Kraven the Hunter Review
Hopefully, Kraven the Hunter will be the last nail in the coffin for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
Kraven the Hunter. Credit: Sony Pictures
The latest movie in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, which would be more aptly named Spider-Man Adjacent since he’s not allowed to appear in the films, is J.C. Chandor’s thrice-delayed Kraven the Hunter. Originally slated for January 2023, it is finally in theaters this week. It’s not a good movie, but at least it’s better than the hilariously bad Madame Web released early this year.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and a younger Levi Miller portray Sergei Kravinoff, also known as Kraven. After a near-death experience while hunting lions in Africa with his Russian mobster father, Nikolai (Russell Crowe), and his fragile brother, Dmitri (Billy Barratt/Fred Hechinger), Kraven is reborn with animal-like strength and physical prowess due to a comically deus ex machina plot point where Calypso (Diaana Babnicova/Ariana DeBose) administers a mystic herbal potion. Disgusted by his father, Kraven flees to the wilderness, where he meticulously trains to become the legendary Hunter—a boogeyman who murders underworld figures. Once a mobster is on Kraven’s list, there’s only one way to escape: death.
Kraven the Hunter. Credit: Sony Pictures
A positive thing I could say about Kraven is that it might be the film in the franchise that makes the most sense without Spider-Man. While Kraven is a Spider-Man villain, his origins are unrelated to the web-slinger or spiders. Moreover, his character motivations in the movie suggest he has no reason to hunt Spider-Man, as he’s known to do in the comics. I also enjoyed the new depictions and characterizations of the other villains adapted in the film, though I won’t spoil those details.
Kraven the Hunter delves into family drama, but it doesn’t explore these relationships deeply. Kraven feels guilty for leaving his sensitive brother with his ruthless father, who values strength and fearlessness above all else. While the brotherhood provides personal motivations for some of the film’s action sequences, we don’t spend enough time exploring these dynamics. After the first act ends, Russell Crowe’s tyrannical Nikolai Kravinoff is mostly relegated to the background. Additionally, a rather enjoyable cold open loses its energy due to the overly long and comparatively dull origin story, where all the family dynamics are established.
Kraven the Hunter. Credit: Sony Pictures
The film features some enjoyable but not entirely original action sequences. They’re fun in the moment but aren’t particularly memorable, with the exception of a mid-film sequence where Kraven chases a van on foot. The special effects are mediocre at best; some of the action suffers from a degree of weightlessness that makes it feel less grounded. The graphic violence I assumed earned the movie its R rating is isolated and doesn’t add much; it’s so over the top that it feels out of place.
Kraven could have used another pass at its script, not just for some cringy dialogue but particularly regarding Calypso’s inclusion. Just as she appears out of nowhere as a teen in the first act, she reappears as an investigative attorney in the second half of the film when Kraven walks into her life out of the blue. As it stands, the movie wouldn’t suffer from her removal. I would’ve liked to see Ariana DeBose have more to do as a real character rather than a plot device.
Kraven the Hunter. Credit: Sony Pictures
You won’t miss much by skipping Kraven the Hunter, as it appears that it might be the last movie in Sony’s franchise. If you decide to see it, don’t worry if you’ve missed the rest of the movies because, unlike Marvel’s films, none are connected (except Venom, as a trilogy).
Kraven the Hunter opens in theaters on December 13, 2024.
