The Hunted (2014)

Plugging Bow Tech a presenter and camera man go to the wilderness to film a hunting documentary about a famous buck called 'Movie Star' but encounter the local legend. Not to be confused with The Hunted (2003) what starts out as a hunting documentary turns into a paranormal investigation horror. Off the bat and clear from the outset is that actor Josh Stewart (who also wrote and directs) is outstanding as hunting documentary maker Jake. Although some may be put off by the pro-hunting angle (although morally it could be seen as a cautionary tale about why you shouldn't hunt), this aside, it's one of the better found footage films out there and best viewed in the dead of night with the volume up high. The direction by Stewart is spot on and you get a good idea of the logistics and surrounding area of the setting. The camera work is crisp in keeping with the low budget but quality shoot of the pilot episode that they are filming. The images are not blurred or have too much out of focus shaky cam work, this works different to other features of the same genre, in as much as everything Slough dark at times is clear, but nothing is given away. Thankfully there's no collage kids, Stewart's script is very believable as it is more about the documentary about the buck rather than the encounters. The hunting lodge supporting cast lend credence to the film.There's added music which is reminiscent of the ghost hunting type programmes that have sprouted up over the years, which suggests their footage has been edited for broadcast. This debatably maybe an error but it can be left at the door. As well as the night on location shoot, there's creepy photos and sounds but it's the actors which sell this spin on the usual Blair Witch template along with the sound design, footstep, wails and shrieks of a disembodied woman voice which is much of the backbone hook throughout. What it lacks in visual representation of the antagonist it makes up for with Josh's excellent convincing performance as they come to terms that something isn't right in woods, stream and surrounding area.The Hunted is one of the better examples of how a tired sub-genre still has some life in it.

The phrase "pretentious drivel" comes to mind. Nothing happens in this film. Let me repeat that - Nothing happens. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. If your idea of a scary film is hearing a woman scream in the woods, do yourself a favor - find some woods close to your home, go there at night with a woman you know, and ask her to go into the woods and scream. You'll waste far less time than if you viewed this pitiful excuse for a "thriller". Trust me - I LOVE horror films (and I've been a fan for 54 years, and have seen 'em all). Watching paint dry is far more exciting. The really scary thing is that there are those who think this crap is worth making. They should be ashamed of themselves. Please, please don't waste your time - there are far better films to see. Avoid this at all costs !! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!

Josh Stewart tries his hand at directing, and what better type of film than yet another found footage horror film, when you have little to no budget - but is this really Josh Stewart's film? Or did Forrest Patterson beat him to the punch with his very own found footage horror film - 'Crybaby Bridge?' In order to find the answer, I'd have to put a little more effort into the issue, but since neither film will be remembered five minutes after you see the credits, who really gives a damn? However, both plots are nearly identical, minus one hunter (that should hold up in court.) Josh Stewart is the bigger name, though, so I'm sure no one will ever notice, even if he did rip off the material.Random Ramblings of a Madman: I'm a sucker for found footage horror films, for some odd reason. 'The Hunted' isn't a total disaster, although, I'm sure some people will be unsatisfied with the unseen presence throughout the film. You can look at it two different ways - 1. Josh Stewart ran out of budget, or 2. Josh Stewart has a different view on what a ghost really should look like (If anything at all.) I'm going with the latter here. I'll chalk this one up as another watchable, badly made found footage flick.

Josh Stewart needs to be blacklisted from ever taking part in the film making process again! This is not a profession he belongs in. Criminal charges should be brought against him. The producers should be blacklisted. This was so very bad! Why didn't someone stop him? A primary schoolchild would have done better. He started of well and there was so much potential for a good ending. Really, my life is so much poorer from having viewed this and I now have to remove these minutes from my memory banks. Hopefully there is some home Electro Convulsive machine available or a process to scrub my memory. Why would this probably nice man, make such a movie and why would anyone fund it?