Monster Hunter (2020)
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A military squad is pulled through a dimensional portal into a world populated by savage, enormous monsters.
The story
U.S. Army Ranger Captain Natalie Artemis and her United Nations security team are searching for a missing squad in a desert when a sudden storm pulls them through a dimensional portal. They arrive in a new world where humans struggle to survive against a wide variety of large and savage monsters. While exploring, they encounter a massive horned monster known as the Diablos. Artemis' team is attacked, and the survivors are forced to hide in a cave, where they face further threats from monstrous arachnid-like creatures.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being pulled through a portal to a monster-infested world, Captain Natalie Artemis and her team are attacked by the Diablos. The survivors are further besieged by Nerscyllas, and Artemis is nearly killed before escaping. She encounters a warrior known as the Hunter; they initially fight but agree to cooperate to reach the Sky Tower, a structure capable of opening portals. They must first kill the Diablos, which Artemis manages to do using the Hunter's weapons and Nerscylla venom. After the Hunter is wounded, Artemis carries him across the desert to an oasis. They are rescued by the Admiral's crew, who explain that the Sky Tower was built by an ancient civilization. Artemis agrees to help kill a fire-breathing Rathalos to return home. During the battle, Artemis falls back through the portal to Earth, where she is found by a rescue group. However, the Rathalos emerges into the human world. Artemis manages to slow it down just long enough for the Hunter to slip through the portal and deliver a fatal shot. The Admiral warns Artemis that the portal remains open, posing a threat to Earth, and they must now find a way to take down the Sky Tower.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 103
- Production countries
- Germany; China; Japan; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul W. S. Anderson
- Writers
- Paul W. S. Anderson · writer; Paul W. S. Anderson · director; Paul W. S. Anderson · producer
- Cast and characters
- Milla Jovovich · Artemis; Tony Jaa · The Hunter; T.I. · Link; Meagan Good; Diego Boneta · communications specialist; Josh Helman; MC Jin; Ron Perlman · Admiral
- Genres
- monster; fantasy; action thriller
- Themes
- survival; unity
- Tone and mood
- action-packed; visually interesting; narratively anemic
- Premise and plot tags
- monster movie; portal fantasy; military action
- Source material / true-story basis
- Monster Hunter video game series by Capcom
- Franchise connections
- Monster Hunter
- Reception
- The film received mixed to negative reviews, being criticized for its direction and editing while praised for its action and visual effects. It was a box office bomb.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 44%; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 22
- Awards and nominations
- Visual Effects Society Awards · Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature · 19th · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was in conception since 2012.; The script was primarily based on a crossover event in the game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in 2010.; The film's storyline was originally intended to feature a young adult character named Lucas.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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