Kraven the Hunter review – put it out of its misery

Aaron Taylor Johnson puts in a solid effort in JC Chandor's disappointing addition to the Sony Spider-Man Universe.

It’s been just 10 months since I shared my thoughts on Madame Web, contemplating the challenges of being a superhero in 2024, and now both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, the key figures who helped establish the Marvel Cinematic Universe, are set to make their return to Marvel films. While it might be premature to say if this is yet another instance of the franchise struggling to find its footing, the tepid responses to every superhero project released since Spider-Man: No Way Home indicate that things may be falling apart.

Sony has been trying to figure out how to create a successful superhero movie for the last ten years. While they hold the rights to Spider-Man, their complicated licensing deal with Marvel prevents them from using certain characters, including Spider-Man himself, unless both parties agree. Sony actually has the rights to 900 comic book characters, so where's the problem? The majority of these characters are linked to Spider-Man in some way—whether they're ex-partners, family, friends, coworkers, alternate versions, or villains. It’s challenging to tell stories about these characters when most of them are inherently tied to Spider-Man's narrative.

On the other hand, the Venom series was a huge success for Sony, earning more than $1 billion globally at the box office, even though reviewers didn’t respond favorably. Tom Hardy poured his heart into this project, and his one-of-a-kind portrayal is what truly energized the Venom movies—something that's noticeably lacking in Sony's other spin-offs like Morbius and Madame Web. But maybe the third try will be different? What could go wrong with… Kraven the Hunter?

Renowned for being Spider-Man's nemesis with a fixation on hunting and fur, Sergei 'Kraven' Kravinoff has been a familiar character since 1964, consistently giving the web-slinger a tough time, even without any superhuman abilities. Kraven is driven by a desire to be the best hunter in the world, and for some strange reason, he sees Spider-Man as his ultimate target. (Has he considered just capturing him under a glass and sealing it with a postcard?)

In this updated standalone film, Kraven is portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who seems to be a puzzle that Hollywood can't quite solve. As a teenager, he gains lion-like superpowers after a big cat attacks him during a hunting trip in northern Ghana with his brother Dimitri and their father, Nikolai (played by Russell Crowe in a cravat and a Russian accent). A young woman named Calypso (later depicted as an adult by Ariana DeBose) saves him, giving him a potion passed down from her grandmother just moments before. After waking up with his newfound abilities, Sergei promptly turns down his father’s offer to take over the family’s crime empire and escapes to the Russian countryside. There, he lives in a beautifully transformed observation tower, seemingly unsupervised for the next 16 years. Additionally, he discovers that he can communicate with animals telepathically.

In the meantime, nerdy Aleksei Sytsevich (portrayed by Alessandro Nivola in an over-the-top manner) has been patiently waiting for his opportunity after being slighted by Nikolai during a disastrous hunting trip. He has taken on the name Rhino after undergoing a procedure that granted him tough, gray skin, and he aims to take over Kravinoff’s position as the top player in the criminal underworld. To achieve his goal, he recruits a mysterious assassin known as The Foreigner (played by Christopher Abbott in a detached performance), who has his own grievances against Kraven. To further his plans, Aleksei kidnaps Kraven’s brother, Dimitri (Fred Hechinger, having an unusual year in 2024), in a bid to make Nikolai look bad. Now, it’s up to Kraven to track them down.

It all comes off as absurd. Maybe it wouldn't matter as much if the film's writers, cast, and director embraced the silliness a bit more—as seen in the Venom movies—but Kraven the Hunter has a tone of seriousness that makes it a tedious watch, even with a surprising amount of violent scenes, including one featuring a bear trap. The fact that Kraven's motivation goes no further than hunting (specifically humans, since he’s portrayed as an animal lover this time) adds to the problem, and the bond between the Kravinoff brothers is so poorly developed that other characters have to spell out their feelings for each other. The exposition isn’t just awkward; it feels as if it’s been brutally tossed onto the floor like a hairball.

If there’s one positive note to mention about Kraven the Hunter, it’s that it’s not as terrible as Morbius or Madame Web. The cast does seem to be having a bit of fun, unlike in those other films where they looked like they were stuck doing community service at a struggling theater. However, just having a good time doesn’t compensate for a flimsy storyline, laughable CGI for the animals, awkward dialogue, and the unfortunate reality that Aaron Taylor Johnson resembles the Nightman when he goes into Beast Mode.

Little White Lies is dedicated to promoting outstanding films and the skilled individuals behind their creation.

As a member, you can help us maintain our independent journalism while enjoying special essays, artwork, film suggestions, and additional perks.

Released on December 11, 2024

Sure! Here’s a rephrased version of that section: Keywords: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, JC Chandor

A 14-month postponement must indicate something positive!

Not dull, but not for positive reasons.

The most unfortunate event for lions since the release of the live-action version of The Lion King.