Up until last month’s Mondo Macabro Blu-ray release of Blood Ceremony (aka the Legend of Blood Castle), the only Jorge Grau film I had seen was his iconic zombie film “The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue” (aka Let Sleeping Corpses Lie). This Month Mondo Macabro is back with another essential release further exposing the non-undead cinema of Jorge Grau to home video audiences with his sleazy 1983 Last House on the Left inspired revenger “Hunting Ground” (aka Code of Hunting).
Hunting Ground stars Assumpta Serna as Adela a defense lawyer, who believes the criminals she defends are misunderstood, and just need a 2nd chance. Her latest clients, however, take advantage of her kind heart, and promptly steal her car, and the deed to her country home. When her family turns up at the home at the same time the outlaws turn up to rob the joint, and tragedy ensues.
Hunting Ground is in the tradition of a Last House on the Left-esque revenge thrillers. This one finds a moral center in the Charles Bronson Death Wish universe, with Serna’s Adela character finding her sympathetic viewpoints put to the test by the extremity of the situation she is forced into. The film is a slowburn, with the plot kicking off with the introductory crime in the first 10 minutes, before we are introduced to Adela and her family. Their home life, and various situations. It’s very easy to see what this is leading to, but because of how the template is being set up, it also creates a suspenseful atmosphere leading up to the tragic encounter in the house that ends the first act.
After that the film again goes back to slowburn territory, as both the criminals and Adela feel the fallout from their respective actions. This leads to a climatic showdown in the films last half hour or so that needs to be seen to be believed, and will not soon be forgotten. The performances in Hunting Ground across the board, are a mix of strong and believable. Serna as Adela is strong in her leading role, but even the actors portraying the criminals and their Mother even have moments when the viewer might feel a shred of empathy toward them.
Mondo Macabro presents Hunting Ground in a stunning new 1080p transfer that brings the film to HD with beautiful results. Everything here looks film like and natural, textures are excellent, black levels are nice and deep, and detail is fine. I did not detect much in the way of issues here. Audio is presented with DTS-HD audio tracks in English and Spanish which come through clear and crisp without issue. Extras include an archival interview with Jorge Grau and Mondo Macabro previews. Hunting Ground is a slowburn for much of its running time, however, when it does go off it becomes a bleak, unrelenting, and vicious revenger that no viewer will soon forget. The Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro looks and sounds great, and includes a fantastic interview with director Grau. HIGHLY RECOMMNENDED!