Hyenas (2011/Lionsgate DVD)

 

Picture: D     Sound: C     Extras: D     Feature: B

 

 

After the brutal murder of his wife and child, Gannon (Costas Mandylor) seeks to take his revenge.  With only crazy old man Briggs they hunt the beasts which prey on man.  Legendary creatures which look like man, but can turn into were - hyenas.  Out numbered, the two seek to hunt these creatures or die trying... only one species can survive.
 
A town is set upon by blood thirsty creatures that have a taste for man flesh, but without evidence the police (literally) don't have clue to the missing people, much less believe this is the work of some legendary beast, only an old hunter 'Crazy Biggs' know what these creatures are.  He offers Gannon to teach and train him to get revenge for the lost of his family, but hunting these creatures is dangerous and no easy feat, they roam in packs, have claws and teeth, and are faster, stronger and intelligent, what can two men do?
 
Two words 'Were-hyenas', this story is like a mix blend of vampire hunting with werewolves (hyenas) instead.  It told the story from a narrative point of from the crazy old man, and completely skipped over the main character's training in becoming a hunter, he went from a distraught business man to an expert were-hyena hunter in one scene.  The only original idea was instead of an alpha male they used an alpha female and the backstory to how a 'new' alpha female takes over the pack when the old one dies.  On the side note it was amusing to watch how female hyenas had to first take off all their clothes and must get completely naked to able transform, but when they transformed you could tell it was completely CG.  The film was hardly scary when you could see the plot coming a mile away.  The only extra is a trailer gallery.

 

 

-   Ricky Chiang