The Hunt (2020)

Last updated:
December 23, 2025

The Hunt (2020) is a provocative, violent, and darkly comedic thriller that plays with political satire, social commentary, and survival horror. Directed by Craig Zobel and produced by Jason Blum and Damon Lindelof, the film became controversial even before its release, which only added to its cult reputation.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Opening: The Elite on a Plane

The film opens with a group of wealthy, well-dressed individuals flying on a private jet. Their casual, joking conversation hints at something sinister. One of them awakens mid-flight, gagged, only to be swiftly killed. The tone is immediately set: this is not a subtle movie.

The Waking in the Field

Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing with no memory of how they got there. A crate of weapons sits nearby. Confusion quickly turns into panic when some are suddenly killed by hidden traps and gunfire. It becomes clear they are being hunted for sport.

The victims are ordinary Americans from various backgrounds, many selected because of their social media posts or perceived political beliefs. This is where the film’s satirical edge becomes apparent.

Crystal Emerges as the Real Protagonist

While several characters appear to be set up as main leads, they are abruptly killed. The real protagonist, Crystal May Creasey, quietly observes, adapts, and survives. Unlike the others, she is calm, tactical, and highly capable.

Crystal’s behavior signals early on that she is not just another victim, and the film deliberately keeps her backstory vague to maintain tension.

The Hunters Revealed

The hunters are revealed to be wealthy, politically liberal elites who believe they are targeting dangerous extremists. The hunt itself originates from a leaked joke email about “hunting deplorables,” which spiraled into reality after backlash and paranoia.

Ironically, most of the people being hunted are innocent or misidentified, reinforcing the movie’s theme of dehumanization through ideology.

Escalation and Mind Games

As Crystal moves closer to the hunters’ base, she takes them out one by one using their own traps and weapons. The violence is brutal but often absurd, balancing horror with pitch-black humor.

The hunters’ confidence steadily collapses as they realize they underestimated their prey.

Athena Enters the Story

The film’s final antagonist is Athena Stone, the wealthy and calculating leader of the hunt. She believes Crystal is someone else entirely, a dangerous extremist who doesn’t actually exist. This mistaken identity becomes the core irony of the film.

Movie Ending

The final act takes place in Athena’s lavish manor. Crystal confronts Athena, and the two engage in a tense verbal and physical showdown. Athena insists Crystal was chosen for a reason, convinced she is a violent radical.

Crystal reveals the truth: she was selected by mistake. Her name simply matched someone else’s on a list.

The final fight is brutal, personal, and messy. Crystal ultimately kills Athena in a savage, no-nonsense manner, rejecting any attempt at moral justification or ideological debate.

Afterward, Crystal calmly helps herself to Athena’s expensive clothes, eats a luxurious meal, and boards a private jet. The final image is Crystal flying away, alive, victorious, and completely detached, leaving the audience to sit with the uncomfortable implications of everything that just happened.

The ending reinforces the film’s core message: when people become symbols instead of humans, everyone loses.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. The Hunt (2020) does not include any mid-credits or post-credits scenes. The film ends definitively with its final image.

Type of Movie

The Hunt is a violent survival thriller infused with political satire and dark comedy. It blends exploitation-style action with social commentary, often making the audience laugh and recoil at the same time.

Cast

Betty Gilpin as Crystal May Creasey
Hilary Swank as Athena Stone
Ike Barinholtz as Staten Island
Emma Roberts as Yoga Pants
Justin Hartley as Trucker
Glenn Howerton as Richard

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Nathan Barr, known for his work in horror and thriller genres. The music subtly supports tension rather than overpowering scenes, allowing silence and ambient sound to heighten discomfort.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed primarily in New Orleans, Louisiana, with surrounding rural areas used for forest and field sequences. The Southern landscapes enhance the isolation and unpredictability of the hunt, grounding the absurd premise in a realistic environment.

Awards and Nominations

The film did not receive major award recognition but gained significant attention for its cultural impact and controversy, especially in discussions around freedom of speech and political polarization.

Behind the Scenes Insights

The movie’s release was delayed after real-world mass shootings sparked controversy
Betty Gilpin approached Crystal as a working-class survivalist, not a superhero
The script intentionally misleads viewers about who the protagonist is
Hilary Swank joined late in production but helped shape Athena’s icy persona

Inspirations and References

Influenced by The Most Dangerous Game (1924 short story)
Satirical DNA from films like Battle Royale and Network
Political discourse culture on social media heavily inspired the script

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No alternate ending was filmed. Some deleted scenes expanded on the hunters’ planning stages, but they were removed to keep the pacing tight and avoid over-explaining the satire.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a book, though its premise closely mirrors classic literary hunting narratives. Unlike those works, The Hunt modernizes the concept with social media and political tribalism.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The sudden killing of the apparent main character early in the film
Crystal using misinformation to manipulate her hunters
The final fight inside Athena’s mansion

Iconic Quotes

Athena: “The only thing worse than being lied about is being right for the wrong reasons.”
Crystal: “You fucked up.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Character names reflect stereotypes rather than real identities
Crystal’s military knowledge is subtly hinted at early through dialogue
The animals used as traps mirror the hunters’ own lack of humanity

Trivia

Betty Gilpin did most of her own stunts
The film was shot in under 40 days
The script leaked online years before release
Jason Blum described the movie as “a Rorschach test for audiences”

Why Watch?

If you enjoy sharp satire, brutal survival thrillers, and uncomfortable truths, The Hunt is worth watching. It doesn’t preach; it provokes. Whether you love or hate it, you’ll almost certainly have something to say afterward.