled from release after numerous shootings in the US (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
President Donald Trump criticised the political messaging of the film (Picture: REUTERS)
‘They like to call themselves “Elite,” but they are not Elite. In fact, it is often the people that they so strongly oppose that are actually the Elite. The movie coming out is made in order to inflame and cause chaos.
‘They create their own violence, and then try to blame others. They are the true Racists, and are very bad for our Country.’
Zobel defended The Hunt’s politics, assuring the public: ‘If I believed this film could incite violence, I wouldn’t have made it.’
He continued to Variety: ‘We seek to entertain and unify, not enrage and divide. It is up to the viewers to decide what their takeaway will be.
‘I wanted to make a fun, action thriller that satirized this moment in our culture — where we jump to assume we know someone’s beliefs because of which “team” we think they’re on… and then start shouting at them.’‘
‘This rush to judgment is one of the most relevant problems of our time.’
The Hunt was eventually released in 2020 (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
It received mixed reviews from critics (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
The Hunt finally saw the light of day in March 2020 after it received a theatrical release before heading to streaming.
Despite the notoriety drummed up around its release, the film sits at a middling 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after receiving mixed reactions from critics.
The Daily Beast wrote: ‘This gleefully trashy, superficial satire takes shotgun aim at both Democrats and Republicans for their stereotypical assumptions about, and thin-skinned fury at, each other.’
London Evening Standard added: ‘A collaboration between Universal and Blumhouse this riotously violent horror-comedy deserves its second chance, though ignore critics who tell you it’s as sharp as Get Out (that’s fake news).’
A critic at The Independent did not agree, however, saying: ‘No one could possibly be offended by The Hunt, because that would require it to contain at least one comprehensible idea.’
Detroit News echoed the same sentiment: ‘It’s a movie that’s trying to hold up a mirror to modern America and show us that we all need to come together or we’re all going to go off the deep end and do something we really regret. Right message, wrong movie.’
The Hunt is now available to stream on Netflix.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
A ‘riotously violent’ horror film that was once banned is now available to watch on Netflix.
The Hunt, released in 2020, follows 12 total strangers who wake up in a clearing with no idea where they are or how they got there.
They’re soon plunged into a fight for survival as a group of bloodthirsty elites hunt them down for sport.
However, tired of being hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin) hatches a plan to turn the tables on her pursuers.
Directed by Craig Zobel, the film featured a star-studded cast alongside Glow star Gilpin, including Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, Glenn Howerton, and Ethan Suplee.
It became one of the most talked about films of 2020 that, as posters stated, no one actually saw, as it was swiftly pulled from its September 2019 release.
The Hunt follows 12 strangers selected for a twisted game (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
Betty Gilpin appears as Crystal who begins to hunt the hunters (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
The film became notorious after it was pulled from release (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
Universal pulled the plug on The Hunt following several mass shootings in the US in the space of a few days.
Marketing for the film ceased after the deaths of 31 Americans in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio in separate shootings.
A statement from the studio read: ‘After thoughtful consideration, the studio has decided to cancel our plans to release the film.
‘We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, like those associated with this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film.’
Days later, President Trump also criticised the film at the time of its release for being ‘racist.’
‘Liberal Hollywood is Racist at the highest level, and with great Anger and Hate!’ he wrote on X.
The Hunt was pulled from release after numerous shootings in the US (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
President Donald Trump criticised the political messaging of the film (Picture: REUTERS)
‘They like to call themselves “Elite,” but they are not Elite. In fact, it is often the people that they so strongly oppose that are actually the Elite. The movie coming out is made in order to inflame and cause chaos.
‘They create their own violence, and then try to blame others. They are the true Racists, and are very bad for our Country.’
Zobel defended The Hunt’s politics, assuring the public: ‘If I believed this film could incite violence, I wouldn’t have made it.’
He continued to Variety: ‘We seek to entertain and unify, not enrage and divide. It is up to the viewers to decide what their takeaway will be.
‘I wanted to make a fun, action thriller that satirized this moment in our culture — where we jump to assume we know someone’s beliefs because of which “team” we think they’re on… and then start shouting at them.’‘
‘This rush to judgment is one of the most relevant problems of our time.’
The Hunt was eventually released in 2020 (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
It received mixed reviews from critics (Picture: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
The Hunt finally saw the light of day in March 2020 after it received a theatrical release before heading to streaming.
Despite the notoriety drummed up around its release, the film sits at a middling 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after receiving mixed reactions from critics.
The Daily Beast wrote: ‘This gleefully trashy, superficial satire takes shotgun aim at both Democrats and Republicans for their stereotypical assumptions about, and thin-skinned fury at, each other.’
London Evening Standard added: ‘A collaboration between Universal and Blumhouse this riotously violent horror-comedy deserves its second chance, though ignore critics who tell you it’s as sharp as Get Out (that’s fake news).’
A critic at The Independent did not agree, however, saying: ‘No one could possibly be offended by The Hunt, because that would require it to contain at least one comprehensible idea.’
Detroit News echoed the same sentiment: ‘It’s a movie that’s trying to hold up a mirror to modern America and show us that we all need to come together or we’re all going to go off the deep end and do something we really regret. Right message, wrong movie.’
The Hunt is now available to stream on Netflix.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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