For realsies this time.
The Universal and Blumhouse film has a new release date of March 13th, and a new ad campaign about how "the most talked about movie of the year is one that no one's actually seen".
The uncanceled film even comes with a brand-new trailer.
The most talked about movie of the year is one nobody’s seen yet. #TheHuntMovie opens in theaters Friday the 13th o… https://t.co/t5Cz6DVBFj— The Hunt (@The Hunt) 1581439964.0
The film is loosely based on the short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," where a man becomes trapped on an island owned by a rich and successful hunter who has grown bored with game hunting, and instead hunts humans for the challenge.
In the movie, 12 strangers who have shared conservative views online are kidnapped and hunted by rich elites. Everything changes when one of the hunted, played by Betty Gilpin, fights back.
The film was set to be released last year, on September 27, 2019. That is until it became mired in controversy.
In early August, the Dayton and El Paso shootings horrified the nation as the two events happened in less than a day of each other. The Hunt came under heavy criticism for its violence after this.
Two days later, Donald Trump tweeted his distaste for the film, causing it to be pulled a day later.
....to inflame and cause chaos. They create their own violence, and then try to blame others. They are the true Rac… https://t.co/r6f1K8zGkk— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1565376255.0
However, as we now know the movie wasn't canceled entirely. It has been scheduled for release next month, with a new ad campaign taking advantage of the controversy.
The change in release date came with a new poster that has quotes from negative news coverage of the movie, effectively providing all the advertisement this movie needed.
Decide for yourself. #TheHuntMovie opens in theaters Friday the 13th of March. https://t.co/LYYxDYHPo7— The Hunt (@The Hunt) 1581454893.0
"Exploitative rather than opinionated" – Daily Mail
"Shows Hollywood for what it really is, demented and evil." – Fox News
"Designed to stoke division in the country" – The Wall Street Journal
Obviously, this movie is an attack on Trump-loving Americans by the evil Hollywood bigwigs.
@TheHuntMov @UniversalPics I want you to know that I will be among the millions of people who will no longer watch… https://t.co/kjT4k3giIn— goldenmean (@goldenmean) 1581468973.0
@THR This movie is a disgrace and should not be allowed to be released!— Lori🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Lori🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸) 1581449095.0
Might just a well put another jihad bomber on the cover. This content is irresponsible even for America hating Holl… https://t.co/yHyfq1NEsx— Mr_Mic (@Mr_Mic) 1581487757.0
@THR Just in time for the democrats to lose massively, out comes this fantasized post election strategy of coordina… https://t.co/8uljDLoVY1— Melvin Ferd (@Melvin Ferd) 1581453233.0
However, these criticisms against the movie are missing the point. The "right wing" hunted are the protagonists and the "liberal" elites are the villains in this movie.
If you have a problem with the violence in this movie, sure, understandable. America has always had people protesting violence in movies and television.
I'm sure if that's the case, you also weren't a fan of the Death Wish remake.
But the main detractors have a problem with the apparent premise of conservatives being hunted for sport, like anyone in their right mind wants that. Killing conservatives is portrayed as a bad thing in this movie, and the liberal elites are unlikeable.
Also, The Purge series pretty much did the opposite of this as a hard-right wing party took over America and instituted what amounts to legal killing of the poor, so it's not like this kind of extreme satire is unheard of, let alone become popular.
I honestly don't understand people anymore.
I've seen #TheHunt. It's a pretty broad satire. Liberals are depicted as champagne-swilling, private jet flying eli… https://t.co/aW9zVDN5p3— Brent Lang (@Brent Lang) 1581441557.0
But any time someone says your a snowflake for having a critical reaction to movie -- just mention THE HUNT. Anyti… https://t.co/uEQxclOYNi— Ashley “Offramp to the Danger Zone” Lynch (@Ashley “Offramp to the Danger Zone” Lynch) 1581448774.0
@ozziebear224 @BreitbartNews Ozzie, those films exist they are called the purge and its sequels , there is even a t… https://t.co/HCAshuwMgE— bigballsofbritishfury (@bigballsofbritishfury) 1581465804.0
Did we all just collectively forget the Purge movies? It’s good if we did, but I would’ve liked an email about it. https://t.co/Ef4hqfuoQ3— Austin DuVall (@Austin DuVall) 1581459507.0
The Hunt is slated for release on Friday the 13th next month, a date I'm sure is in no way ironic. It stars Betty Gilpin, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank, Glenn Howerton and the nightmares of your weird conservative uncle.