Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Project Wolf Hunting Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 10, 2023

Do South Korean cities have Chambers of Commerce? If so, the nation's second largest burg might want to approach whatever South Korean location scouts have chosen it for first Train to Busan and then Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula and now Project Wolf Hunting, if only to say, "Hey, maybe hold off on any other apocalyptic scenarios featuring our fair (?) metropolis for a little while, since you're killing tourism." That of course is said in jest, though I have to say after this particular triumvirate of cinematic offerings, why anyone would even consider journeying to Busan is beyond me. Project Wolf Hunting could just have easily been titled Ship to Busan, since that's the trajectory of a craft that is additionally perilous in that its passengers aren't the random assemblage who have boarded the Train to Busan, but are instead a hold full of dangerous criminals. What ensues starts at least to traffic in some of the tropes offered in films like Escape Plan, though in this case of course there's no secret about the prison being on board a ship.

If the first part of the film seems to be pitting a bunch of desperate criminals against law enforcement types on a massive cargo ship, things take a decidedly gonzo turn partway through when, somewhat like Alien, the entire population on the ship, both good guys and bad, discover they're not "alone", so to speak. In this particular case it's not some reptilian extra terrestrial, but instead the result of a top secret experiment which won't be spoiled here, other than to say those with a knowledge of Greek orthography will at least be up to snuff when the subtitles (in at least the minimal supplements) identify this character as α (i.e., Alpha). Project Wolf Hunting relies on a near nonstop array of carnage, and for those who like their blood and guts served up steaming (and incessantly), this film will probably fit the bill quite nicely, though, for better or worse, it has neither the relative emotional complexity nor the narrative thrust that Train to Busan offered.

Project Wolf Hunting Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Project Wolf Hunting is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The IMDb doesn't offer any real technical info, but the closing credits roll has an Arri logo, for what that's worth. I haven't been able to authoritatively track down the resolution of the DI, but detail levels are routinely very good to excellent throughout the presentation, at least when lighting conditions allow. Some of the CGI is not especially effective, and a few nighttime scenes have little in the way of any detail, let alone shadow or fine detail (see screenshot 8). The film has some rather interesting grading and/or lighting choices, and a lot of the story plays out in almost lurid greens, yellows, chartreuses, and oranges, giving things a kind of slightly alien quality. Detail levels on some of the frequent blood letting may be precise enough to engender squeamishness in more sensitive viewers.

Project Wolf Hunting Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Project Wolf Hunting features Well Go USA's standard operating procedure of DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 options in both the original language (in this case Korean, of course) or English. I couldn't really discern any real difference in general mix levels and amplitude between the two surround tracks, but I'd still advise sticking with the original Korean track if you don't mind reading subtitles. Despite so much of the film taking place in rather confined quarters, there's really good attention paid to populating the side and rear channels with all sorts of sound effects, from big clanging interior ship noises, to of course the piercing sounds of gunfire and hand to hand combat. A high tech surveillance headquarters also provides regular immersion courtesy of background whirrs and beeps. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Project Wolf Hunting Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All of the supplements are subtitled in English.

• Behind the Scenes (HD; 4:46)


• Making the Alpha (HD; 1:24)


• Trailer (HD; 2:17)

Note: As tends to be the case with Well Go USA Blu- ray releases, the disc has been authored so that supplements follow one another automatically (so that clicking on Behind the Scenes is essentially a Play All button. The disc is also authored to automatically move on to trailers for other Well Go USA releases after the Trailer for this film plays. Those trailers for other Well Go USA releases also play automatically at disc boot up.

Project Wolf Hunting Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What's next? A "historical drama" (no doubt with zombies and/or genetically engineered supermen) called Horse and Carriage to Busan? It's kind of funny in a way that this important port in Korea has become the focus for horror films, even if this particular "journey" is largely at sea. There is rampant violence throughout this story, and those who like a lot of gruesome injuries leading to near Hamlet levels of character expirations will probably get a more than sufficient dose of adrenalin rushes out of a viewing experience. That said, there's a curious lack of real character development here, despite on actor's insistence in a supplement that each and every character seems to be "fully alive" (until they're not — alive, that is). One of the most potent things about Train to Busan in particular is that it had a "hook" in terms of at least one central relationship that gave things a rather visceral emotional underpinning, something that is distinctly lacking in this enterprise. Technical merits are solid, and the few supplements are okay, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.