“Kraven the Hunter” is a “Spider-Man” spinoff based on the character of the same name. Effectively marking the end of the Sony Spider-Man Universe, director JC Chandor makes his best effort to salvage the remains of this long-struggling cinematic universe.
The story follows the titular Kraven (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who ends up near death from being attacked by a lion on safari. He is then given a lifesaving potion from the enigmatic Calypso, which also imbues him with animal-like strength, speed and senses.
Though not as well-known as Venom (whose own Tom Hardy-led trilogy concluded earlier in the year), Kraven is a character that is nearly as old as Spider-Man himself, first appearing in the year 1964 during the original Stan Lee/Steve Ditko run of the comics. While not the biggest name in Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, this morally gray hunter has been given compelling depictions everywhere from the fan-favorite 1990s animated series to last year’s best-selling “Spider-Man 2.”
Compared to the likes of Michael Morbius and Cassandra Web, there is more material to work with for a standalone spinoff. Yet, in terms of quality, the film shares more in common with this year’s “Madame Web” and 2022’s “Morbius” than the highly-acclaimed “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and the massive smash hit “Deadpool and Wolverine.” Despite the R rating and a budget upwards of $110 million, the direction and visual effects have the look and feel of a straight-to-VOD production.
Even with the best efforts of the cast and crew, it’s clear the director is out of his depth and that the script from Art Marcum and Matt Holloway—whose previous comic movie credits include 2008’s “Iron Man” and “Punisher: War Zone”—does little to rock the boat of the last 20-odd years of superhero genre fare. Not even the talented cast can save the film, with Ariana DeBose being a bright spot as Kraven’s partner Calypso. Still, it’s not hard to imagine the film gaining a cult following for the unintended hilarity.
While the ending heavily hints at a sequel, the recent announcement that Sony will not be pursuing further theatrical spinoffs has functionally put an end to the idea; talk persists of the characters’ rights reverting to Marvel. With Sony shifting their focus to the highly-anticipated “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” as well as a handful of television spin offs instead, “Kraven the Hunter” marks a hilariously messy end to the Sony Spider-Man Universe.
At a glance:
Directed by JC Chandor
Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott and Fred Hechinger
Rated R
My Rating: ★★
