The middle third drags as the film introduces then discards supporting characters (Emma Roberts, Justin Hartley, Ike Barinholtz) in service of plot mechanics. Some of the social commentary feels dated already — the “Manorgate” scandal at the center is a thin stand-in for a certain real-world conspiracy, but the film never commits to what it actually wants to say about disinformation or class resentment.
A group of kidnapped strangers wake up in a clearing, gagged, with a wooden crate of weapons at their feet. As they soon discover, they’re being hunted for sport by a group of wealthy liberal elites led by the icy Athena (Hilary Swank). But the joke — or the twist — is that the victims aren’t random. They’ve been selected because of offensive, often right-leaning online activity. One victim texted “Execute them all” under a meme; another shared a Pizzagate-style conspiracy. In other words, these are “deplorables” to the hunters, whom the hunted call “the elites.” The Hunt 2020
(50/100) similarly view it as a "guilty pleasure" that mocks both extremes of the political spectrum. Rotten Tomatoes Standout Highlights Betty Gilpin's Performance: The middle third drags as the film introduces
The "prey" are not random civilians. They are "deplorables" – specifically, working-class conservatives from "flyover country" who have been kidnapped after falling for an online conspiracy theory. Their captors are "elites" – coastal, wealthy, liberal aristocrats who have built an estate called "Manor Hill" to act out their violent fantasies against those they despise online. As they soon discover, they’re being hunted for
The physicality Gilpin brings to the role is astounding. She runs through forests, uses booby traps, and manages to make a heel-stomp to a throat look like a surgical procedure. In an era of CGI-heavy action, The Hunt relies on practical stunts and Gilpin’s feral intensity.