Most Dangerous Game is an engaging survival thriller that draws the audience into the action-packed game of life and death, discussing the moral, desperation and human strength issues. The novel revolves around a man called Dodge Tynes, who is diagnosed with a terminal condition and accepts to be part of a deadly hunt so as to have a secured future financially of himself and his family. The movie has a non-stop motion with little to no dialogue, with action scenes that are bloody and very realistic and an aura of grittiness that empowers you to feel what Dodge is going through in his quest to survive. The screenplay is an even see-saw between commendable suspense and seeing the characters, which makes the voyage of Dodge a personal yet emotionally touching experience.
On a visual level, the movie is exquisite, with rather blunt direction and cinematography contributing to the mood, with shadows and light being important in accentuating the weakness of Dodge, and the darkness all around that may come at any moment. The score is powerfully urgent and every heartbeat, every chase, and practical effects are added to make the brutal encounters have a gritty realism. The actors provide a powerful performance, especially the multidimensional depiction of Dodge and the unique characters of the hunters, which makes it difficult to predict in any of the confrontations and morally ambiguous. The supporting actors provide the emotional overtones, the last desperate attempt of Val to reach her husband, the raising stakes.
The strongest aspect of the film that played in my mind was the morality in extreme situations. Watching Dodge evolve as a man who desperately wants to gain financial stability to a man who dreams to survive was painful and empowering at the same time. With the few recognizable survival cliches and situations that might have been developed further, the visceral nature and depth in the film make it an experience that is hard to forget. Most Dangerous Game is a fearless exploration of human desires, which make the audience think how far they would sacrifice to protect the people they love and is an adventure to watch to the very end.
