Happy Hunting

The 2017 movie Happy Hunting is a thrilling dive into the grim worlds of addiction and debauchery, punctuated with the heart-pounding dread of unrelenting pursuit. Directed by Joe Dietsch and Louie Gibson, the film stars Martin Dingle Wall, Ken Lally, and Kenny Wormald, who together paint a vivid and cinematic tapestry of survival and desperation.

In the movie, Martin Dingle Wall plays the character of Warren Novak, an alcoholic drifter with a troubled past. Novak's life takes a plunge from bad to worse, when he receives a letter informing him of his estranged daughter's death, thereby forcing him to deal with the realities of his fractured past. His life, which had been dedicated to self-pity and self-degradation, is put on hold as he sets out to attend the child's funeral in Mexico.

Getting to Mexico, Novak finds himself in the desert border town called Bedford Flats. Initially, he sees the town as an innocuous stopover in his journey, a place to refresh, reminisce, and refill his booze bottle before continuing onto his final destination. However, he soon realizes that all is not as it seems within the seemingly sleepy town.

The veneer of civility in Bedford Flats peels away to reveal a deep-seated bloodlust. Every year, as part of a twisted tradition, the denizens of the town celebrate the 'Hunting' festival. Disguised as a game, this horrific tradition entails hunting down a selected 'human prey.' This year, the chosen prey is the outsider Novak, who must draw upon his every instinct to survive. The entire town, composed of ex-cons, reformed addicts, and morally bankrupt individuals, unite in their taste for blood and violence.

Ken Lally portrays the role of Steve Patterson, the seemingly benevolent leader of this deranged town. It is he who reigns over Bedford Flats and masterfully manipulates the townfolk into succumbing to their basest instincts. Kenny Wormald plays Junior Burnside, a native of Bedford Flats who also finds himself at odds with the town's sadistic recreational activity.

As the chase begins, Novak is first derided and underestimated. However, as the chase progresses, his innate survival instincts and tenacious spirit come to the fore. His fight isn't just for survival but also for redemption. In the face of death, Novak finds a strange clarity, an elixir for his years of chronic alcoholism and self-destruction.

Happy Hunting unravels as a satirical horror filled with adrenaline-pumping action sequences and psychological suspense. The desert’s harsh reality and the town's eerie desolation add to the unsettlement, creating a highly atmospheric setting. The ethos of the film is marked by savage survival instincts and delivers a dark metaphor on the lawlessness of society when humane boundaries are dismissed.

The movie takes inspiration from films like 'The Most Dangerous Game' and 'The Purge,' but it also retains an originality in the execution of its concept. The film explores themes of addiction, survival, and the brutality of human nature. The heart of the story, though, lies in Warren Novak's transformative arc. His struggle to outwit and outlast his pursuers forms the crux of the story.

The performances of the cast, particularly Martin Dingle Wall, are commendable. Wall, in particular, fittingly portrays the anguish, desperation, and eventual tenacity of his tortured character. The noir-style cinematography and sound design significantly enhance the film, contributing to a vivid, unsettling landscape. The potent combination of desperation, violence, and redemption served with a dash of horror makes Happy Hunting an unpredictable and intense ride from start to end.

Happy Hunting, while outwardly a 'survival horror,' is an examination of society's sinister underbelly. It is a critique of mindless violence disguised as tradition and the ease with which the horrors of reality can be accepted when wrapped in the shroud of normalcy. It offers an unflinching look at addiction and the extreme measures one might take to overcome it. For fans of thrillers and horror, Happy Hunting is a film that delivers a flood of adrenaline, non-stop action, and a starring lesson in survival.