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Review: ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Closes Out the ‘Spider-Man’ Spin-Off Franchise with a Whimper Rather than a Roar
December 12, 2024Ben MK
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With ten films spanning two decades, Spider-Man has proven to be the crown jewel in Sony's superhero cinematic universe. However, when it comes to the studio's spin-off franchise focusing on the web-slinger's rogues gallery, things haven't been nearly as shiny. Whether it's Tom Hardy in the Venom trilogy, Jared Leto in Morbius, or Dakota Johnson in Madame Web, the series has been consistently bemoaned for its lackluster takes on these classic comic book characters. And now, with Kraven the Hunter, the Spider-Man spin-off universe is officially coming to an end, as Aaron Taylor-Johnson takes on the mantle of one of the web-head's most primal and formidable nemeses. Following the same familiar formula as its predecessors, the movie tells the story of Kraven (Taylor-Johnson), a vigilante trying to escape the demons of his own past by avenging the wrongs committed against the innocent. Born Sergei Kravinoff, Kraven gained the powers of enhanced agility and superhuman strength after he was attacked and nearly killed by a lion while on safari in Northern Ghana with his mobster father, Nikolai (Russell Crowe), and half-brother, Dmitri (Fred Henchinger). Fortunately for him, however, a young girl named Calypso also happened to be there. And after saving Kraven's life with a powerful healing potion handed down to her from her grandmother, she and Kraven would again cross paths a decade-and-a-half later. Now an investigative lawyer in England, Calypso (Ariana DeBose) has spent the last few years of her life since that fateful day working at a legal firm in London. Soon, though, she'll find herself joining Kraven on his adventure in Eastern Russia, as he embarks on a violent mission to confront his enemies and solve a mystery involving himself and his family. Enter Aleksei Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), another Russian mobster and a man with a vendetta against Nikolai. Once an ordinary criminal, Aleksei also gained superhuman abilities, after undergoing a procedure to make him stronger and virtually unkillable. Now going by the alias of Rhino, Aleksei has a personal interest in uncovering the true identity of the hunter known as Kraven. And when he discovers that Kraven is none other than the eldest son of one of his most despised competitors, he launches an operation to bring him in. Enlisting the help of all the goons in his employ, Rhino sets out to kidnap Dmitri and use him as bait to lure Kraven to his own demise. But will Kraven allow himself to become the hunted? Or will he turn the tables on his opponent, ensnaring Rhino in his own web of deceit and setting the stage for the supervillain he's destined to become? Directed by J.C. Chandor and written by Richard Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, the result isn't a bad film per se, but rather a mediocre one bogged down by more than its fair share of bad creative decisions, the first and foremost being the decision to cram not one or two, but a whopping five Spider-Man villains into one movie. As if including Rhino and Calypso, in addition to Kraven, wasn't enough, the story also wedges in an origin subplot for the Chameleon, as well as a small role for the Foreigner, setting what might very well be a new record for the most supervillains in one comic book adaptation. If this juggling act was done properly, this might not have been an issue. However, Kraven all but completely botches that challenge, half-heartedly handling each character's arc and ultimately leaving viewers baffled and dissatisfied with the outcome. Toss in some less-than-spectacular CGI and plot holes so big that you'd think that Doctor Strange himself was going to step through them, and the result is a spin-off that's more on par with Morbius than Venom. That said, for moviegoers who have few qualms about quality, there's enough cheesy fun to be had to make this a guilty pleasure. Make no mistake, it's a far cry from the heights of any of the Spider-Man entries. However, if you're in the mood for mindless comic book action, Kraven might just be the movie you're preying for. Kraven the Hunter releases December 13th, 2024 from Sony Pictures. The film has an MPAA rating of R for strong bloody violence, and language. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 7 min. |
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