‘Kraven the Hunter’ Stumbles With Disastrous Reviews, Fails to Stand Out in Superhero Genre or SSU

‘Kraven the Hunter’ is set to release this Friday as part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. After the disappointing performance of ‘Madame Web,’ expectations for this movie are fairly low.

The film will focus on Kraven, one of Spider-Man’s most famous villains. While details about the plot are scarce, there are hints that the movie might adapt the famous ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt’ storyline from the comics.

Aaron Taylor Johnson and J.C. Chandor spent the last several weeks begging people to come and watch the movie. Some worrying reports however claim that their marketing efforts are in vain as ‘Kraven the Hunter’ is bound to be SSU’s last live-action movie for the time being following a string of failures.

Now review embargo for the movie has been lifted and the first reviews are pouring in. It’s not good. Currently, based on 35 reviews, the movie holds just a 11% approval rate – meaning it’s rotten.

Reviews are generally negative. Critics mention that the film could have ended the Spider-Man Universe with more dignity but instead falters. The performances of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and others are praised, but they are limited by a weak script.

The movie struggles with a messy plot, poor visual effects, and a confused tone, unable to decide whether to be dramatic or comedic.

The lack of clear direction and ambition makes the film feel tired and uninvolving. Some critics feel it’s close to being the worst of the non-Spider-Man movies in this universe.

The real tragedy surrounding “Kraven the Hunter” isn’t that it promises a future that will never be, but that it could’ve allowed itself and the universe to which it belongs to go out with some dignity.

Bill Bria, The Wrap

Chandor and Aaron Taylor Johnson deserve better, frankly, but they also both read this screenplay and still signed on. They push beyond the boundaries that have been set up for them, but they can only do so much.

Rodrigo Perez, The Playlist

We don’t know whether Kraven the Hunter is truly the final bow of the SSMU. It is undoubtedly a self-inflicted killshot.

David Fear, Rolling Stone

It’s tough to state that this is the worst of the not-quite-Spider-Man batch, but it’s darn close, as the whole movie is one big mess trying to stand up straight as a superhero epic.

Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

A clunky, crowded script, muddy visual effects, and glaringly obvious ADR bog down a promising premise. It’s not camp enough to become a cult classic, and it lacks the conviction to carry its most ambitious ideas to the finish line.

Lyvie Scott, Inverse

This all feels a long way from Chandor’s glory days of Margin Call and All Is Lost. Save the occasional flourish, Kraven The Hunter is limp, tired, uninvolving superhero fare.

Ian Freer, Empire Magazine

It’s a largely joyless affair, and can’t seem to decide on a dramatic or comedic tone, let alone a blend of the two… Rarely has a superhero movie featured this many talented performers phoning it in. But with such bland material, can you blame them?

Siddhant Adlakha, Polygon

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