Betty Gilpin stars in a scene from the movie "The Hunt." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive.(CNS/Universal)

By Catholic News Service

Clever commentary on contemporary political and cultural divisions in the United States is lost amid an orgy of bloodletting as a group of elite fat cats (led by Hilary Swank) hunts a dozen kidnapped red-state types for sport, only to discover too late that one of them (Betty Gilpin) is prepared to put the combat skills she learned while serving in Afghanistan to good use against them.

As scripted by Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof, director Craig Zobel’s parable is deliberately outrageous in its gruesome portrayal of characters being maimed and killed. But the overall effect is more sadistic than satiric.

Excessive gory violence, frequent profanities, a few milder oaths, pervasive rough and crude language, a bit of sexual humor. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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