Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, TSG Entertainment II, Arad Productions and Matt Tolmach Productions’ Kraven The Hunter (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; A) is the story of a ruthless hunter.
Kraven alias Sergie Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is the son of Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), a drug trafficker, who had wanted Kraven and his half-brother, Dmitri (Fred Hechinger), to take over his business. Quite early on, Kraven had run away from his father to a sanctuary owned by his mother in Russia. Sixteen years later, Kraven, who has become a vigilante on the hunt for criminals, travels to London for half-brother Dmitri’s birthday. Dmitri is captured by mercenaries but dad Nikolai refuses to pay the ransom. That’s when Kraven tracks down Calypso (Ariana DeBose), a voodoo priestess who had healed him 16 years ago and is now a lawyer. She collaborates with Kraven to help him. Meanwhile, Dmitri meets the man behind his abduction, Aleksei Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), a Russian mercenary who can transform into a human-rhinoceros hybrid.
Now, Aleksei and the Foreigner (Christopher Abbott), an assassin who uses ocular hypnosis to disorient his targets, join forces to kill Kraven, but instead, Foreigner and Aleksei are killed by Calypso and Kraven. Now Kraven realises, his father is not above board, and he leaves him to be killed. A year later, Dmitri discovers what had happened to his father and disowns Kraven.
Richard Wenk has written a routine story based on Marvel Comics’ character. The screenplay, penned by Richard Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, has moments of excitement and thrill but there are also points when the drama becomes dull and a bit boring. Some parts are predictable too. The emotional quotient is low.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has done well in the title role. Ariana DeBose is quite good as Calypso. Fred Hechinger performs ably as Dmitri. Alessandro Nivola makes his mark as Aleksei Sytsevich. Christopher Abbott is alright as the Foreigner. Russell Crowe is first-rate in the role of Nikolai. Levi Miller (as young Sergie Kravinoff), Diaana Babnicova (as young Calypso), Billy Barratt (as young Dmitri), Masha Vasyukova (as Kraven’s mother), Guillaume Delaunay (as Mofo) and the others provide the desired support.
J.C. Chandor’s direction is good in parts only, because the narration is unable to hold the audience’s attention all through. The background music (by Benjamin Wallfisch, Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine) is effective. Ben Davis’ cinematography is impactful. Action and stunt scenes afford thrill but not consistently so. Eve Stewart’s production designing is of a good standard. Chris Lebenzon and Craig Wood’s editing ought to gave been sharper. Dubbing is proper.
On the whole, Kraven The Hunter is a fair entertainer but the dubbed Hindi version will do very ordinary business because there isn’t much awareness and excitement for it and the merits are also limited.
Released 1-1-’25 at Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay by Sony Pictures Films India Pvt. Ltd. Publicity: poor. Opening: dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was below the mark at most of the places.
