Kraven the Hunter review: Sony’s Spider-Man Universe ends with a whimper

As a seasoned gamer of comic book movies, I’ve seen my fair share of cinematic universes rise and fall like waves upon the shore. But alas, the Sony Spider-Man Universe has been more like a tumultuous storm that never seemed to find its footing. And now, with the release of Kraven the Hunter, it appears this tempest has finally come to an end – not with a bang, but with a whimper.

In the film “Kraven the Hunter,” there comes a moment when a location card appears, indicating that we are “Outside London.” This suggests that, much like the storyline itself, the movie seems uncertain about the specifics of where and when events are taking place.

Just like Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter is set to hit theaters this coming Friday following numerous postponements of its release date. There are strong indications that the edits made may have been an attempt to save it, but instead, it seems they might have caused more damage.

A while ago, it was planned to be released before both ‘Madame Web’ and ‘Venom: The Last Dance’. However, with its arrival, ‘Kraven the Hunter’ seems to mark the end (for now) of Sony’s troubled Spider-Man Universe. Unfortunately, due to licensing issues, the actual Spider-Man couldn’t be included in this series.

And you don’t even need Spider-Sense to know that Kraven the Hunter is not very good, ending the universe with a fitting whimper.

Fundamentally, the storyline revolves around a classic dynamic between a father and son, where Sergei Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), going by the alias ‘Kraven’, takes opposite paths compared to his gangster father Nikolai (Russell Crowe). While Nikolai is relentless in his pursuit of victory at any cost, Sergei dedicates himself to thwarting the success of the villains.

This situation inevitably makes Kraven a target for Russian mercenary Aleksei Sytsevich, also known as Rhino, who desires to be the dominant figure in town. A threat against Kraven’s brother Dmitri adds pressure, forcing Kraven to consider the limits of his principles to rescue the one person he cherishes deeply.

For a tale about origins, Kraven the Hunter could have made an engaging film experience. However, the movie appears to have been overly ambitious, cramming in too many elements which resulted in an overstuffed and underdeveloped final product.

As I delve deeper into this gaming world, another formidable adversary emerges, this time donning a stylish turtleneck-and-shades combo, played by none other than Christopher Abbott. Additionally, a character named Calypso appears, who seems to be a potential love interest, though her lines could use some polishing, as they’re currently the weakest in the script. Lastly, a hint of a sequel’s villain is subtly introduced, leaving us with a glimmer of hope that there might just be more adventures to come, even if it remains merely a tease.

The edit contains noticeable stitches, with numerous blackouts and frequent use of ADR, which becomes evident when the characters are framed in wide shots to conceal their mouths. If the intention was to create a seamless narrative flow, it seems unsuccessful; perhaps more careful editing could have yielded better results.

The initial prison assault by Kraven the Hunter effectively establishes a gritty, action-packed atmosphere, hinting at his ruthless nature. However, the film abruptly transitions into a lengthy, uneventful flashback, disrupting the pace and tension built up earlier.

This flashback offers us a generous amount of Russell Crowe’s accent portrayal, which is at least something. It appears that Crowe is relishing his role, occasionally omitting words like ‘the’ or ‘a’ to suggest a Russian tone, whether it’s scripted or not remains uncertain.

In a different take, one could argue that if Kraven the Hunter had discarded all backstory elements, it could have still been engaging solely as a father-son story. The Venom trilogy, despite criticism, knew its identity and catered to a specific audience. However, in this case, it’s unclear who will find satisfaction, as even the movie seems unsure of its own nature.

It’s possible that the main issue with Kraven the Hunter is that true fans of the character may be disappointed because this portrayal lacks any villainous or anti-heroic qualities, except for perhaps an obsession with hunting and killing. Without Spider-Man, he seems to lack a clear purpose as well.

In this adaptation, Kraven targets individuals who clearly warrant such treatment, avoiding any ethical dilemmas that other versions of the film might have presented. It’s evident that the characters Kraven pursues are truly wicked individuals. As for Calypso, she deviates significantly from her comic book persona and appears in the movie primarily to ensure a female character is included.

Who exactly is Kraven the Hunter aimed at? Definitely for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) who are completists, just like us. It might also appeal to those who prefer their comic book movies with a bit more violence. This film features some creative and gruesome kills, such as the clever employment of two bear traps and a log. Aaron Taylor-Johnson delivers yet another strong performance in the action scenes.

For some, that could suffice, but it’s tough not to envision Kraven the Hunter utterly missing his mark during this year’s Christmas celebrations. Welcome back, Venom; I pardon you all.

Kraven the Hunter is released in cinemas on December 13.

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2024-12-11 23:49