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A controversial movie about privileged vacationers hunting “deplorables” for sport is ruffling feathers more than a month before its scheduled release and after tragic mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.
“The Hunt” is billed as a satire that follows wealthy thrill-seekers taking a private jet to a five-star resort where they embark on a “deeply rewarding” expedition that involves hunting down and killing designated humans. The Hollywood Reporter reported on Tuesday that “Universal is re-evaluating its strategy for the certain-to-be-controversial satire” following the shootings after ESPN reportedly pulled a trailer for the film that had been previously cleared to air on the sports network.
“The violent, R-rated film from producer Jason Blum’s Blumhouse follows a dozen MAGA types who wake up in a clearing and realize they are being stalked for sport by elite liberals,” THR’s Kim Masters wrote. “It features guns blazing along with other ultra-violent killings as the elites pick off their prey.”
“The Hunt” is billed as a satire that follows wealthy thrill-seekers taking a private jet to a five-star resort where they hunt “deplorables” for sport.
According to the Hollywood trade publication, characters in the film refer to the victims as “deplorables,” which is what Hillary Clinton famously dubbed Trump supporters during the 2016 election. The report noted that a character asks, “Did anyone see what our ratf–ker-in-chief just did?”
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“At least The Hunt’s coming up. Nothing better than going out to the Manor and slaughtering a dozen deplorables,” a character responds, according to THR.
DePauw University professor and media critic Jeffrey McCall told Fox News that the movie is “harmful to a culture that surely needs messages of unity and understanding” during the current climate.
“It says something sad about the state of the ‘entertainment’ industry that this movie ever got conceived and produced. Hollywood clearly thinks it is OK to stereotype so-called deplorables and set them up for a hunt,” McCall said. “Thank heavens some sensible outlets are pulling the promotional ads.”
“The Hunt” stars Betty Gilpin and Hillary Swank, who play characters who represent “opposite sides of the political divide,” according to Masters, who added that it was originally titled, “Red State vs. Blue State.”
“The Hunt” is scheduled to hit theatres in September but honchos are reportedly reconsidering amid tragic mass shootings.
Political satirist Tim Young makes a living by poking fun at topical issues, but thinks “The Hunt” goes over the line.
“Why would anyone think it’s a great idea to have a movie about hunting down someone who doesnt agree with them politically? It’s remarkable to me that the left blames Donald Trump’s rhetoric for violence, then literally spends millions to normalize the killing of people based on politics,” Young told Fox News.
“We’re told over and over again by the left, especially in Hollywood, that this country is more divided than ever and we need to come together… is this what they mean by it? Come together to murder your neighbors that you don’t agree with? This film is sick and shows just how hateful the left has become,” Young added.
ESPN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At least two trailers for the film are online but it remains unclear if Universal Pictures’ Blumhouse Productions will proceed with other planned advertisements.
“A high-level insider says top executives want to stand by Blum, one of the studio’s most prolific and successful producers, as well as filmmaker Craig Zobel, and see the project as a satire addressing an issue of great social importance. But this person says plans could change ‘if people think we’re being exploitative rather than opinionated,’” Masters wrote.
The Hollywood Reporter reported on Tuesday that “Universal is re-evaluating its strategy for the certain-to-be-controversial satire.”
Universal Pictures did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This certainly shows Hollywood for what it really is — demented and evil. At a time when journalists try to blame President Trump for every act of violence in the world, wannabe Tinseltown terrorists are making sick murder fantasies about right-wingers,” Media Research Center vice president Dan Gainor told Fox News.
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A trailer that was published by The Daily Mail reveals that the victims are from areas that typically vote Republican, while a hunter declares “We pay for everything, so this country belongs to us.”
“While some trailers for the film have been pulled, there’s an internal debate deliberating the film’s next steps,” Daily Mail’s Lauren Edmonds wrote. “But decisions will need to come fast, as there’s a promotional blitz planned in September.”
“The Hunt” is scheduled to be released on Sept. 27.
“The executives at Universal and those even willing to promote this or run ads for it, should know better than to promote political violence,” Young said.
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