Movie: The Hunt (2020)

This is the movie about wealthy liberal elites hunting deplorables. The release was delayed because of the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. When the new release date was announced, my friends expressed their distaste. They saw this as fanning the flames of class warfare, and supporting stereotypes of both sides.

It probably goes without saying my friends are liberal, but not elite.

Their distaste for a film they had never seen made me want to watch it. I’m highly countersuggestible. I know this about myself. Then I found out Damon Lindelof co-wrote it, and I loved “Watchmen” so much it made me eager to see this. Based on “Watchmen” I figured it couldn’t be the simplistic satire people feared.

It turned out to be the simplistic satire people feared, but I enjoyed it anyway. There is no secret twist that makes the satire more subtle. It spoofs both sides with broad strokes.

What saves it is quick pacing, good gore effects and the lead performance. Betty Gilpin throws herself into the role of talented deplorable with glee. And there are a lot of gore effects. This is a particularly wet movie.

The political satire made me laugh in spite of myself. It is amateurish and predictable, yes, but the way it is woven into the action helped it get past my defenses.

I saw it the same day the CDC recommended we avoid groups of 50 or more. I think there were 5 of us in the theater, we were technically obeying the recommendation. I know my countersuggestibility is going to get me in trouble, though.