The new trailer for Kraven the Hunter has debuted, and early reviews are not encouraging. While star Aaron Taylor-Johnson certainly looks the part, the project seems gripped by the same self-seriousness that sank another Spider-villain's project: Morbius, whose tone rapidly reduced it to an internet punchline. The Kraven movie has drawn comparisons to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, with its protagonist able to communicate with animals, similar to Jim Carrey's comedic sleuth.
The comparison may actually hold the film's saving grace. Marketing can readily present a film as something it isn't, and the powers that be at Sony are clearly committed to the dubious idea of giving every Spider-Man baddie a stand-alone movie. The two Venom movies -- particularly the sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage -- embrace the camp potential of their content and escaped the drubbing that Morbius received. Kraven the Hunter could take the same tactic, something the marketing wishes to hide. If that's the case, the Ace Ventura comparisons could be extremely apt.
Let There Be Carnage Leans Into Humor
Sony's folly when it comes to the Spider-Man movies isn't hard to figure out. With the IP rights to only one hero and his supporting cast, its spent the last decade attempting to mount a semi-independent superhero universe of its own. Hope for that largely ended with the middling box officer of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, though the animated Spider-Verse movies have picked up the ball and ran with it. Nevertheless, Sony continues producing live-action villain movies to heavily mixed results, even as Spidey himself has soared under Tom Holland and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Let There Be Carnage, at least, appears to understand the folly of the exercise. Director Andy Serkis zeroes in on the best parts of Venom's less-than-successful formula: notably the odd-couple pairing of Eddie Brock with the homicidal space parasite that gives him his powers. Spider-Man: No Way Home takes note of that energy, too, with Tom Hardy's winning mid-credits cameo. The resulting sense of knowing camp gives it a properly over-the-top energy, aided by Hardy's lively performance and some inspiringly funny moments during the movie's first half. It struggles to maintain that edge before settling into a more routine third act. But it embraces its own absurdity and becomes a good deal more entertaining in the process: a lesson lost on the po-faced Morbius.
Ace Ventura May Be Kraven the Hunter's Saving Grace
Ace Ventura focuses on the title character's unique affinity with animals, allowing Carrey to springboard into his signature manic physical comedy. Kraven shares his unique connection to the wild, and the trailer appears to set up a conflict with his game-hunting father, played by Russell Crowe. Ventura has a similar vendetta against poachers and hunters, giving the two characters a more than passing connection. Assuming Kraven the Hunter takes itself seriously, that spells Morbius levels of trouble: he's already become a joke.
Let There Be Carnage suggests another path is possible, however. By playing up the character's campier elements, Kraven the Hunter can find the same kind of gonzo nuttiness as its predecessor. If that's the case, then the Ace Ventura vibes are likely by design, and what the trailer bills as a serious look at the character might be something more self-effacing.
There may even be content from the comics to back it up. Kraven was considered a bit of a clown among Spider-Man's foes before the groundbreaking Kraven's Last Hunt storyline. Playing up his funnier side could set up a future movie storyline like that, as well as making for a more entertaining outing this time. Ace Ventura may very well point the way to such a development, depending on how much the movie leans into it. The only question is how accurate the trailer is to the final product.
Kraven the Hunter opens in theaters on Oct. 6, 2023.