Review | Kraven The Hunter (2024)

Although Kraven The Hunter settles into the Sony formula and plays fast and loose with Marvel lore, it has enough to keep its audience entertained for a couple of hours. 

The latest Spider-Man villain to attempt to emerge from the wall-crawler’s long shadow is Kraven The Hunter. After several tepid additions to Sony’s adjacent Marvel universe, the studio could do with a success story. Hedging its bets, Sony has turned to the star power of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and the directorial vision of franchise newcomer J. C. Chandor. But can this talented duo capture the spark the franchise lacked outside of the Venom trilogy? Or is Kraven’s big screen debut the latest adventure destined for the bargain bin?

REVIEW

Well, the writing was on the wall. After rumors began swirling that Kraven The Hunter would bookend Sony’s Marvel adventure, expectation levels for the film were at an all-time low. A recent preview of the film played to empty seats at one of the world’s most prestigious pop culture showcases, which must have set off alarm bells at Sony towers. So much so that only limited screenings were made available to the press. Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to be invited for my first look. As a Marvel fan, I had high hopes for this film, but as expected, my hopes were dashed within minutes of the opening moments.

Kraven The Hunter is at its best when it unleashes Aaron Taylor-Johnson on his enemies. The action is unreal, and he instantly feels at home in the Marvel universe. The action sequences are exhilarating, and he seems perfectly at ease within the Marvel universe. However, despite a brilliantly primal score by Benjamin Wallfisch, the film takes liberties with Marvel lore and disappointingly downplays its most iconic characters. Along with some questionable dialogue, the film turns out to be a thrilling yet ultimately lackluster debut for Marvel’s legendary hunter.

THE HUNTER

For newcomers to the Spider-Verse, Kraven is a big-game hunter with superhuman strength and incredible tracking abilities. This has made him a formidable adversary of Spider-Man for over four decades. Sadly, Sony forgot to utilize the rich legacy of the comics and threw together a stereotypical story packed with character assassinations and eye-rolling dialogue. Thankfully, the ADR isn’t as bad as Sony’s Madame Web, but it might as well have been. Some of the screenplay is extremely ropey. So much so that it quickly slips into tired tropes and cliches. That being said, the film isn’t a complete car crash; there are redeeming qualities that make the movie enjoyable. 

For the most part, the film uses elements of Kraven’s backstory to establish the basis of a solid story. Sergei Kravinoff, the son of a Russian mobster, ingests a super serum that amplifies his senses and transforms him into a formidable hunter. Instead of using his skills to become the most feared game hunter in the world, reveling in pursuing the most dangerous prey (like in the comics), Sony twists the storyline to reshape him as a hunter of criminals—individuals who remind him of his estranged father.

THE KRAVINOFF LEGACY 

Sergei’s complicated relationship with his father, played by Russell Crowe, is the story’s backbone. The repercussions of their fractured bond pull Sergei’s timid half-brother, Dmitri Smerdyakov, into a difficult position, quickly casting him as the usual black sheep. Fortunately, Sergei and Dmitri have stayed close over the years, but this closeness ultimately becomes a vulnerability that others can exploit.

Unaware that his half-brother is the mythological hunter, Dmitri is inadvertently targetted by a ruthless mobster who happens to be the legendary Marvel thug, the Rhino. Thankfully, Sony has finally delivered a comic accurate look for the Rhino, but that’s as far as the homage to Marvel lore goes. The character has been reimagined as a Russian criminal mastermind determined to take out the hunter—just to be safe, in case he’s on his list of targets. Yes, Rhino’s motives really are that thin. 

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

After a quickfire opening establishes the story, the film slips into a series of enjoyable action sequences highlighting Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s undeniable machismo. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, viewers will soon realize they’ve seen these scenes before – and executed better than we see here. Believe it or not, there’s even a moment where Kraven lassos a helicopter, holding it in place with brute strength—a glaring homage to Steve Rogers’ bravado in Captain America: Civil War. However, for fans of the MCU, these moments quickly become poor replicas. 

On the plus side, Taylor-Johnson commits to the material full bore and delivers a performance that deserves praise. He instantly feels at home in the Marvel universe and brings this version of Kraven to life with zeal. Not that the character is comic-accurate. Again, Sony can’t help themselves. Within seconds of the opening sequence, Kraven’s iconic Russian accent is discarded, replaced by an underwhelming American accent that feels out of place. As mentioned, his comic book origins are mostly treated with grace. His upbringing and relationships with his parents are accurate. However, that’s as far as the homage goes. History has been rewritten to explain how he comes into possession of the formula that transforms him into the character we know and love. 

