The Hunted - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

In William Friedkin's The Hunted, the tension-filled cat-and-mouse game between a skilled assassin and his relentless pursuer has all the right ingredients to be a gripping high-stakes thriller. Unfortunately, while it offers a few exciting action sequences and a smattering of tension, the film ultimately falls prey to a paper-thin storyline and performances that fail to captivate. The screenplay, which involved three writers to complete, has the potential for an exhilarating ride through the rain-soaked streets of Portland and the serene forests of Silver Falls, cleverly juxtaposing the tranquil natural beauty of the region with brutal, urban-style combat. Friedkin touches on some deep-rooted themes of man versus nature and complicated father-son relationships, turning the stunning backdrop of the Pacific Northwest into a dramatic battleground and a high-octane showdown. However, we soon realize that the plot feels more like a fleeting whiff of smoke than a dense forest.

The movie kicks off with a promising premise: a seasoned government tracker Sergeant First Class Aaron Hallam (Benicio Del Toro) goes rogue and is pursued by his former mentor, L.T. Bonham (Tommy Lee Jones). The chase first unfolds through the lush greenery and mist-covered mountains of Oregon, serving as an eerie and unpredictable playground for their deadly game. The fight scenes are meticulously choreographed with a raw, visceral energy and palpable tension that keeps the adrenaline pumping — we can practically feel the rush of an impending chase scene as characters dart through trees or engage in combat. Friedkin's direction here is top-notch with camerawork and editing that has us on the edge of our seats as the two men dance around each other in a lethal ballet. However, amidst all the thrills and excitement, the story just doesn’t take the time to flesh out a compelling story or engaging characters. 

The narrative is as dense as the forest itself yet littered with plot holes big enough to drive a log truck through. The script is all very by-the-numbers and crafted with more attention to the action set-pieces than to a good story or character development. Granted, there are some heart-pounding moments, but they often feel like smoke and mirrors attempting to distract from the thin storyline. And this is a real shame, as the potential for a complex psychological thriller is squandered in favor of predictable twists and a lack of depth. The characters are painted with broad, uninspired strokes, and their motivations often feel forced or unconvincing. Del Toro's brooding intensity is wasted on a character whose backstory is as murky as the river they navigate. Jones's usual gruff charm can't save a role that's as one-dimensional as a cardboard cut-out, and Connie Nielsen as FBI Special Agent Abby Durrell fails to leave much of an impact despite her best efforts.

It’s not that the acting is terrible. It just doesn’t reach its full potential, littered with clunky, expository dialogue that does little to help us invest in the characters or emotionally connect with their circumstances. Instead of rooting for either of the two modern-day warriors, I felt more like an observer watching events unfold from a distance — entertaining, yes, but somewhat hollow. In the end, The Hunted is a bit like a wooden rollercoaster with a few thrilling moments that are overshadowed by the creaking and rickety track beneath it. The stunning visuals of the region and a few moments of tense, high-octane chases can't quite compensate for the movie's glaring shortcomings and inconsistent pacing. But at the same time, I have to admit that Friedkin's action thriller is passable mindless fun on a lazy Sunday afternoon. When in the mood for action draped over beautiful scenery, the film delivers. The ride is occasionally exhilarating, but the journey is ultimately forgettable. (Movie Rating: 3/5)

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Kino Lorber brings William Friedkin's The Hunted to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack. The triple-layered UHD100 disc and a Region A locked, BD50 disc are housed inside a black, eco-elite vortex case on opposing panels, and the package comes with a slipcover. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen of the cover art with the usual options along the bottom and music playing in the background.

The tension-filled game of hide and seek unravels on 4K Ultra HD thanks to a new remaster of the original 35mm camera negatives, and the results are marvelous, boasting finely detailed images with sharp, well-defined edges and allowing for better appreciation of the action sequences. The HEVC H.265 encode showcases a remarkable contrast and brightness balance, showering every scene in brilliantly clean whites and crisp, vivid specular highlights. Black levels are lush and deep, and the darkest corners maintain excellent visibility. Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the Dolby Vision HDR presentation boasts a vivid, true-to-life color palette with richly saturated primaries and full-bodied secondary hues. Facial complexions appear natural with strong, lifelike tones in the cast and are highly revealing throughout. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 88/100)

The hunt continues into home theaters with a fun and engaging DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Imaging displays an enjoyably wide and welcoming soundstage with plenty of clear background activity that effectively and smoothly moves between the three front channels. A clean and extensive mid-range allows for clear, precise dialogue and excellent detailing during the many action sequences while the low-end offers a substantial oomph and a weighty impact, providing some appreciable presence to the visuals and climactic showdown. The surrounds are occasionally employed, nicely expanding the soundfield with notable activity but doesn't quite pull the viewer into that immersive territory, feeling more like a solid backdrop for the thrill ride. Overall, it’s a good lossless mix that perfectly complements this decent action thriller. (Audio Rating: 84/100)

Bonus content has been ported over from the previous DVD and Blu-ray releases. Only the commentary track is shared between both discs while the rest is housed in the accompanying Blu-ray copy.

• Audio Commentary by director William Friedkin
• Filming The Hunted (SD, 9 min)
• The Cutting Edge (SD, 9 min)
• Pursuing The Hunted (SD, 8 min)
• Tracking The Hunted (SD, 4 min)
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 10 min)
• Trailers (HD, SD)

Set against the serene, mild-mannered backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, William Friedkin's The Hunted has all the right ingredients to be a gripping high-stakes thriller. Unfortunately, the cat-and-mouse game between a skilled assassin and his relentless pursuer fails to captivate and engage audiences with its paper-thin storyline and surprisingly bland performances. The action thriller arrives on 4K Ultra HD with an outstanding Dolby Vision HDR presentation and an enjoyable DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Featuring the same collection of supplements as before, this UHD edition is Recommended.

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