Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Hunt to Kill

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Vulgarity and violence against women in lame action flick.

Movie R 2010 97 minutes
Hunt to Kill Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

bowkerratedr
bowkerratedr Adult
August 1, 2011
age 18+

Daniel's review

this is just a review from some tree hugging kind of guy who is against any sort of violence and swearing in any way. I watched the film and didn't think it was overly violent. if it was it would be an 18. enjoyable movie if you don't take things to seriously ( like Jeffrey M. Anderson )
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Jim Rhodes (Steve Austin) is a former border patrol agent who retreated to the woods of Montana after the brutal death of his partner (Eric Roberts) in a meth lab explosion. Meanwhile, a group of criminals pulls off a successful heist, but is betrayed by one of their number; he takes the money and heads for the same woods. The bad guys, led by the sadistic Banks (Gil Bellows), need a guide, and they happen upon Jim's grumpy, rebellious daughter Kim (Marie Avgeropoulos), whom they take as a hostage. Jim agrees to see them through the woods, biding his time and waiting for the right moment to rescue his daughter and turn the tables on the trigger-happy goons.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This Steve Austin movie is a good deal simpler and more streamlined than his earlier attempts, incorporating elements from action franchises like Rambo and Die Hard. The setup isn't bad, showing the Austin character's backstory, as well as introducing an interesting band of mismatched criminals, each with a particular skill or personality trait. The "deep-in-the-woods" premise offers endless possibility, and the whip-smart villain Banks (Gil Bellows, from Ally McBeal) keeps the heroes on their toes.

However, the filmmakers drop the ball, finding the quarry too early and leaving no room for anything but a brain-dead shoot-out. The setups for the fights are ludicrous, and coincidences and implausible events abound. The relationship between Jim and Kim is bizarre, with her choosing the strangest moments to throw tantrums, and the film has a sickening penchant for violence against women. Any goodwill conjured up in the first half is ultimately demolished.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. How did it affect you? Was it thrilling? Was it disturbing? Where does it cross the line?

  • Kim thinks her father should have moved against the bad guys earlier than he did. Was she right? Why did Jim Rhodes wait so long before acting? What purpose did this wait serve for the movie?

  • Talk about how women are portayed in this movie. Did you notice any stereotypes?

  • The bad guy, Banks, is both smart and dangerous. Did he seem like a real person? Or was more one-dimensional? Were any of the movie's characters realistic?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate