‘The Hunter’ (1980) Blu-Ray Review – An Erratic But Entertaining Final Feature From Steve McQueen

The final film of screen icon Steve McQueen (The Great Escape, Bullitt, The Getaway) shows the dynamic talent of the late, great actor in one of his most memorable roles: the true story of Ralph “Papa” Thorson, a modern-day bounty hunter. Thorson’s exploits are detailed as he pursues a number of fugitives who have skipped bail. The chase comes full circle when he becomes the quarry of a vengeful psychopath (Tracey Walter, The Silence of the Lambs). McQueen’s multi-dimensional performance as Thorson, a man born in the wrong age, is counterpoint to the explosive action in The Hunter. Directed by Buzz Kulik (Warning Shot, Shamus) and featuring Eli Wallach (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), Kathryn Harrold (Raw Deal), LeVar Burton (TV’s Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Ben Johnson (The Wild Bunch).

For thoughts on The Hunter, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/cak-3xT5C0I?t=152]

Video Quality

Kino Classics presents The Hunter with a formidable upgrade in the form of a new 1080p master transfer in 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative that looks really great. This debut in high definition provides a transfer that provides nice, natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such damage. The film is virtually pristine with no obvious instances of damage or dirt detected here. The film features the grimy palette of the city alongside rural environments full of vegetation that pops off the screen with immense vibrancy. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. There is a terrific amount of fine detail that should please fans of the film. Subtle facets of different costumes including outfits worn by Dotty stand out more than ever before. Kino Classics has put forth some excellent work with this one. .  

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a top-notch DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that serves this film incredibly well. The sound effects and music appear to be faithful to the intent of the original creative vision. A high point of the experience that you are sure to appreciate throughout is the vibrancy and clarity of the soundtrack. The music is used effectively to create a unique tone throughout. Even with the strength of this element, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and environmental noises are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements. This disc maintains a flawless sense of fidelity that is appreciated. This track shows no discernible age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. Kino Classic has preserved this one well. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson provide an informative commentary track in which they discuss the place of bounty hunters in popular culture, how this fits into the career of Steve McQueen, the background of the ensemble players, the evolution of the screenplay and much more that makes this worth a listen. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (3:15) and TV Spots and a VHS Trailer (1:54) for The Hunter. There are also trailers provided for The Great Escape, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Laughing Policeman, Brannigan, Newman’s Law, Wanted: Dead of Alive, Taffin, Murphy’s Law and Code Of Silence. 

Final Thoughts

The Hunter is often maligned as the weakest film from the late, great Steve McQueen, but this is far from a disaster if you give it the proper attention. The greatest criticism you could lob at this one is that it takes on an erratic tone which does not commit to the adult elements or the “general audience” distinction with too much fervor. There are some jovial moments sprinkled in, but McQueen does not become a caricature as his character is being explored. This film delivers some captivating action and a decent romance all within a tightly paced narrative. It is not perfect, but it works decently as a farewell to this legend. Kino Classics has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and a couple of fun supplemental features. If you are a Steve McQueen fan, you will be glad to have this in such great quality. Recommended 

The Hunter (Special Edition) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.