'Kraven The Hunter' Cut to Pieces by Critics
Kraven the Hunter has been torn to shreds by critics who were able to see the film at the US premiere.
Not all criticism was as harsh. While most critics lambasted the filmmakers for putting Kraven the Hunter to screens, some were apologetically dissatisfied with the film, reflecting on what could have been: “The real tragedy surrounding “Kraven the Hunter” isn’t that it promises a future that will never be, but that it could’ve allowed itself and the universe to which it belongs to go out with some dignity.”, wrote a critic for The Wrap.
Some, but few, critics were actually positive on the film, with all positive reviews sharing the sentiment of the action scenes making the 2-hour picture entertaining. A critic at RIOTUS was surprised by how much he enjoyed the film: “I bet that, reading this, you’re thinking I will give this movie a bad rating, and you’re wrong. I was entertained by this movie, not in a “it’s so bad it’s good” but legitimately. In a world without Spider-Man, Lion-Man will save us all!”
Critic James Preston Poole shares the sentiment made by most fans of the Sony Marvel universe, claiming that the films are essentially silly, but fun. Poole even went a step further, going as far to call the film “respectable”: “Kraven the Hunter isn’t going to be anyone’s favorite comic book movie. What it is, though, is still respectable. You can do much worse than a propulsive action flick with a ridiculous premise and a lot of fun supporting characters”.
The most surprising review to me, compared to the sea of negativity, is one that went to the level of calling aspects of the film “jaw-dropping”, a degree no other critic has dared extend to. This quote comes from a review by Nagier Chambers, who wrote: “Entertaining. Violence with no slack on brutality – jaw-dropping in every sense. While the plot isn’t airtight, unexpected comedic moments hit surprisingly well”.
Independent critic Peter Sobczynski, gave a negative, but reasonable review, addressing both negative and positive aspects of the film, a review I shall heavily subscribe to: “And yet, while it is far too terrible as a movie to actually recommend to anyone that you didn’t have some sort of vendetta against, I have to admit that, outside of maybe a hundred or so dull spots, it certainly isn’t a boring one”.
A YouTuber’s review for the film (by a channel named ‘Fish Jelly Films’), gave what is almost certainly the harshest and most insulting criticism to a film that I have ever heard:
Kraven is the lumbersexual response to 2004’s Catwoman.
As only a handful of critics who attended the US premiere were in the position to review the film (there were no premieres or press screenings in the vast majority of countries, an odd feat for any film), the permanent Rotten Tomatoes score will be made tomorrow, when the film releases. I look forward to the absolute carnage that I predict will come from its release.
The general consensus is that Kraven the Hunter is exactly what should be expected from a Sony Marvel film: a predictable plot, mindless action, and meaningless references to Spider-Man. Ultimately, Sony has so far released five films which have all fit this mold perfectly and have, for the most part, gotten worse each time; it’s the viewer’s fault if they go into Sony’s sixth consecutive Marvel release and expect anything different. However, what the majority of critics seem to agree on, is despite the film being terrible, out of Sony’s little Marvel universe, which is now reportedly dead, Kraven the Hunter is the best one. So if you’re one of the rare creatures that enjoy Sony’s Spider-Man-less releases, Kraven the Hunter is the film for you. If you’re not, go see Wicked again.
Watch the first eight minutes of Kraven the Hunter below:
Kraven the Hunter will be released in cinemas on 13th December 2024.
