The Hunt

As the plot progresses, a fiery digital conversation begins among a group of discontented individuals, expressing their frustrations about the state’s leadership and presidency. Their passionate debates ignite a desire to chase down those they label as “deplorables.” The film then transitions to a luxurious private plane, where affluent passengers revel in lavish comforts like caviar and champagne, eagerly anticipating an adventure from their mysterious benefactor, Athena (played by Hilary Swank). Suddenly, chaos erupts when a disoriented man stumbles into the cabin, resulting in a disturbing struggle that ends with a doctor taking lethal action. The plane ultimately becomes a grim site, littered with lifeless bodies, foreshadowing the harrowing events ahead.

Fast forward, a woman, portrayed by Emma Roberts, awakens in a forlorn field with her mouth bound. As she stumbles through the landscape, she encounters another figure, Crystal (played by Betty Gilpin), who, undeterred by the situation, uses a pin from her nametag to free herself and craft a makeshift compass. As she flees, the woman finds herself amidst a group of gagged captives encircling a massive crate. A fortuitous hint from a hidden trapdoor allows them to escape their bindings, yet confusion engulfs them—they cannot recall how they landed in this nightmarish place.

As the group begins to rouse, a man breaks open the crate to unveil a pig and a trove of weaponry. Just as they equip themselves, they find themselves under fire from an unseen enemy. One woman tragically falls victim to the barrage, while another meets her end in a savage pit trap, impaled by spikes—though she is saved by her companion, Justin Hartley. Their momentary relief is shattered by a triggered landmine, scattering the survivors in a chaotic frenzy.

As they make their escape, Ike Barinholtz, Sturgill Simpson, and Kate Nowlin discover a makeshift gas station manned by an elderly couple, Amy Madigan and Reed Birney. In gruesome revelations, they realize that one of their own has perished to a bow-and-arrow assault while attempting to flee. The remaining trio soon comprehends they are in the heart of Arkansas; however, one individual suddenly succumbs to convulsions—victim of donut poisoning. The elderly couple’s true nature is revealed as elite hunters targeting conservatives, leading to a brutal elimination of two escapees.

In a surprising twist, Crystal walks into the station, uncovering the couple’s true intentions. With swift intuition, she dispatches the elderly duo and narrowly evades a booby-trapped truck meant to obliterate her. During her investigation, she uncovers a shocking reality—they are not in Arkansas, but rather in the foreign lands of Croatia.

Her next encounter involves Gary (played by Ethan Suplee), another escapee who allies with her on a passing train. This duo crosses paths with a group of refugees, but Gary, skeptical of their authenticity, accuses them of being “crisis actors.” Their conflict is interrupted by Croatian soldiers stopping the train, with one refugee turning out to be a hunter concealed among them. The hunter seeks Crystal and Gary’s help to escape, but before they can act, Gary recklessly attaches a grenade to the hunter, leading to chaos as he bolts away, leaving Crystal to shield the genuine refugees from impending disaster as she is taken captive.

Now imprisoned in a Croatian detention center, Crystal faces disbelief from the authorities when she encounters Don (played by Wayne Duvall), another detainee who has eluded their persecution. They are soon rescued from the facility by a U.S. embassy representative eager for their side of the tale during their laptop ride to the airport. Yet, the probing queries of this emissary take a sinister turn, forcing Crystal into action. In an unexpected turn of events, she eliminates her interrogator, discovering Gary’s corpse in the trunk next to a trove of bribe money that affirms her darkest suspicions.

In the aftermath of these harrowing moments, Crystal shares with Don a twisted version of the fable of the tortoise and the hare, one where the hare gruesomely avenges his lost race. Together, they plan a stealthy infiltration of the bunker where the nefarious liberal group waits. With steely precision, Crystal quickly dispatches a member (played by Glenn Howerton) and storms into the bunker, executing a military-style ambush, leaving no one alive.

The sound of Athena’s voice crackling over the radio, checking on Don’s status, propels Crystal to a heart-wrenching decision: she takes Don’s life, convinced he may be a hunter, though his true allegiance remains murky. With skepticism clouding her judgment, she sets forth to confront Athena at her isolated woodland estate.

The narrative takes an intriguing turn, flashing back a year earlier when Athena, a corporate executive, partook in incendiary group texts that ignited a conservative uproar over their content. Despite her attempts to brush off the controversy as mere jest, her company demands her resignation, leading to the escalation of their revenge quest looming four months later, with a group intent on targeting twelve conservatives labeled as instigators of conspiracy theories. These individuals, previously flown to Croatia, are now the prey of the elite’s retribution.

In a climactic manner, Crystal singles out Athena in a social media post, making her the top target. As events unfold, Athena explains her reasoning to Crystal, who downplays her significance while Athena remains unconvinced, igniting a fierce confrontation between the two. Their brutal altercation escalates to the use of a blender blade as a weapon. Both women are left gravely injured, crashing amidst a pool of their own blood. Athena, in her final moments, begs Crystal to tell her the truth, only for Crystal to reaffirm her innocence, denying any connection to Athena’s tormentor.

As Crystal hovers near death, the sudden appearance of a hare reignites the memory of her mother’s words: “The hare always wins.” This epiphany revitalizes Crystal as she treats her own wounds, claiming one of Athena’s elegant dresses, seizing an impressive bottle of champagne, and commandeering a flight back home. Settling into her seat, she savors both caviar and champagne alongside the flight attendant, basking in the lavishness of her hard-earned victory.

Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 13:18