Mel Gibson’s Action Thriller Comeback Hailed as a “Surprisingly Effective” Return to Form

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Mel Gibson, known for his roles in films like Lethal Weapon and Payback, is back in a new action thriller. Critics are praising the film as a strong return to form for the actor, calling it a “surprisingly effective” and exciting ride. After facing significant career setbacks and being largely absent from Hollywood for much of the 2000s, Gibson is making a comeback, and fans of his action movies are sure to be thrilled.

Mel Gibson returns to action thrillers with Hunting Season, where he finds himself in a familiar role – protecting his daughter after they take in a woman with a dangerous past. Soon, they’re caught up in a conflict with a powerful drug lord, forcing Gibson to rely on his signature skills. Critics, like Julian Roman from MovieWeb, praise the film as a solid, slow-burn action movie and recommend giving it a watch.

Mel Gibson delivers a strong performance in the action thriller Hunting Season, playing a protective father who finds himself and his teenage daughter in danger after a good deed goes wrong. The movie builds slowly, taking time to develop the characters before unleashing intense violence. While the story is straightforward and doesn’t offer many surprises, it’s surprisingly engaging. You’ll quickly become invested in the father and daughter and find yourself rooting for them as they fight back with plenty of action and firepower. It’s a classic tale of family values, revenge, and a whole lot of guns and grit.

Early reviews are positive for Mel Gibson’s performance, with critics highlighting his charisma as a key element of the film. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter noted Gibson keeps the predictable plot engaging, and praised the director’s action sequences. Aaron Peterson from The Hollywood Outsider called Gibson’s performance strong and complimented Raja Collins’s deliberate pacing, ultimately describing the film as a familiar but effective thriller.

‘Hunting Season’ Is Now Available on Digital Streaming


Samuel Goldwyn Films

While Mel Gibson’s return to action thrillers with Hunting Season has some positive aspects, reviews are mixed. Brian Orndorf from Blu-ray.com noted the film has moments of dramatic strength and surprising violence, but also suffers from poor acting. Casey Chong of Casey’s Movie Mania commended Gibson’s powerful performance, but ultimately described the film as a slow-paced action thriller.

The new thriller, Hunting Season, directed by Raja Collins and written by Adam Hampton, is now available in theaters and digitally. It stars Sophia Hublitz, Shelly Hennig, Jordi Molla, and Gibson. The film debuted on December 5, 2025, and you can find a summary of the plot below.

The discovery of a strange woman washed up on the riverbank dramatically alters the lives of a spirited twelve-year-old girl and her overprotective father when they take her in. Their lives are further complicated by a dangerous drug lord determined to eliminate her.

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2025-12-05 17:09