Review: KRAVEN THE HUNTER is a colossal failure and one of the worst films of the year

WELL, Kraven the Hunter in the end it was exactly what I thought it would be: a complete disaster. It’s not just one of the worst movies I’ve seen this year, it’s another terrible comic book adaptation from Sony Pictures, which continues to fail in its attempts to build a Spider-Man universe without Spider-Man, and this movie is the last one. nail in the coffin.

Director JC Chandor promised us a “damn good story” and a down-to-earth approach to the world of comics, but what we got was a slog with no life and no drive.

The narrative is hollow, the script is laughably bad, and the performances feel contrived at best, downright awkward at worst, especially with the dialogue the actors had to deliver. So many lines felt like they were ripped from the most cliched and banal pile of script scraps.

Also Aaron Taylor-Johnsonwho is usually a talented actor, couldn’t save this mess. His portrayal of Sergei Kravinoff lacked the charisma and menace you would expect from an iconic Marvel character like Kraven.

The CGI was also bad. It wasn’t just the big, over-the-top action scenes that felt cheap. Even the smallest details, like the blatantly fake digital mouths on the actors, were equally unconvincing. For a film with a reported budget of $100 million, you would expect impressive effects. Instead, the images only served to highlight the film’s mediocrity.

It’s strange to me that Chandor genuinely believed this film told a “strong story.” I have no idea how the director, or anyone else, could have looked at the finished product and come to that conclusion.

The film’s pacing is uneven, its character development is weak, and its attempts to be gritty and grounded come across as superficial. 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 for Kraven the Hunter could work. Exploring Sergei’s transformation into one of Marvel’s most fearsome villains before his revenge with Spider-Man certainly has potential.

But this film wastes it at every turn. Instead of providing a compelling character study, we are given a by-the-numbers action film with no heart or identity.

The cast is full of talented names like Ariana De Bose, Russell CroweAND Christopher Abbottbut none of them leave a lasting impression. Crowe’s performance as Nikolai Kravinoff borders on parody, while DeBose’s Calypso is, unfortunately, disappointing. Abbott, who plays the villain, The Foreigner, is just a waste of a character.

Then there’s The Rhino, played by Alessandro Nivolaa character who should have been an exciting addition to the story but ultimately fails. Rhino is one of Spider-Man’s most recognizable enemies, so you’d think they’d at least make an effort to do something interesting with him.

Instead, we have a bland and poorly motivated antagonist and his design is uninspired and far from the iconic look fans have come to expect. It’s just another wasted opportunity that only adds to the pile of disappointments this film offers.

It’s baffling to me that Sony actually greenlit this script and thought it was worth investing over a hundred million dollars. No one stopped to think, “Maybe this isn’t it?” The studio’s enthusiasm for this project is astounding, especially considering how poorly received their previous Spider-Man spin-offs have been. They have learned nothing from their past failures.

Now, I know there are some people out there who liked the movie and, hey, more power to them. If this is your thing, I’m glad you enjoyed it. But for me? This was a ridiculously bad movie that I will never watch again. It’s right up there with Mrs. Web.

To be honest, I can’t say I am disappointed because I went in with very low expectations and the film met them perfectly. If nothing else, I’m relieved that Sony is pulling the plug on these spin-offs for the time being. Kraven the Hunter it seems like the final gasp of a dying experiment.

Ultimately, Kraven the Hunter is a colossal failure, a soulless and poorly executed attempt at a money grab that fails to do justice to its main character. If you’re looking for a good movie based on a comic book, you won’t find it here. Save time and money.