Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Aneesa Wardle
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Stephanie
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Greatornot
Peter Fonda and William Holden WOW!!, 2 excellent actors. Why this movie is not on DVD is beyond me. The movie was very real and had an original plot. The acting impeccable and one of William Holdens last movies. I believe the movie had an interesting social message as well. Yes perhaps squeamish for some but nonetheless a flick well done with superb acting. I believe that the commentary is timeless and can well be a successful movie today ... in fact maybe even more so than back 35 yrs ago or so. I think the movie was actually a bit tame compared to todays psychological thrillers but still done well. If you get a chance to see this movie go for it , you will not be disappointed.
rodericko
This was one of the first really well "designed-to-disturb" movies that I ever watched. The impact to the viewer is not achieved through overly-graphic violence, although it is violent in nature, but by craftily inducing empathy for the desperate situation of the hunted, juxtaposed with the bleak portrayal of raw and unrelenting evil exhibited by the group-thinking hunters. This is well done through a meandering sequence of action shots and brilliantly framed by the contrasting peaceful and beautiful North American scenery and a curious and intriguing score. This is not a movie of memorable dialogue but one of highly disturbing action sequence in a sustained act of cruelty. Unfortunately the evil and its impact are far too believable for comfort. The Vietnam allusion and vigilante character (Holden) are peripheral to the essence of the movie and if anything detract, seemingly there to provide an excuse for the exposure of the evil and some end resolution for good, respectively. Whilst this may have been at one point central to the message in the creator's mind, as it worked out neither is warranted given the core impact of the film.
emclean9
This film was "big" news in 1974 when first released and got some bad press ostensibly because of the supposed excessive violence ,which is not the case. The real reason this film was "bagged" by the critics is the same reason Clint Eastwood (for his Dirty Harry movies) and Charles Bronson (for the Death Wish movies)were rubbished. That is because film critics tend to be left wing, bleeding heart liberals who have for decades put down any film that tends to support a person taking law and order into their own hands, irrespective of the provocation and the circumstances. "Open Season" is not overly violent but the violence is cleverly constructed and has real impact. The characters in the film are well drawn and believable (except perhaps the male victim who is abducted and held captive)particularly Peter Fonda who, like his Dad, can really come across as sleazy on-screen. The film is gripping and builds consistently towards the end and it really packs a punch in the final 30 minutes. I bought the VHS video many years ago and it is still worth watching.Try and see it.
lonewolf82000
This film was actually not bad, for it's genre! A group of hunters abduct a couple, (A young female and middle-aged guy) They take them up into the wilderness and subject them both to humiliations and abuse. The girl is coerced into having a night of sex with the men. She becomes a sexual toy for them as she tries using her womanly charms to avert what she slowly begins to realize is a deadly game unfolding. Before too long, the men turn the couple loose in the woods and tell them they will be hunted like animals. Seems the men, all Vietnam vets who having returned from the war, no longer get a thrill hunting animals after hunting "The real thing!" The plot has been done before, but it works here, the film is enjoyable, suspenseful and at times titillating! I am really hoping this comes out on DVD. I watched this on late night TV years ago, and later found a badly done pre-recorded copy. It's not a classic film! But it's well worth a look if you like this genre!
