Kraven the Hunter Review: The age of superhero movies is at its peak these days, and fans of these movies are constantly exposed to new and exciting characters. One new character that has recently hit the screens is Kraven the Hunter. The film is a new installment in Sony’s Spider-Man universe, and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who also appeared as Quicksilver in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, Kraven the Hunter is his first time as a superhero, and the film fails to reach its full potential despite its violent action and interesting characters.
Another mixed effort from Sony’s superhero universe
The films in Sony’s Spider-Man universe have had a mixed record so far. While Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage did well at the box office and received positive responses from the audience, films like Morbius and Madame Web were complete disappointments. Expectations were quite high for Kraven the Hunter, but this film too failed to live up to those expectations.
Violence and R rating: Trying to do something different
The biggest claim about Kraven the Hunter was that it is an R-rated film. This means that the film has violence and abuses, which makes it different from traditional superhero films. Usually, superhero films come with a PG-13 rating, but this film tries to give the audience a different experience with its violent scenes and bloodshed. Some of the action sequences are so violent that they can even beat Deadpool’s films. However, where Deadpool’s violence is balanced with humor, the violence in Kraven the Hunter is all gritty and brutal, which sometimes feels gratuitous.
Lots of characters, none complete
The film claims to be a hero’s story, but it’s filled with too many other characters. The relationship between Sergei Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his brother Dmitri (Fred Hechinger), and their tension with their father Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), are the main motifs of the film. But while the film attempts to flesh out these relationships, it falls short. These characters are mostly not fleshed out decently, and other characters in the film such as Rhino (Alessandro Nivola), Calypso (Ariana DeBose) and the Foreigner (Christopher Abbott) aren’t all that effective. As a result, there isn’t much depth to the characters in the film, and their character development is incomplete.
Action, but no story
The film is full of action sequences, but the filmmakers fail to connect them to the story. Kraven the Hunter focuses more on creating scenes that will draw the audience in just from an action perspective, but they never help in the development of the story and characters. Instead, the action in the film feels like filler, presented without true drama and development. This problem is further aggravated because the main aim of the film was to present a grounded, character-driven story, but it loses its identity by getting bogged down in violence and superhero scenes.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s performance: A good effort, but inadequate
Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s acting, as we know from his previous works, is charming and impressive. His performance in Kraven the Hunter is certainly entertaining, and he manages to connect with his character completely. But, there is so much material and distractions in the film that his performance never fully shines. There are good actors in other roles as well, but they too fail to make an impact in the absence of a solid story.
Conclusion: A superhero movie that falls flat
In conclusion, Kraven the Hunter is a superhero experience that never reaches its full potential. The film disappoints due to its weak story and insufficient character development, despite its violence and action scenes. If you like superhero movies only for action and gore, this film may attract you. But if you are looking for a film that develops its characters and story well, Kraven the Hunter may disappoint.
The film is releasing in theaters on December 13, and it is 127 minutes long. If you are a fan of R-rated violence and action, then this film might be worth watching once. But if you are an expectant audience, then this film will not be as satisfying as you might have expected.
Source: Sony Pictures Releasing