KRAVEN THE HUNTER

US, 2024, 127 minutes, Colour.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Arianna DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, Levi Miller, Billy Barratt.

Directed by J.C.Chandor.

Kraven the Hunter was created by veteran Marvel Comics expert, Stan Lee. As the title suggests, he is a Hunter, literally of animals as well as of human beings, a foe of Spiderman.

The Spiderman series was made in collaboration with Marvel Studios by Sony. The Sony Marvel action films have been far less successful than the others, beers, Venom, Madame Webb and, now Kraven. In fact, Sony executives have commented that the press “crucified” Madame Webb as well as Kraven making them financial flops, both in 2024.

And, this is a pity with Kraven because it is actually an action show more than a superpowers show, even though Kraven himself has received the capacity for extraordinary climbs and leaps.

Perhaps the central character is not too sympathetic – although Morbius and Venom are not the most attractive superpower heroes.

The film opens strikingly, a convoy of prisoners in the Russian snow and isolation, a harsh Gulag, and Kraven, a sturdy presence and performance by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, suddenly appearing, killing several gangsters in the prison, escaping in a plane. And then this screenplay goes back to an origins story, 16 years earlier.

There are two young Russian boys in the New York elite school, visited by their father, a big Russian drug dealer played with quite some heft and heaviness by Russell Crowe. He makes demands on his sons, especially the older, Sergei (played here by Australian Levi Miller). On safari in Ghana, the young man is mauled by a lion, allegedly legendary, eventually killed by his father keeping it is a trophy. But, Sergei is saved by a mysterious African young woman, Calypso, with tarot cards and a special potion.

Sergei then becomes Kraven, isolating himself, living in Russia, a Hunter, able to be hired to pursue criminals. But, every year, he comes to New York to visit his brother, now a musician and lounge singer, in New York and some contact with his father.

Then various complications ensue, the abduction of the younger brother, the emergence of an arch-criminal, rivalling the father, Rhino (Alessandro Nivola who also has had some strange injections and, unless tempered, his skin becomes like that of a rhinoceros). He also hires a killer, The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott) who can mesmerise his opponents through gazing at them and overpowering them.

What follows is action adventure, the kind that Liam Neeson and other actors used to get involved in, scenes in Turkey, Russia, a rescue for the younger brother, double Cross, Calypso (Ariana DeBose) to the rescue… And a final confrontation with the father. And the importance for Kraven to establish his own moral code.

Which means then that the scenario is ready for an action adventure with Kraven and a confrontation with Spiderman.

1. Kraven and his place in marvel comics, as a hunter in himself, and the conflicts with Spiderman? This film is an origin story for Kraven?
2. The Marvel tradition, the hero, origin, superpowers, confrontations with the villains, personal relationships, testing, exercise of power responsibility, the temptation of the dark side?
3. The range of settings, link Russian countryside, Eastern Europe and the forests, Kraven space, the privileged school in the United States, the sequences in London, homes, the club, the monastery in Turkey? The musical score?
4. The introduction to Kraven, the prisoners, the bus, his challenge, in the prison, sharing the cell, three days, the fights and his abilities, confrontation with the authorities, the gang Lord, the deaths, the abilities of his escape, the flight?
5. 16 years earlier? The back story of Kraven and his brother, the elegant school in New York, their careers of the school, their future? The visit of their father, the demanding man? The story of their mother, Russia, the property, the decline, death? The father, domineering, his business deals, drugs?
6. The father and his expectations of his sons, Ghana, the hunt, testing his sons, the legendary lion, stalking, the attack, Sergei and the vicious mauling, the rescue? Healing? But the father killing the lion, having it a trophy in his home?
7. Calypso, a young girl, her grandmother, the tarot cards, the potions, the quest for her? Her seeing Sergei, attending him, his recovery?
8. Sergei, his retreating to Russia, alone, his home, his discovering his powers, superpowers, his skill as a hunter, his career, employed, hunting down criminals? The return to the Russian prison and his killing the criminals and his escape by plane?
9. The exercise of his powers, climbing, leaving…?
10. Kraven the Hunter, vigilante, returning to New York, his relationship with his brother, his brother in the club, pianist, singing, the visits from their father?
11. Dimitri, different, singing, his being abducted, the plan for the rescue?
12. The issue of the ransom, the father refusing to pay, Sergei going to see Calypso, her work as a lawyer, her contacts, getting information, willing to help Sergei?
13. The character of Rhino, seeing him as young and diffident on the hunt in Ghana? The experience, his being transformed, his skin like the rhinoceros? His power? His henchmen, his plans? The rivalry with Sergei’s father? The contact with The Foreigner?
14. The Foreigner in action, strong, his of hypnosis, the eyes? Swift movement, his attack? The money, wanting to lure Kraven, the information, Calypso given the false information? Dimitri imprisoned?
15. The action to Turkey, the taking of Kraven, the dominance of The Foreigner, the buildup to the confrontation?
16. Kraven, Calypso, the escape, the confrontation with his father, his father and the betrayal, the bear and the attack?
17. Rhino, the confrontation, his being destroyed?
18. The next encounter with Dimitri, his change of attitude, becoming more like his father, setting up a confrontation with his brother?
19. Kraven, getting the vest, the fur, from his father, ready for the future – and the conflict with Spiderman?