‘Kraven the Hunter’ Pays Tribute to 80s Fantasy Epic, but Fans Missed It

Many fans anticipated references to ‘Spider-Man’ or the Marvel Cinematic Universe in J.C. Chandor’s ‘Kraven the Hunter’. ‘The Beastmaster’, a fantasy movie from the 1980s, is one unexpected source of inspiration for the movie. Despite its lacklustre box office performance, the movie gradually developed a cult following. Dar, the main character in ‘The Beastmaster’, is similar to Kraven in a number of ways. Both characters possess mystical abilities, a deep bond with animals, and a sense of duty to preserve life.

Dar, a chosen one in ‘The Beastmaster’, is raised to battle an evil priest after being born apart from his family. Dar uses animals as friends in his conflicts since he can talk with them. His relationship with animals, such as ferrets and black panthers, is similar to Kraven’s relationship with wildlife. Similar to characters like Tarzan or He-Man, these heroes have the ability to work with animals in a way that benefits them. Although Dar’s abilities change in the TV series and sequels, his primary goals of defending life and thwarting evil never change.

Image Courtesy: Screen Rant

Similar to this, Kraven’s abilities are derived from a mystical lion and a serum that Calypso, a character, administers to him, giving him a psychic bond with animals. Like Dar, he gains stronger senses, such as sight, scent, and strength, which he uses to fight adversaries. Like Dar, Kraven is presented as a hero who seeks to save the environment against criminals and poachers, including his own father. As alpha predators, both characters use their skills to purge the world of people who take advantage of nature. Despite being rougher and more brutal, ‘Kraven the Hunter’ shares Dar’s altruistic goal of saving lives.

–Farheen Ali 

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