The Wild Hunt has some great things going for it: an interesting and straightforward premise (guy goes into LARPing event to "rescus" his estranged girlfriend carrying emotional and family baggage along the way) some gorgeous looking locations, great production values for this level of budget
but ultimately it's let down by irritating characters and a weak third act.
The film doesn't setup the relationship between the Erik and Lyn. I appreciated the melancholy tone it sets, but without any background there's no real investment in Erik's quest. Erik himself doesn't go through any arc, he begrudgingly enters the LARP world complaining the whole time. When at last it looks like he's coming around, he goes right back to being a sullen jerk to everyone. The character of Lyn seems to shift into whatever mode the scene calls for: at once she's emotionally confused, then she's ready to give things a go with Erik but goes right in to chastising him. If the film were trying to say something about the value in letting things go, or that Erik's desperate attempt to save his relationship is more of a fantasy than the LARP, I'd get it. Not every film needs a happy ending, but this one falls short.
Erik succeeds in rescuing Lyn about halfway through the film, and the climax of the film simply has her getting kidnapped again (albeit, in a more sinister fashion) with Erik in pursuit again. I wish they had thought of something different instead of just repeating an earlier plot point. To me, this would be like having Star Wars: A New Hope climax with Luke and Han having to rescue Leia, AGAIN. While I can dig a tragic ending, the film wraps up abruptly with a lot of characters meeting graphic and tragic ends, but none of it seems to relate to their journey along the way. The first 2/3rds of the film are enjoyable, but if you expect the characters to grow or the story to take you in different places, you'll find the last 1/3rd disappointing.
The film doesn't setup the relationship between the Erik and Lyn. I appreciated the melancholy tone it sets, but without any background there's no real investment in Erik's quest. Erik himself doesn't go through any arc, he begrudgingly enters the LARP world complaining the whole time. When at last it looks like he's coming around, he goes right back to being a sullen jerk to everyone. The character of Lyn seems to shift into whatever mode the scene calls for: at once she's emotionally confused, then she's ready to give things a go with Erik but goes right in to chastising him. If the film were trying to say something about the value in letting things go, or that Erik's desperate attempt to save his relationship is more of a fantasy than the LARP, I'd get it. Not every film needs a happy ending, but this one falls short.
Erik succeeds in rescuing Lyn about halfway through the film, and the climax of the film simply has her getting kidnapped again (albeit, in a more sinister fashion) with Erik in pursuit again. I wish they had thought of something different instead of just repeating an earlier plot point. To me, this would be like having Star Wars: A New Hope climax with Luke and Han having to rescue Leia, AGAIN. While I can dig a tragic ending, the film wraps up abruptly with a lot of characters meeting graphic and tragic ends, but none of it seems to relate to their journey along the way. The first 2/3rds of the film are enjoyable, but if you expect the characters to grow or the story to take you in different places, you'll find the last 1/3rd disappointing.