Theatre divided welcome to watchmojo.com
free speech still exists
don't first-amendment me it wasn't real
for this list we're looking at why
critics and audiences seem to either
love or hate the latest horror thriller
from Blum House productions
number 10 the delayed release before
even hitting theaters the hunt was
already stirring up controversy the plot
revolves around a group of conservatives
who are selected to be hunted by a group
of wealthy liberals every year these
liberal elites kidnap a bunch of normal
folks like us and hunt us for sport a
setup like that was destined to anger at
least one side of the political spectrum
but Universal and Blum House faced some
other unforeseen issues prior to the
film's release movie The Hunt has been
killed
breaking just now that kind of visual
film will not be released by Universal
now in the wake of last weekend's two
mass shootings the hunt was originally
supposed to hit theaters on September
27th 2019 following tragedies in El Paso
and Dayton during August that same year
the studio decided to push the release
date back several months out of respect
this drew more attention to the film and
its premise causing some to make up
their minds without giving it a fair
chance number nine the president's
response in the wake of the postponed
release and pulled adds Fox News
prematurely gave their two cents on the
hunt the conservative news outlet quoted
Media Research Center VP Dan Gainor who
said the film proved that Hollywood was
quote demented and evil days later
Donald Trump tweeted quote the movie
coming out is made in order to enflame
and cause chaos presumably addressing
the hunt producer Jason Blum however
noted that the hunt was quote probably
the most judged movie that's ever
existed that everyone who judged it
hadn't seen people know where they are
my faithful the irony is that the hunt
is about people who jump to conclusions
on social media without having all the
facts of course early critics would have
picked up on this if they had really
watched the film number eight early test
screenings a day before pulling the hunt
from its release schedule Universal held
a second test screening for the film
which apparently didn't go over much
better than the first according to The
Hollywood Reporter quote audience
members were again expressing discomfort
with the politics the same day as the
poor test screening executives from
Universal and the filmmakers reportedly
had their lives threatened online this
allegedly hostile response eerily
parallels the extremes that certain
characters go to in the movie a
Universal spokesperson denied that the
test screenings attracted negative
feedback however saying quote the film
was very well received and tallied one
of the highest test scores for an
original Blum House film honestly we
wouldn't be surprised if there's truth
to both of these contrasting reports so
it's true we're being hunted number
seven the advertising eggs critics on
rather than tiptoeing around the
backlash Universal decided to turn
lemons into box-office lemonade as Paul
de Garabedian of comScore put it along
with a new trailer a poster was released
reading quote the most talked about
movie of the year is one that no one's
actually seen to make the film look
extra taboo the poster also showcased
unflattering quotes from outlets calling
it quote sick quote gory and quote a
disturbance to our country while some
critics feel that the film didn't quite
live up to that edgy poster others like
Donald Clark of the Irish Times found it
quote appalling and quote irresponsible
in the best way possible let's just say
that if the poster speaks to your inner
rebel he'll get what you paid for how'd
you know whose life
because everyone is lying number six it
subverts expectations if you haven't
been keeping up with the initial
reactions chances are you'll go into the
hunt anticipating a straightforward
horror flick yep this is a film that
constantly toys with your expectations
pulling a Marion crane more than once
you wanted it to be real so you decided
it was whereas some will see this as a
welcome change of pace others may grow
frustrated that the film sets up certain
plot elements only to then have them
vanish out of thin air considering the
toxic internet culture is a key theme
though it's actually quite fitting that
the hunt playfully trolls its audience
on multiple occasions even if you have
been following the controversy the way
the film portrays both major political
parties will still likely catch people
off-guard for better or for worse number
five its graphic nature given the
polarizing political climate and ongoing
gun control debate some critics have
deemed the hunt dangerous in the
affirmation Fox News article depay
University professor Jeffery McCall was
quoted calling the film quote harmful to
a culture that surely needs messages of
unity and understanding in a variety
interview though director Craig Sobel
disputed such claims stating quote if I
believed this film could incite violence
I wouldn't have made it
variety's Peter debruge would go on to
give the hunt a positive review arguing
that the film was quote too far-fetched
to quote inspire copycat behavior while
the film touches upon real-world issues
the gore is handled in a cartoony
over-the-top manner akin to Evil Dead
ready or not and even the works of
Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious they
Arkansas sweetheart so anything else
happened number four it's this year's
Joker defending the hunt Jason Blum said
that quote it was read as a satire no
different from the Joker or other movies
that are violent The Joker comparison is
pretty spot-on yeah that's not funny
Arthur that's not the kind of humor we
do on this show leading up to their
releases the political subtext and
graphic content in both films were
heavily discussed like Joker before it
the critical reception towards the hunt
has been all over the
some hailed it as a bold timely satire
while others felt it wasn't nearly as
smart as it makes itself out to be we
have an opportunity here actors even
with mixed reviews
Joker went on to score a Best Picture
Oscar nomination while we don't see the
hunt going that far
it does have cult following potential
reminiscent of the Cabin in the Woods
going for it number three its depiction
of the far-right the characters being
hunted in the film are referred to as
quote deplorable 'he's a phrase coined
by hillary clinton to describe trump
supporters i can't use that his point in
shooting with a few exceptions the quote
unquote deplorable is depicted here are
generally gung-ho uneducated and quick
to shoot first ask questions never one
man in particular is also overtly
anti-immigration i'm playing an arab
refugee but i identify as white i think
that's problematic to in some way
well the far-right characters do conform
to obvious stereotypes a Oh Scott
brought up an interesting point in his
New York Times review the words make
America great again are never said the
film manages to be on the nose without
directly referencing the Trump
administration or the president's
followers in retrospect it kind of feels
like conservatives we're getting upset
over nothing
especially since the hunt is an equal
opportunist political satire I'm not
going down number two its depiction of
the far left if you want a film that
goes after far-right ideals keep in mind
that the hunt takes just as many shots
at the far left sir
how about a glass of champagne perfect
the hunters in question are liberal
elitist who argue if it's okay to call
african-americans black and if it's
appropriate to say guys if a female is
present we pay through everything
this country belongs to us don't even
think about saying that climate change
is a myth like PC principal from South
Park they see themselves as the good
guys and their modern views aren't
necessarily without merit hunting human
beings for sport they're not human
beings they take things too far however
by shaming and threatening those who
don't share their beliefs while some may
see this depiction as quote problematic
the truth is that every political party
is capable of succumbing to extremes
what kind of sick people would even
think of something like that
white people Britain worst before we
continue
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you go into your settings and switch on
notifications number one it doesn't
choose a clear side I know what this is
it's Manor gate every year these rich
elites kidnapped a bunch of normal folks
like us where they get you from Wyoming
Orlando Mississippi to quote Matt Donato
have we got this covered
quote if you get outraged by the hunt
you're not paying attention although it
was originally titled red state vs. blue
state this is ultimately a purple state
movie which is inclined to irk those
with narrow political views what state
is this sorry
you don't understand the question some
have applauded the film for urging each
political party to look in the mirror
and acknowledge that both are part of
the problem others see this as a cop-out
that doesn't provide any real insight
whichever side you're on
Betty Gilpin steals the show as Krystal
who has no political agenda she simply
wants to get out of an insane situation
alive and we can all identify with that
in today's divisive world of all the
people you kidnap of all the people you
kill you pick the wrong game whitey
you're crazy do you agree with our picks
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