Many studios have tried to make their version of the Japanese film “Battle Royale”. The controversial 2000 film depicts a disciplinary program implemented by the government to deal with unruly youth in a dystopian future where the economy has collapsed. Students are dropped on an island where only two rules apply: 1. Kill your friends 2. Be the last one standing.
With “The Hunt,” it took on a more political tone. Wealthy liberals hunt down the so-called deplorables for sport. The film features some very familiar faces, like Emma Roberts, Glenn Howerton of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” fame, and two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank. Yes, Swank’s presence in a film like this is a whole other story in terms of where her career has gone since “Million Dollar Baby.” If the plotline is jarring to you, well, fear not; the studio has pulled it, for now, citing the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton (via Fox News):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8IifEu67yU
Universal Pictures has canceled the September 27 release of the controversial film “The Hunt” following significant criticism of the film, which depicted privileged vacationers hunting “deplorable” individuals for sport.
NBC’s Universal Pictures, which shares parent company Comcast with NBC News and MSNBC, told Fox News on Wednesday that the film’s marketing campaign would be “temporarily paused” in the wake of the deadly shootings in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and Gilroy, California.
[…]
…in a statement issued to Fox News on Saturday, a Universal Pictures spokesperson said: “While Universal Pictures had already paused the marketing campaign for The Hunt, after further consideration, the studio has decided to cancel plans to release the film.
“We support our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films with bold and visionary creators like those behind this satirical social thriller, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film.”
Okay — it’s not like this was a must-see movie, and I doubt even the most ardent anti-Trump voter would spend $13 or so to see it in a theater. These movies, with the exception of Royale, just aren’t very good. The plot’s been done before, or you’ve seen some version of it.
Other than that, I’m a little disappointed. I don’t like banning things. And I think conservatives should frosty down the outrage machine on this issue; there are much, much more critical things to deal with. It shouldn’t shock us that some liberals want us dead. That’s the left in 2020. We’ll deal with it by re-electing Trump. I don’t want to follow Obama’s “don’t boo, vote” mantra here, but let’s get a grip. We’re America, not China. We can produce and spend whatever we want. That’s free speech, and this movie should remind us to do one thing next year: vote Republican. Also, keep your powder desiccated in case something really gets out of hand in the news cycle.
