'Hunt', produced by Bhavya Creations, was released in theatres today. Here is our review of the latest box-office release.
Plot
Arjun (Sudheer Babu) is an ACP who forgets his past after a near-fatal road accident. His life turns topsy-turvy. He falls back on his friendly boss Mohan Bhargav (Srikanth as a Commissioner of Police) for succor. Given his professional commitment and bonhomie with ACP Aryan (Bharath of 'Premisthe' fame), Arjun wants to crack Arya's murder case at all costs. This puts on a path strewn with terror suspects, hired guns, assassins and more.
Who killed Aryan? Can Arjun recall his past and put the pieces of the puzzle together? Is there more to the murder than meets the eye?
Post-Mortem
This film is an undeclared remake of the 2013 Malayalam hit 'Mumbai Police'. If you want to watch 'Hunt' either in a theatre or on OTT, steer clear of trying to know about its plot. There is a nice twist out there and it is best watched without knowing a thing about the plot. The twist comes with a dramatic heft. There is an element of guilt and paranoia involved.
This thriller moves like a police procedural for a good part of the running time. And it is in these portions that the screenplay really flounders. There is no sense of urgency anywhere. And the audience don't wait for Arjun's next move with anticipation.
The action sequences are accentuated by adept stunt choreography. Renaud Favero and Brian Wiziar, who have been associated with Hollywood, do a fine job. It seems a lot of footage was edited out; the fights were shot in Paris over a span of a mere five days. The action scenes don't last long; there is no high that comes from them despite the skilled choreography. Sudheer Babu's conviction, bulging biceps and body add a layer of masculinity to the proceedings, making the action look sharper than they are. But then, the overall feeling is underwhelming.
Ghibran's mellow background score is not elevated properly. Even Arul Vincent's measured cinematography doesn't quite make 'Hunt' a distinct Telugu-language action thriller. One wonders if it has something to do with the absence of racy screenplay.
Debutant director Mahesh Surapaneni deals with a ready-made plot in a rather dull fashion. The bond between the three friends doesn't get through. Srikanth's chemistry with both Sudheer Babu and Bharath is too superficial to be taken seriously. The emotional core of the plot hasn't been fleshed out at all.
Closing Remarks
'Hunt' is the kind of film that hinges everything on its plot twist. There is no high point that comes until this twist. As a result, this film becomes a one-trick outing.
