Well, Kraven the Hunter ended up being exactly what I thought it would be: an absolute trainwreck. It’s not just one of the worst films I’ve seen this year – it’s another awful comic book adaptation from Sony Pictures, which continues to flop in their attempts to build a Spider-Man universe without Spider-Man, and this film is the final nail in the coffin.
Director J.C. Chandor promised us a “damn good story” and a grounded approach to the comic book world, but what we got was a lifeless slog with no pulse.
The narrative is hollow, the script is laughably bad, and the performances feel stilted at best, downright cringeworthy at worst, especially with the dialogue the actors had to deliver. So many lines felt like they were plucked from the most cliché, uninspired pile of screenwriting rejects.
Even Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who is usually a talented actor, couldn’t salvage this mess. His take on Sergei Kravinoff lacked the charisma and menace you’d expect from a Marvel character as iconic as Kraven.
The CGI was also abysmal. It wasn’t just the big, over-the-top action set pieces that looked cheap. Even the smaller details, like the glaringly fake digital mouths on the actors, were equally unconvincing. For a film with a reported $100 million budget, you’d expect impressive effects. Instead, the visuals only served to underscore the movie’s mediocrity.
It’s wild to me that Chandor genuinely believed this movie told a “strong story.” I have no idea how the director, or anyone could watch this finished product and come to that conclusion.
The film’s pacing is erratic, its character development is weak, and its attempts to be gritty and grounded come off as shallow. If this was Sony’s idea of “quality storytelling,” it’s no wonder these Spider-Man spin-offs are bombing.
You know, a visceral origin story about Kraven the Hunter could work. Exploring Sergei’s transformation into one of Marvel’s most fearsome villains before his vendetta with Spider-Man definitely has potential.
But this movie squanders it at every turn. Instead of delivering a compelling character study, we’re treated to a by-the-numbers action flick with no heart or identity.
The cast is stacked with talented names like Ariana DeBose, Russell Crowe, and Christopher Abbott, but none of them leave a lasting impression. Crowe’s performance as Nikolai Kravinoff borders on parody, while DeBose’s Calypso is, unfortunately, underwhelming. Abbott, who plays the villain, The Foreigner, is just a waste of a character.
Then there’s The Rhino, played by Alessandro Nivola, a character who should’ve been an exciting addition to the story but ultimately falls flat. Rhino is one of Spider-Man’s most recognizable foes, so you’d think they’d at least make an effort to do something interesting with him.
Instead, we get a bland, poorly motivated antagonist and his design is uninspired and far from the iconic look fans expect. It’s just another wasted opportunity that just adds to the pile of disappointments this movie delivers.
It’s baffling to me that Sony actually greenlit this script and thought it was worth pouring over a hundred million dollars into. Did no one stop to think, “Maybe this isn’t it?” The studio’s enthusiasm for this project is mind-boggling, especially considering how poorly received their previous Spider-Man spin-offs have been. They’ve learned nothing from their past failures.
Now, I know there are some people out there who enjoyed the movie, and hey, more power to them. If this is your kind of thing, I’m glad you found some fun in it. But for me? This was a laughably bad film that I’ll never watch again. It’s right up there with Madame Web.
To be fair, I can’t say I was disappointed because I walked in with rock-bottom expectations, and the movie met them perfectly. If anything, I’m relieved that Sony is pulling the plug on these spin-offs for the time being. Kraven the Hunter feels like the final gasp of a dying experiment.
Ultimately, Kraven the Hunter is a colossal misfire, a soulless, poorly executed attempt at a cash grab that fails to do justice to its titular character. If you’re looking for a good comic book movie, you won’t find it here. Save your time and money.
