Introduction to The Request of the Hunter
The movie "The Request of the Hunter" is now climbing the charts on Prime Video after being one of the largest cash failures of 2024. The film was only able to contribute $62 million against a budget of $110 to $130 million worldwide during its cinema release. In addition, critics were very hard on the film, giving it a dark score of 15% on Rotten Tomatoes.
A New Life in Streaming
Despite the bad reviews, the film has found a new life in streaming when it recently made its way to the top 10 in New Zealand on Prime. The audience seems to be far more forgiving, with the film having a much better 72% public score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s slowly gaining a reputation as one of those "so bad, it’s good" films that work perfectly on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s intense performance was one of the few things noticed in the film, and now that he recently played in the critically acclaimed main role in "28 Years Later", it seems like fans are going back to see more of his work.
The Timing of the Film’s Release
The timing also works in "The Request of the Hunter’s" favor because superhero films are having a revival thanks to the latest hits "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" and "Superhuman". With this dynamic, which circles the audience to projects that went under the radar, "The Request of the Hunter" is now benefiting from this second wave of attention. Part of the revival of the film also follows from the fact that it was not as chaotic as other entries from the Sony Spider-Man Universe. It avoided clumsy attempts to bind itself into Spider-Man traditions like "Madame Web" and skipped uncomfortable post-credits scenes like "Poison" and "Morbius". Instead, it tells a mostly self-contained story about a ruthless father who trains his son to become the greatest hunter in the world, with blood-soaked fights, an animalistic anger, and a family feud that drives the entire film.
The End of the SSU Franchise
Although it is one of the stronger entries in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, "The Request of the Hunter" marked the end of the struggling franchise. The SSU had already stumbled after the failures of "Morbius" and "Madame Web", and "The Request of the Hunter’s" bad box office sealed its fate. The focus of Sony has now shifted to the animated "Spider-Verse" films, the Tom Holland-led "Spider-Man" films in the MCU, and a live-action "Black Spider-Man" series with Nicolas Cage, which is currently developing at Amazon MGM.
Where to Watch
"The Request of the Hunter" is available to stream on Prime Video. With its unique blend of action, drama, and suspense, it’s a film that’s worth checking out, especially for fans of the superhero genre. Despite its initial failure at the box office, the film has found a new life in streaming, and its reputation as a "so bad, it’s good" film continues to grow.