BROTHERLY LOVE

Kraven’s relationship with his half-brother has also changed dramatically. In the comics, Sergei treated Dmitri (Fred Hechinger) with contempt and brutality, leading him to transform himself into the supercriminal known as the Chameleon. Here, Sergei is a protective and loving brother who adores his half-sibling and despises his father’s treatment of him. While Hechinger plays the role with great energy, the character feels undercooked, and his eventual personality change feels forced and devoid of emotional weight. The on-screen chemistry between Johnson and Hechinger works wonders when they get to work together, but it never feels like enough. 

PERFORMANCES 

In contrast, Russell Crowe delivers a powerhouse performance as Nikolai Kravinoff, their brutal and dominating father. Although his screen time is criminally limited, his presence only adds weight to the film and an extra layer of much-needed quality. Crowe has made a career out of bringing these characters to life and knows how to get the best out of the material, and he once again hits the ground running here. In truth, his absence is noticeable for large parts of the film, and sadly, the other co-stars don’t offer enough to fill the void. Ariana DeBose turns in a serviceable performance as Calypso Ezili, but like many of her co-stars, she is mired by some woeful dialogue that does her character little justice. 

The same can be said for Alessandro Nivola, who serves up a bizarre performance as Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino. As mentioned above, Rhino is depicted here as a Russian crime lord, which is contrary to his comic book heritage. The character’s bumbling and unintelligent background plays a significant role, creating a strange contrast for someone who is supposed to be a cunning and ruthless Russian criminal mastermind. This leads to a confused portrayal, teetering between the traits of a dim-witted brute and those of a clever strategist. While Nivola does a commendable job with the material, the character’s inconsistencies make it nearly impossible to add any real depth.

POSITIVES

So far, my review has been mostly negative, and sadly, I’m citing more flaws before we hit the positives. The biggest of them is the ropey CGI that litters the film. Richard Wenk’s screenplay calls for Kraven to exhibit Spider-Man-like abilities, many of which are not part of his comic book origins, and sadly, the CGI doesn’t do them any justice. In the film, Kraven leaps from rooftops, scales walls, and moves on all fours like a jungle cat. Unfortunately, the less-than-stellar CGI turns these thrilling moments into something more comical than awe-inspiring.

In addition, the film portrays Kraven engaging with various wild animals. From lions and bears to jungle cats and buffalo, he faces these creatures head-on. But again, the awful CGI makes them look cartoonish. It quickly becomes difficult to take these moments seriously when they look so fake and out of place. 

BEN WALLFISCH HITS THE HIGH NOTES…AGAIN!

Thankfully, composer Benjamin Wallfisch is on hand to add his quality to the soundtrack. After his success on DC’s The Flash and Fede Álvarez’s Alien Romulus, the composer slips back into his comic-book groove to deliver a primal, punchy score that compliments the source material perfectly. His music takes us from the desolate snow-covered plains of Russia to the game reserves of Africa and keeps the film fresh. Even when the story switches to the concrete jungle of London, the score keeps the film loose and energized, which is a welcome trait after all the bizarre dialogue and character flaws. 

VERDICT

So, the big question is, is Kraven: The Hunter a good film? After reflecting, I’ve decided that the film has more positives than negatives and deserves a three-star rating. Although the film quickly settles into the Sony formula and plays fast and loose with Marvel lore and its characters, it has enough to keep its audience entertained for a couple of hours. 

Even with the shaky CGI, odd dialogue, and wooden characters, the film manages to strike the right chords for an entertaining popcorn flick. Aaron Taylor-Johnson rises above the script’s shortcomings, delivering a strong performance that earns him a place at the Marvel table. Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, and Christopher Abbott also bring their talents to the thin material, yet none can overshadow Russell Crowe’s brilliant scene-stealing performance. 

If the rumors are true, and Kraven The Hunter becomes Sony’s last roll of the Marvel dice, it sends the series out on a high. If nothing else, it’s a Sony film through and through. Despite its shortcomings, it’s two hours of mindless fun and over-the-top action that will delight its target audience. But for those who adore the source material, this will be the last straw that broke the Hunter’s back. A Spider-Verse without Spider-Man was never going to resonate with the fans, and sadly, Sony forgot to put them first. 

Kraven’s first hunt will probably be his last, and that is the biggest disappointment of them all. Enjoy it while you can. 

Kraven: The Hunter is unleashed in cinemas everywhere on December 13. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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