Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uninspired, violent, somewhat troubling thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hunting Season
What's the Story?
In HUNTING SEASON, Bowdrie (Mel Gibson) and his daughter, Tag (Sofia Hublitz), live a quiet life in a cabin in a small town called Antlers. They hunt, fish, and keep to themselves. One day, after fishing, Tag discovers a wounded woman in the woods (Shelley Hennig). They take her inside, fix her up, and learn that her name is January and that she'd been shot and left for dead. Her roommate, Liz (Scarlet Rose Stallone), was killed due to her involvement with someone named Jensen. Jensen, in turn, has unwisely crossed powerful crime lord Alejandro (Jordi Mollà). Bowdrie realizes that if Alejandro finds out that January is still alive, they could all be in trouble.
Is It Any Good?
There's not much that's new or fresh in this creaky story of innocents getting inadvertently mixed up with criminals, and it's all made worse by the flat, dull characters and a general cluelessness. The story used in Hunting Season is an old staple of film noir, and it's been done better dozens of times. The movie makes its heroes a pair of survivalists, and while Gibson's Bowdrie gets to use all of his preparation to jump into action, he's generally an unlikable character. This is mainly because of his relationship with Tag, which has the dynamic of her mostly doing his bidding and following his rules. (Even her nickname, "Tag," comes from her being a "tag-along.")
Tag is clearly an adult (actor Hublitz was 25 at the time of the movie's release), but she's been molded in her father's image. She can shoot and fish, but she seems to have little experience of the outside world. When she mentions that January's tattoos look "cool," Bowdrie forbids her from getting her own. This troubling relationship is presented as normal, with Bowdrie simply being a protective father. And when the two women are alone, their conversations are as banal as can be ("you're pretty," Tag says to January). Plus, if a movie is only as good as its villain, then Alejandro is not good, terribly overacted by Mollà. Hunting Season is ultimately unimaginative and uninspired, a movie with the safety on.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Hunting Season's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Bowdrie chooses to live a reclusive, self-sufficient life away from a community. Why do you think that idea appeals to some people and not others?
What kind of agency does Tag have, if any? Does she make any choices of her own?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 5, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : December 5, 2025
- Cast : Mel Gibson , Sofia Hublitz , Shelley Hennig
- Director : RJ Collins
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Faith ( Christianity ) , Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 5, 2026
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
Suggest an Update
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