FilmSnobReviews

Title: Happy Hunting
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Joe Dietsch, Louie Gibson
Starring: Martin Dingle Wall, Ken Lally, Kenny Wormald
Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

What It Is: When an alcoholic drifter gets caught in a towns deadly game of justice he’ll become the pray in something close to “The Deadliest Game” now with no weapons, no shields and not much in the way of bearings. He’ll be expected to figure it out quickly or be doomed to die in a desert alone. Much like the famous line from The Shawshank Redemption, he’ll have to “get busy living or get busy dying”.

What We Think: There’s some really good, palpable tension here. Most of the performances are okay, but nothing to write home about. I enjoyed the film but it really has some pacing issues. I loved the level of violence the film was at but thought it should have maybe pushed that a little further. I would have enjoyed seeing a bit more of a mental game between our drifter and a character with a sniper rifle. That would have made the tension too much to handle and pushed the film even further. Alas, it didn’t do that but it was still fairly enjoyable.

Our Grade: B, A good film but not a great one. It’s certainly a thriller that lives up to its lofty premise. This could have gone south rather quickly instead it stayed the course and Dietsch and Gibson tow the line in the sand that they made and don’t let the film get out of control. I can recommend others check this one out if you find the time. It should be on VOD somewhere near you making it easily accessible to everyone. Be warned though it can get really hairy and tense so bring your full attention.