The film was also low-key one of the most controversial films of recent years.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Monday, 22 July) is The Hunt, the 2020 overlooked action thriller gem.
The film sees 12 working class strangers wake up in a remote clearing with no idea where they are or how they got there.
It turns out they have been kidnapped by ruthless elites (the leader of which is played by two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby) who have gathered to hunt the 12 for sport.
One of those kidnapped – an army veteran named Crystal (Betty Gilpin, GLOW) – decides to fight back, however.
Co-written by Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and directed by Craig Zobel (Mare of Easttown), the release of The Hunt was overshadowed both by Covid-19 and the movie becoming embroiled in a controversy involving then-US President Donald Trump.
Though the politician didn’t name the movie, he appeared to accuse it in a Tweet ahead of its release of being made “in order to inflame and cause chaos”. You can read more about this right here.
The Trump controversy led to the film dubbing itself in its marketing “the most talked about movie of the year no one’s actually seen”.
The Hunt also had its release delayed as a result of the Dayton and El Paso mass shootings in 2019.
It’s a shame the film was overshadowed by these events because it’s a solid, mean-and-lean horror action thriller that boasts a phenomenal lead turn by Gilpin, along with a strong dose of satirical black comedy and a great supporting cast.
The latter includes Emma Roberts (American Horror Story), Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl), Glenn Howerton (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Ike Barinholtz (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) and Macon Blair (Blue Ruin).
The Hunt is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 11.35pm. It is also available to rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Rakuten TV and the Sky Store.
Here are the other movies on TV tonight:
Top Gun: Maverick – Film4 – 9pm
The modern classic we recommended last week.
The Wall – Legend – 9pm
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena star in this war thriller as two American soldiers trapped by an Iraqi sniper.
Ride Along – Sky Showcase – 9pm
In this decent buddy comedy, Ice Cube takes Kevin Hart on a… ride-along.
Anthropoid – TG4 – 9.30pm
Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan headline this gripping WWII-set drama based on true events as two agents who plot to kill a high ranking Nazi official.
The World’s End – ITV4 – 10.45pm
The third, final and most underrated entry in Edgar Wright, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s Cornetto Trilogy of movies, which also includes the classics Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.
Cold Skin – Legend Xtra – 10.45pm
In this atmospheric period horror, a young man arrives at a remote island to take the post of weather observer only to find himself defending his new home’s watchtower from deadly creatures which live in the island shores.
Jagged Edge – Legend – 10.50pm
A lawyer (Glenn Close) gets in over her head when she reluctantly takes up the case of a publisher (Jeff Bridges) accused of murdering his wife for her money in this terrific legal thriller.
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