Hounded

This is another take on The Most Dangerous Game (which isn’t a spoiler as even a cursory glance at the poster gives an idea of what is in the film) of which there are many and will continue to inspire. What sets Hounded apart from the other adaptations is that it is very English with a very English approach.

So we have youngish people Chaz (Malachi Pullar-Latchman), Leon (Nobuse Junior), Vix (Hannah Traylen and Tod (Ross Coles) with various degrees of criminal background (none to ‘you are a habitual criminal’) who have got some targeted jobs from an unscrupulous antique dealer (Larry Lamb). A successful job sees them offered another. However the first job was to pay for Chaz’s university fees, all co-ordinated through his brother Leon, so he is reluctant to do another. The other two are more comfortable to go ahead.

The house belonging to Katherine Redwick (Samantha Bond) is enormous and out in the country and the viewer will be primed as soon as the see the hunting trophies and photos of fox hunts. needless to say it all goes wrong and the group are caught drugged, put in the back of a van and released in the middle of nowhere. Redwick castigates them for the attempted robbery of her house, with some class (as in working and lower) rhetoric. They are then left on their own to make their way back to civilisation.

Tramping through the fields confused they hear the sound of a horn, dogs and on the horizon, riders wearing blood red jackets on horses. They, as the viewer, now know what the stakes are and as the saying ‘the game is afoot’.

Hounded is Tommy Boulding’s debut feature, written by Ray Bogdanovich and Dean Lines, and while a little derivative, is fun and has a few well-placed jokes – the face of one of the thieves when they come across a corded round dial telephone is priceless.

There isn’t a lot subtlety here either in the social comment, the targets or the violence.
What does come across more than anything else is the cast having a good time. This is obvious with the script with the posh elements provided with some ripe dialogue as they try to justify their actions and reminisce of more tyrannical times. Equally the banter between the thieves is choice with Vix getting many of the best lines.

This review was for Hounded’s world premiere at London FrightFest 2022. Signature Entertainment will present Hounded on Digital Platforms from 31st October