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Death Hunt

Play trailer Poster for Death Hunt R 1981 1h 37m Action Adventure Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
17% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Isolated Yukon trapper Albert Johnson (Charles Bronson) stumbles upon a dog fight and saves the losing canine from death, but animal-owner Hazel (Ed Lauter) and his friends attack Albert for breaking up the scuffle. One of Hazel's pals is killed in the brawl with Albert, and a group of Canadian Mounties, led by Sgt. Edgar Millen (Lee Marvin), shows up to intervene. Hazel claims that Albert was the instigator, so the trapper flees, and the mounties pursue him through the harsh wilderness.

Critics Reviews

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Gary Arnold Washington Post 01/13/2016
Supposedly inspired by an authentic incident in the Northwest Territories 50 years ago, the movie emerges as an exercise in bogus historical evocation, minimal characterization and synthetic conflict. Go to Full Review
Vincent Canby New York Times 12/26/2007
Nothing in Death Hunt makes a great deal of sense, though the scenery is rugged and the snowscapes beautiful. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 01/21/2016
C
It's stiffly directed by Peter Hunt. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 08/15/2013
2.5/4
[UPDATED 2025 REVIEW] A modest bit of macho cinema. Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 03/06/2009
A highly enjoyable actioner with no frills. Go to Full Review
TV Guide 12/26/2007
2.5/4
A few moments of good, visual storytelling aren't enough to save this frustrating film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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matthias s @Thescreenasvor 11/15/2023 "Death Hunt" delivers a nostalgic dose of action that takes you back to the era of classic, testosterone-fueled cinema. The film's atmospheric setting in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon is a character in itself, adding an eerie and isolated backdrop to the story. While it may not have the firepower of an all-out blockbuster, "Death Hunt" still packs a punch with its decent action sequences that keep you engaged. The cast, led by the legendary Charles Bronson, delivers solid performances, with Bronson's stoic toughness perfectly suited for the role. What sets "Death Hunt" apart is its unmistakable Rambo-esque vibe, giving you that adrenaline rush of a lone hero taking on impossible odds. If you're a fan of the classic action genre, this film serves up a hearty dose of good old-fashioned entertainment. In conclusion, "Death Hunt" may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it certainly delivers on its promise of action, atmosphere, and old-school charm. It's a movie that takes you on a wild ride through the frozen North, and for fans of this era, it's well worth a watch. See more @Ollie1972 08/10/2022 In the Yukon Territory in 1931, Albert Johnson (Charles Bronson), a solitary American trapper, comes across an organized dog fight. A white German Shepherd is badly injured and Johnson forcibly takes it, paying $200 to its owner, a vicious trapper named Hazel (Ed Lauter). Aggrieved by his treatment and claiming the dog was stolen from him, Hazel leads several of his friends to Johnson's isolated cabin. Some begin shooting while others create a diversion. After the shooting of Sitka, the dog that Johnson has nursed back to health, the trapper kills one pursuer, Jimmy Tom (Denis Lacroix), Once they discover that Johnson has bought 700 rounds of ammunition from the local trading post and paid in $100 bills, many conclude that he is the "mad trapper", a possibly mythical, psychopathic, serial killer who supposedly murders other trappers in the wilderness and takes their gold teeth. An old trapper, Bill Luce (Henry Beckman), warns Johnson that the law is coming for him. Johnson fortifies his cabin. Sergeant Edgar Millen (Lee Marvin), commander of the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police post, seems a tough but humane man. He has with him a veteran tracker named "Sundog" Brown (Carl Weathers) and a young constable, Alvin Adams (Andrew Stevens), plus a new lover in Vanessa McBride (Angie Dickinson). He reluctantly agrees to investigate Hazel's accusations that Johnson stole his dog and murdered Jimmy Tom. Millen leads a posse of mounties and trappers to the cabin. He parleys with Johnson, telling him that he has a pretty good idea of what happened and if Johnson comes with him they can get it sorted out. However, before Johnson can answer, one of the trappers opens fire. Several end up killed, including one who is shot by one of his own friends. The posse uses dynamite to blow up the cabin, but Johnson escapes, shooting dead a Mountie, Constable Hawkins (Jon Cedar). Millen, Sundog and Adams, joined by Hazel with his tracker dogs, set off into the frozen wilderness after Johnson... In Vincent Canby's review for The New York Times, he noted that the plot had problems. "Nothing in Death Hunt makes a great deal of sense, though the scenery is rugged and the snowscapes beautiful." Canby, however, recognized that two old pros were at work. "Mr. Bronson and Mr. Marvin are such old hands at this sort of movie that each can create a character with ease, out of thin, cold air." Reviewer Leonard Maltin characterized Death Hunt as having "... good action, but not enough of it." This stale actioneer based on a true story of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police´s pursuit of a man named Albert Johnson has Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin on autopilot with wobbly action scenes and not much else. Trivia: Based upon a true story, the film was heavily criticized by Canadian historians for getting many historical facts and characterizations wrong. The movie was directed by Peter R. Hunt, whose work on the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) was a significant factor in his hiring, as both films are predominantly set in snow-capped mountains. See more 03/13/2022 Excellent action movie Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin and Carl Weathers are all excellent in this movie one of Charles Bronson's best movies!! See more 05/07/2020 The ratings by Rotten Tomatoes "experts" just shows how out of touch they are with the fans. See more 01/21/2020 The critics are retarded!!! See more 04/30/2019 Liked the characters and actors who played them. Story line was a little weak but I thoroughly enjoyed the performance See more Read all reviews
Death Hunt

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Movie Info

Synopsis Isolated Yukon trapper Albert Johnson (Charles Bronson) stumbles upon a dog fight and saves the losing canine from death, but animal-owner Hazel (Ed Lauter) and his friends attack Albert for breaking up the scuffle. One of Hazel's pals is killed in the brawl with Albert, and a group of Canadian Mounties, led by Sgt. Edgar Millen (Lee Marvin), shows up to intervene. Hazel claims that Albert was the instigator, so the trapper flees, and the mounties pursue him through the harsh wilderness.
Director
Peter Hunt
Producer
Murray Shostak
Screenwriter
Michael Grais, Mark Victor
Production Co
Golden Harvest, Northshore Investments Ltd.
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 37m