If you thought the Avengers universe had extended storylines, then you are in for a treat with the Spiderman extended universe. Every other character from the Spiderman comics is getting a franchise.
Although we are here for it, Morbius was a low blow to the legacy. Without a coherent goal to the plot, the movie lacked structure, failing to grab the audience’s sentiments like the other Marvel movies.
And now, Sony has pulled out yet another ace from their sleeves, hoping to create a successful franchise like Venom.
The first look for Kraven the Hunter has been released, and we are dissecting every frame.
Kraven the Hunter: First Look
Kraven the Hunter: Trailer
So, there’s a lot to unpack–
- First off, the trailer is riding off Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s back as he channels the animalistic Kraven. It is the story of Sergei Kravinoff, a weak kid who navigates his journey after getting superhuman abilities.
- Origin: It’s the classic father-does-not-accept-his-son-because-he-is-projecting-his-insecurities. He abandons a wounded Sergie on the safari when a lion attacks him; Happy Father’s Day to him. Moving along, the lion’s blood penetrates through one of his wounds, and Sergie wakes up with apex predator abilities. He also seems to have gained the power to communicate with animals (Doctor Dolittle, who?). He uses this power to hunt down his target list.
- The trailer also shows a glimpse of his twin brother, Dmitri Smerdyakov (Fred Hechinger). He becomes the master-in-disguise Chameleon.
- Russell Crowe is convincing as the god-complex grandeur crime lord who is “training” his sons to eradicate mercy from their dictionary. His annoying philosophy of weakness will be his ultimate weakness leading to his doom.
- We also see Voodoo priestess Calypso, played by Ariana DeBose. She seems like the voice of reason in the testosterone-filled trailer.
- In the very last moments of the trailer, you can even see a peek of Rhino.
- Kraven is starting his hunt as a counter-action to his father’s misdeeds. Simply put, he is hunting the bad guys. But the trailer emphasizes one quote: “Villains aren’t born. They are made.”
What does it mean? Let us analyze his arc.
Is Kraven a Villain or a Hero?
Sergie was always the more reasonable kid who wanted to save his mother from his megalomaniacal father. Her family has abandoned her because the patriarch thinks “she is weak in the mind.”
He wants to retaliate against his father, but his shortcomings in strength, power, and age have bound him to toxic dynamics.
But the final straw was when he got confirmation that his father would never accept him as he was left to die. This is the first character development as he sets out to rectify his father’s crime ring by brutally killing his minions. You can say– he is the hero here.
However, with every cross off his list, his righteous actions turn into antics. The killings become more unhinged, and his regard for human lives keeps decreasing. This is where the quote comes into play– that he is gradually becoming what he hates.
Kraven is part of the supervillain team Sinister 6 in the original comics. So yes, ultimately, he is a villain.
Why is Kraven the Hunter R-rated?
Just watch the trailer again. The gruesome slashing with bear traps doesn’t seem like an ideal day out for 13-year-olds.
The trailer also shows a scene where Kraven rips off a man’s nose with his teeth; that was awesome, ngl.
Overall, it is a creative decision to show brutality to depict the authenticity of an animalistic character. And that is why Kraven the Hunter is the first R-Rated Marvel movie.
Why Is Kraven So Strong?
Kraven got his abilities when the drop of a lion’s blood mixed with his DNA. It happened with Spiderman, too, with his radioactive buddy.
As a result, Kraven emulated the power of a lion which means he has superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, and longevity. He also dons cool weapons to annihilate his prey or the bad guys. This deadly combo makes him a ruthless hunter, way better than his puny father.
What do you think of the trailer? Do you prefer R-rated action scenes? What do you think of the plot from the trailer?
Let us know your opinions in the comment section below.