Horror is typically, if not universally, allegorical. The Exorcist is an allegory for faith; Jaws is an allegory of fear; The Babadook is an allegory for grief. Hounded is an allegory for class warfare, and a none too subtle one at that. Director Tommy Boulding uses the beautiful English countryside for malevolent purposes, as four youthful thieves take what they think will be an easy score at a country estate. Spoiler alert – it turns out to be very different from what they expected.
Hounded’s premise is heavy-handed but nonetheless unsettling in its concept, as our foursome are literally hunted across the countryside, after some stern monologuing from Samantha Bond’s Katherine Redwick. The class warfare aspects of the film are overt, but the characterisation makes it relatable. Our London heroes include black brothers Chaz (Malachi Pullar-Latchman) and Leon (Nobuse Jnr.), one of whom wears a hoodie, that much stigmatised garment of the stereotyped lower classes. We also have Tod (Rose Coles), whose Eastern European accent marks him out as Other and yet he is clearly close to the rest of the gang. Vix (Hannah Traylen) is a tracksuit wearing girl who could fit the description of ‘chav’. But despite these appearances, none of the central four are simple stereotypes. Chaz is en route to university, and the proceeds of their thefts are to help him with the tuition fees. Vix describes her abusive childhood and the skills she learned that prove useful in their new situation. Leon is dedicated to his brother and maintains concern and compassion for those around him. Thanks to this characterisation, when the peril begins, there is a sense of engagement and threat. There is also a particular, if unintentional, contemporary resonance, as Bond’s Katherine is reminiscent of Prime Minister Liz Truss, whose position towards the working class is less than sympathetic.
While the themes of the film are rich, Hounded is unfortunately hamstrung by its delivery. Boulding’s direction is uneven, with the pacing of the chases and the geography of the set pieces failing to generate much tension. Similarly, the plotting is too loose to provide taut suspense: various plot points go nowhere while others are too overtly telegraphed. Foreshadowing is played too obviously, especially the finale which is literally signposted and proves too convenient to be convincing. Tension and suspense are further undermined by hammy performances, especially when a character launches into a ‘I’ll huff, and I’ll puff’ speech. Jack Nicholson got away with it in The Shining, but Boulding is no Stanley Kubrick.
There are some pleasingly bloody moments, including a pretty savage animal attack, as well as a throat slitting, stabbing, explosion and gunshots, as well as the aftermath of a car accident that would not be out of place in a Final Destination movie. The tone, however, is inconsistent, as Hounded veers from the nasty to the comedic. Yet the film never achieves the glee of a Final Destination or Hot Fuzz, meaning that it is not funny enough to work as a comedy. Similarly, for all its (literal) bark, the film often lacks bite, as it lacks the unflinching brutality of The Owners and the bleakness of Eden Lake. The overall result offers neither satirical commentary nor sufficient scares or laughs, making Hounded a missed opportunity.
Hounded’s premise is heavy-handed but nonetheless unsettling in its concept, as our foursome are literally hunted across the countryside, after some stern monologuing from Samantha Bond’s Katherine Redwick. The class warfare aspects of the film are overt, but the characterisation makes it relatable. Our London heroes include black brothers Chaz (Malachi Pullar-Latchman) and Leon (Nobuse Jnr.), one of whom wears a hoodie, that much stigmatised garment of the stereotyped lower classes. We also have Tod (Rose Coles), whose Eastern European accent marks him out as Other and yet he is clearly close to the rest of the gang. Vix (Hannah Traylen) is a tracksuit wearing girl who could fit the description of ‘chav’. But despite these appearances, none of the central four are simple stereotypes. Chaz is en route to university, and the proceeds of their thefts are to help him with the tuition fees. Vix describes her abusive childhood and the skills she learned that prove useful in their new situation. Leon is dedicated to his brother and maintains concern and compassion for those around him. Thanks to this characterisation, when the peril begins, there is a sense of engagement and threat. There is also a particular, if unintentional, contemporary resonance, as Bond’s Katherine is reminiscent of Prime Minister Liz Truss, whose position towards the working class is less than sympathetic.
While the themes of the film are rich, Hounded is unfortunately hamstrung by its delivery. Boulding’s direction is uneven, with the pacing of the chases and the geography of the set pieces failing to generate much tension. Similarly, the plotting is too loose to provide taut suspense: various plot points go nowhere while others are too overtly telegraphed. Foreshadowing is played too obviously, especially the finale which is literally signposted and proves too convenient to be convincing. Tension and suspense are further undermined by hammy performances, especially when a character launches into a ‘I’ll huff, and I’ll puff’ speech. Jack Nicholson got away with it in The Shining, but Boulding is no Stanley Kubrick.
There are some pleasingly bloody moments, including a pretty savage animal attack, as well as a throat slitting, stabbing, explosion and gunshots, as well as the aftermath of a car accident that would not be out of place in a Final Destination movie. The tone, however, is inconsistent, as Hounded veers from the nasty to the comedic. Yet the film never achieves the glee of a Final Destination or Hot Fuzz, meaning that it is not funny enough to work as a comedy. Similarly, for all its (literal) bark, the film often lacks bite, as it lacks the unflinching brutality of The Owners and the bleakness of Eden Lake. The overall result offers neither satirical commentary nor sufficient scares or laughs, making Hounded a missed opportunity.