It’s time to say farewell to the SPUMC.
With the announcement that the studio is putting an end to their cinematic universe, Sony has signaled the end of their ambitious ‘Spider-Man adjacent’ set of films. Since the release of Venom in 2018, films like Madame Web and Morbius have been met largely with increasing disappointment from fans online. Now, with the release of Kraven the Hunter as the final film in their universe, Sony has finally waved the white flag. However, though the announcement seems like they’re mercy killing Kraven at the box office, it’s also possible that this hunter deserves a better fate.
Directed by J. C. Chandor, Kraven the Hunter tells the story of Sergei Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a young man who lives in the shadow of his brutal and abusive father, Nikolai (Russell Crowe). After a tragic accident (and fateful encounter) leaves him almost dead, Sergei finds that he has been gifted with superhuman abilities that mimic those of the animal kingdom. Now, determined to chart his own path, Sergei leaves on his own, abandoning his younger brother in the process. Taking on the name of Kraven, Sergei becomes determined to not only become the greatest hunter in the world, but also to use those gifts to avenge those in need.
Despite what some are saying on the interwebs, there’s actually quite a bit to like about Kraven. While it never quite reaches the over-the-top enjoyment of the Venom films, Kraven has some ridiculously fun action sequences. Whether he’s climbing underneath a moving vehicle or taking down a horde of baddies in the hallway, Kraven takes no prisoners with bloody aplomb. There’s a certain frenetic energy to these moments that actually give the film life. (In fact, the scene with the beartrap actually made me gasp with glee.) Leaning into the R-rated potential of the franchise, Chandor manages to bring the fight when necessary.
Moreover, Taylor-Johnson steps into the fur coat with enthusiasm. While Dakota Johnson and Jared Leto stumbled in their Sony/Marvel debuts, Taylor-Johnson brings a charisma to his character that keeps the film moving. For an actor that has been long rumoured to be in the running for the next James Bond, Taylor-Johnson shows some of the characteristics needed to lead a franchise (even if it isn’t Kraven). With a smirk on his face and brutality in his fists, Taylor-Johnson completely commits to the film, even in its silliest of moments.
Unfortunately, the rest of the film does have a number of holes that keep it from resurrecting the SPUMC. Despite a script backed by the screenwriters of such projects as the Equalizer films and Iron Man, Kraven’s story simply packs far too much within it to leave a lasting mark on the audience. Multiple ‘super’ characters, a forced love interest and poorly integrated plot threads never come together coherently. This has long been a struggle for superhero films like Iron Man 2 and The Amazing Spider-Man that want to build larger universes. In this way, Kraven clearly has aspirations of being Sony’s next major franchise but hasn’t invested enough in the stories that could elevate it to something meaningful.
What’s more, even with some solid work from Taylor-Johnson and, to a lesser extent, Russell Crowe, the remainder of the cast struggle to make things work. Performances by Christopher Abbott, Alessandro Nivola and the always delightful Ariana DeBose simply appear disinterested throughout the film. (Although, to be fair, Nivola is clearly having the most fun out of the supporting cast.)
However, what’s most frustrating is that Kraven seems to have something to say. Within the father-son-son dynamic, the film has so much opportunity to mine the notion of power, legacy and, above all else, true strength. Their relationship is rife with toxicity, leading Kraven to walk away in order to ‘do the right thing’. Despite his violent nature, Kraven has a ‘moral code’. He is determined to use his ‘special set of skills’ to serve the public, even if it takes the form of being a mercenary. But, once again, the screenplay gets bogged down with its own ‘epic-ness’ to truly bring the film to the next level.
Nevertheless, even though there are those on the internet who are berating Kraven the Hunter, I refuse to pour gasoline on the fire. Despite some glaring flaws, Kraven still provides some memorable moments that fire up the fury. Though one can’t deny that the film’s unfocused screenplay misses its target, leaving the SPUMC with another misfire for its final act.
Kraven the Hunter is available in theatres on Friday, December 13th, 2024.
