The satirical horror film “The Hunt,” starring Hilary Swank and Betty Gilpin, stirred up significant controversy when it was first announced. The movie’s plot centers around 12 strangers being hunted by ‘globalist elites,’ which some saw as a political commentary targeting right-leaning individuals, depicting wealthy liberals hunting conservatives.
Due to its provocative nature, the film’s release was delayed in 2019 after facing backlash. This was especially true after two tragic mass shootings in the U.S. in August of that year. These incidents, one in El Paso and the other in Dayton, led to the deaths of over 30 people. As a result, Universal Pictures decided to pause marketing efforts and delay the film’s scheduled release, initially set for September 27, 2019.
The decision to cancel the release was made after what the studio called “thoughtful consideration.” However, the film’s controversy grew after President Donald Trump’s comments. While he didn’t directly mention the film, Trump criticized Hollywood for producing movies that, according to him, were designed to “inflame and cause chaos.” These remarks, along with coverage from conservative media like Fox News, framed the film as an attack on conservatives.
Critics pointed to the use of the term “deplorables,” famously used by Hillary Clinton to describe some of Trump’s supporters, as evidence that the film targeted conservatives. This added to the heated debate over the film’s message.
Despite the film being delayed, its creators emphasized that it was intended to be a satire, not a political statement. Director Craig Zobel described it as “fun, funny, and not super dark.” However, the political climate made it clear that the timing of the release was problematic.
Seven months later, the film was re-released with a new tagline: “The most talked about movie nobody has ever seen.” This sparked more discussion, with some praising the delay while others criticized the irony of banning a movie about violence while guns remain unregulated in the U.S.
Ultimately, The Hunt remains a polarizing movie, reflecting deep political and social divides in the United States.