Hunting Grounds

What started out as a "B" movie with some unintentional B movie laughs turns into an over the top, violence beyond belief, Grimm Fairy Tale. It was a real turn off.

Film is about a mother named Chloe (Emily Alatalo who looks like an Anna Kendrick clone in this) fleeing her mob-connected husband named John (Nathaniel Wainman), who finds shelter with a drifter named Jake (Tim Rozon) who is a former special forces soldier who got a section 8, but as her husband's men close in, Jake proves more dangerous than anyone she's running from.

Like a cheapo horror film, the villains can be shot and beaten multiple times but always come back until the very end.

I gave it one star for Emily Alatalo and the fact she looks a lot like Anna Kendrick in this film. Other then that the film is a complete lemon.

I had the opportunity to watch the 2025 action thriller "Hunting Grounds" here in 2025, without ever having heard about it. But the fact that it was a movie that I hadn't already seen was more than sufficient to make me sit down and watch what director had to offer Derek Barnes.

Writers Derek Barnes, James McDougall and James Mark put together an enjoyable script. The narrative proved entertaining, and there was a surprising amount of violence in the movie. I don't mean over-the-top amount, but the movie definitely had its share of visceral violence. The storyline is nicely written and constructed, making the audience feel like they are right there in the forest alongside Chloe (played by Emily Alatalo) and struggling with her.

A bit of a surprise here, as I saw that the movie had Tim Rozon on the cast list, I do like him in movies. The only familiar faces on the cast list, for me, were Tim Rozon, Jon McLaren and Greg Bryk. The acting performances in the movie were good.

If you enjoy action thrillers, then "Hunting Grounds" is actually a movie that I would recommend. I was genuinely entertained throughout the course of the 89 minutes that the movie ran for.

My rating of director Derek Barnes's 2025 movie "Hunting Grounds" lands on a well-deserved six out of ten stars.

I didn't recognize any of the actors in HUNTING GROUNDS, nor the director. But the movie was really fun to watch - interesting plot, a woman seeking justice all alone in the woods, a rescue hero who becomes a problem, and finally revenge that is well overdue. Plenty of surprises here, as well as nice photography and music score.

I happen to enjoy kick-ass females who, against all odds, manage to exact revenge against evil men. That's this movie, and much more.

The feminine lead "Chloe" here carries the day, and "Jack" is equally good at playing a former green beret who has lost his way. Be sure and give this a look. I recommend it.