Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'll be straight with you: this is not good. A 15% on Rotten Tomatoes is brutal, and that 35 Metacritic score tells you critics found almost nothing redeeming here. Sony has been trying to build a Spider-Man Universe without Spider-Man for years now, and Kraven is their latest misfire.

The premise—angry son of gangster becomes violent hunter seeking revenge—isn't exactly inspiring, and the execution appears to be worse. Yes, some audience members gave it a pass (that 72% suggests fans of mindless action found something to enjoy), but even that feels generous when you look at the 5.5 IMDb and 2/5 Letterboxd scores.

If your 16-year-old is begging to see it because they love Marvel, fine—it won't traumatize them. But set expectations low. This is the kind of movie that makes you appreciate how hard it actually is to make a good superhero film. There are dozens of better action movies on Netflix right now that won't feel like homework to sit through.

The violence is significant enough to keep younger teens away, and the quality is low enough that older teens and adults will likely regret the time investment. Sometimes a movie is just a miss, and this appears to be one of those times.

Age Fit

This is strictly 16+ territory due to violence and dark themes. Honestly though, even older teens might want to skip this one—the critical consensus is pretty brutal, and there are way better action films out there that won't feel like a waste of two hours.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

25

A revenge-driven narrative centered on a 'ruthless gangster father' and 'brutal consequences' doesn't model healthy relationships or emotional processing. The entire premise is about vengeance and becoming 'one of the most feared' hunters—not exactly kindness and cooperation territory. The father-son dynamic appears toxic and violence-focused.

Imaginative

35

Another origin story for a Spider-Man villain turned anti-hero. The 'greatest hunter' angle has potential for creative world-building, but this is Sony's sixth attempt at a Spider-Man Universe film without Spider-Man, and the formula is wearing thin. The 15% critic score suggests execution falls flat. No evidence of particularly innovative storytelling or visual creativity that would inspire curiosity.

Safe

35

Common Sense Media rates this 16+, and the synopsis explicitly mentions 'brutal consequences' and a 'path of vengeance.' As a violent action film about becoming 'one of the most feared,' expect significant violence, likely blood/gore, and intense sequences. The R-rating territory (implied by CSM 16+) means this has content that would absolutely be inappropriate for younger viewers—not surprising, but definitely not safe for family viewing.

Enriching

20

With a 15% critic score and 35 Metacritic, this appears to be a critically panned film that offers little beyond surface-level action. The revenge plot is well-worn territory without apparent depth. The massive critic-audience gap (15% vs 72%) suggests it might deliver popcorn entertainment for fans who just want action, but there's no evidence of meaningful themes, character growth beyond 'become feared hunter,' or enriching takeaways. Even the entertainment value seems questionable given reviews.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your teen is a die-hard Marvel completionist who needs to see every comic book adaptation, here's another one for the list
The 72% audience score suggests some action fans found it entertaining enough as mindless popcorn fare
Could spark discussions about toxic masculinity and the cycle of violence (though probably not intentionally)

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What to Watch For

Significant violence and 'brutal consequences' throughout—this earned its 16+ rating for a reason
A revenge-driven plot centered on a toxic father-son relationship with gangster violence
With a 15% critic score, be prepared for a potentially tedious two hours even if your teen thinks they want to watch it
Part of Sony's struggling Spider-Man Universe—don't expect MCU quality or coherence

Conversation Starters

"The main character chooses a 'path of vengeance' because of his father—do you think revenge ever actually solves problems or just creates more?"
"Kraven wants to be 'the most feared' hunter. Why do you think some people want to be feared instead of respected?"
"This got terrible reviews from critics but okay reviews from audiences. What do you think makes a movie 'good' versus just entertaining?"

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Kraven the Hunter