Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: Sacred Beast
Cast: Sudheer Babu, Bharath Niwas, Srikanth, Chitra Shukla, Mounika Reddy, Goparaju Ramana and others
Music: Ghibran
Cinematographer: Arul Vincent
Editor: Prawin Pudi
Director: Mahesh Surapeneni
Producer: V Ananda Prasad
Release date: Jan 26th, 2023
Sudheer Babu came up with the suspense thriller 'Hunt'. Let's evaluate the film by examining its strengths and weaknesses.
Story:
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Arjun Prasad (Sudheer Babu), is investigating the high-profile, daylight murder of his fellow ACP and personal friend, Aryan Dev (Bharath). After suffering a memory loss in a road accident, he rejoins his office with the assistance of his friend and superior, Mohan (Srikanth). As Arjun works to uncover the truth behind his friend's murder, he discovers a startling revelation. The film follows his quest to identify the killer and understand their motives.
Performances:
Sudheer Babu has been given a part with plenty of potential. Overall, he performs well. He once again demonstrates that he is capable of action stunts. His impressive physique and rigorous training are impressive and motivating. Srikanth is acceptable as a supportive friend. Bharat, who is known from the film Premisthe, seems to be an ill-suited fit for his role. Mime Gopi is underutilized in a poorly developed character. Kabir Singh as a military officer doesn't resonate with the audience. Mounika Reddy is decent as a colleague on Sudheer's team. Goparaju Ramana as the senior police officer Murthy is adequate. Chitra Shukla as Aryan Dev's girlfriend Nivetha has a surprise twist at the end. Aryan Dev's family is merely filler.
Crew:
Hunt tells the story of a murder mystery through a straightforward narrative. The screenplay alternates between different events and characters, with some intense moments in the beginning but becoming chaotic in the latter half. Despite being a debut film for director Mahesh Surapaneni, it only partially succeeds. However, Ghibran's background score is noteworthy. On the other hand, the inclusion of an item number by Apsara Rani, which was intended to provide a break from the serious tone, fails to entertain and feels out of place in relation to the story. The film's technical aspects, such as Arul Vincent's camera work and Prawin Pudi's editing, are executed well.
Hits:
The first half of the film has some tense moments and engaging initial investigation scenes.
Misses:
The friendship between the characters is not portrayed with enough emotion.
The murder motive is not well-established and feels unnatural.
The second half of the film is not as gripping as the first half.
Deeper Look:
Hunt is a crime thriller that is a remake of the 2013 film Mumbai Police. The film follows a police investigation into the murder of Aryan Dev, with the killer's identity concealed until the end. The story is told through nonlinear storytelling and flashbacks, but the film falls short in establishing the emotional bond between the three friends and the importance of the murder case.
The initial suspects in the murder are not portrayed as being suspicious enough and the terror sequence in the middle of the film feels disconnected from the main narrative. The climax features a shocking twist in the murder motive which may not be well received by the audience. The pacing and momentum of the film is also not sustained throughout and the film suffers from a lack of effective storytelling.
Overall, Hunt has its shortcomings and does not fully meet the expectations of the audience.
Vox Verdict: Missed
