Hunted by Night and Checking the Watch: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by MTI Home Video.

Director/writer: Juan C. Bofill.

Cast: Jencarlos Canela, Al Galvez, Sonya Smith, Seth Gordon and Gabriel Porras.

You do not see many reviews of action thrillers on this site and after Hunted by Night, you will not read many more. This film was developed by stunt coordinator Juan C. Bofill to some very mild affect. A drug drop in the Florida Everglades goes wrong when three hunters intercept the cargo. The next hour and a half is just a cat and mouse interchange with gunfire. This review will serve as a warning: do not rent or buy this film!

Really, the story has already been summed up in the one sentence above. Simply, three hunters see a drug drop by plane and two vote for stealing the illicit merchandise. One is against it and of course this is the hero. He is also the only one to survive out of a cast of twenty or so. Oops, there is a spoiler. There are lots of well choreographed fights, some gunplay and some convoluted discussion of angels. Then, the film finally ends.

"This movie is terrible," "this is a D grade film," "the acting is awful" and "this movie is so bad" were some of the thoughts that went through this film fan's head. And within the first fifteen minutes there are audio level problems. The dialogue from outside locations is indecipherable. Then, once you have turned up the volume, the music booms through the speakers to startling effect. Can we get a competent sound man please? The film does not improve as the film highlights some of the worst acting in recent history. The premise is predictable and really the film is just setting up one action seen after the other. After all, this film was developed by a stunt coordinator, so what would you expect?

Do not expect a quality film in Hunted by Night and expect to walk away mildly angry as the film robs you of an entertaining night. Skip this one once it releases on DVD January 31st. The writing for this film is absent. Bofill's first feature is understandably an experiment and this experiment fails on several levels. Finally, a late message of protective angels ends this film in a laughable and inappropriately light fashion. After witnessing so many people killed, you would think there would be a stronger message than angels protecting mortals. Competent filmmaking this is not.

Overall: 5 out of 10 (audio issues, acting is atrocious, zero writing, most of the actors look like gym junkies).

*this was a painful watch.

**the DVD cover features helicopters, but there are none in the film?

Watch the film's trailer at the Hunted by Night fan page:

Hunted by Night on Facebook


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Posted in: 2012,action thriller movie preview,movie review,mti home video,thriller