Death Hunt

Death Hunt
1981
Directed By Peter Hunt



SYNOPSIS

A trapper (Charles Bronson) interrupts a dog fight and forcibly buys one of the injured dogs in depression-era Canada. The dog's (ex) owner (Ed Lauter) and his buddies go out to seek revenge. The group attacks him and the trapper kills a man. The local head Mountie (Lee Marvin) must take him into custody even though he realizes the shooting was in self-defense. But the trapper is not going down without a fight!



MY THOUGHTS

Death Hunt is essentially a western that's relocated to the Canadian wilderness, swapping desert sand for snow.

The denizens of this cold environment aren't too different from those in the old west. They're poorly educated, drink and carouse with the few women around that are available, and are quick to anger and to draw their gun.

Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin are the same tough hombres that they always were. The script offers little if any chance for them to modify or build on their screen images, but really why would it be necessary? A wise man once said "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The film does, however, drop them into a new environment. The cinematography of the open lands of Alberta looks beautiful. The camera shows off much of the land while still focused on the story much like John Ford's views of Monument Valley in his countless western greats.

Death Hunt is not without it's flaws.

The characters spend most of the film outdoors in the snow, but rarely, if ever, actually look (or act) cold. If they're supposed to be 'braving the elements,' maybe someones teeth should chatter or they would mutter "I reckon it's cold" but this never happens. Despite living in the harsh environment, I doubt the men rarely spend their nights sleeping outside.

Angie Dickinson appears in essentially a cameo role as Marvin's girl. Not only is the role completely beneath her as an actress (anyone could have played it just as well,) her scenes are completely unnecessary and slow down the film. They should have been left on the cutting room floor. Death Hunt isn't a sweeping action epic that can mix fight scenes and romance like an old Errol Flynn film.

It's far from a great film, but Death Hunt still has it's moments and they help make it an entertaining action-thriller.