The Wild Hunt (film)

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

The Wild Hunt is a 2009 indie Canadian comedy/drama. The plot revolves around a live-action role-playing game gone terribly wrong.

Tropes used in The Wild Hunt (film) include:
  • Arrows on Fire: Well, one.
  • Asshole Victim: King Argyle, who's a bit of a creepy douchebag throughout the film, until he fully tips his hand by dropping a C-bomb on Tamara. His stabbing is a lead-up to Erik's death, so being an asshole helps preserve the emotional weight of the climax.
  • Becoming the Mask
  • Chekhov's Gun: A lot of attention is given to Mjolnir, Bjorn's sledgehammer. Ultimately he uses it to kill Murtagh.
  • Country Matters: Argyle's Kick the Dog moment, turning him into an Asshole Victim.
  • Decoy Protagonist: It seems like it's Erik's film, trying to get back his girlfriend. It's really Bjorn's, living out a tragic epic just like the old Norse Sagas he was raised on.
  • Damsel in Distress
  • Downer Ending
  • Drop the Hammer: Mjolnir, Bjorn's hammer of Thor, is a real sledgehammer with a gigantic chunk of black rock for a head, unlike the foam weapons the rest of the gamers use. Bjorn doesn't use it for the fantasy combat, as it is apparently against the rules. Ultimately he uses it to crush Murtagh's head in vengeance for the events of the film.
  • Feed Me: "MJOLNIIIIIIR!!!"
  • The Game Plays You
  • Ho Yay: Greg for Murtagh.
  • Ironic Echo: "It doesn't have to end."
  • Kick the Dog: King Argyle when he insults Tamara. Greg pretty much constantly.
  • Large Ham: Bjorn refuses to break character for almost the entire duration of the film, trumpeting every word he says in a hammy Viking style. The other gamers eat it up, but it really pisses off his brother.
  • Let's Get Dangerous: The Celts charge at the rest of the gamers, who are expecting a fun foam-weapon melee. Instead, they're beaten to a pulp with rocks and clubs.
  • Lock and Load Montage: One occurs as Bjorn, Erik and their allies prepare a raid into the Celts' camp. Tamara even "equips" her cleavage.
  • Miles Gloriosus: Bjorn's in-character braggadocio seems to have completely consumed his personality... until he's actually called upon to be brave.
  • Mood Whiplash
  • No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Greg delivers one to Erik, which proves fatal. A few minutes later, he's cornered by a group of enraged gamers, who swarm him.
  • Rules Lawyer: Both Argyle and Bjorn try to get the upper hand in their duel by arguing about rules.
  • Screw You, Elves: "Elves are gay!"
  • Serious Business: Live-action role-playing is serious business. Characters point out that some people spend all year waiting and preparing for the big game. Don't show up without a costume or break "decorum," and most definitely don't try to quit in the middle of a game.
  • The So-Called Coward: Bjorn is revealed to be a coward at the film's climax. In the epilogue, he hunts down Murtagh and brutally crushes his skull.
  • Torches and Pitchforks
  • The Wild Hunt: The namesake of the film. The Celts need to perform the Wild Hunt by sacrificing a princess and turning her into their horned god.
  • Wimp Fight: The opening scene highlights that the gamers don't really know how to fight. King Argyle and Bjorn's epic duel is just childish flailing, followed by arguing.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Tamara calls out Bjorn for cowering in a corner while his brother is in danger, after all of his big talk of being a warrior.
  • X Meets Y:
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