’Hounded’ review: Dir. Tommy Boulding [FrightFest]

Britain’s class divide takes centre stage in director Tommy Boulding’s debut feature film, Hounded. Starring acting veterans Samantha Bond and Nick Moran, as well as newcomers Malachi Pullar-Latchman and Hannah Traylen, Hounded pits a group of thieves against a family of aristocrats with bloody results…  

Although Hounded marks Tommy Boulding’s first time in the directors chair, he is no stranger to the environment of indie horror films. Having worked in the industry for a number of years as an editor, Boulding has had a hand in the creation of Barbarians, Possum, and The Power – three excellent genre offerings. Spending that time immersed in the world of indie cinema has clearly paid off as Boulding’s debut is strong and well put together. As one would expect, in addition to directing, Boulding also edited Hounded, utilising all the tricks he has picked up over his career to create a film that has a steady ever-moving pace. 

In some ways Hounded could be described as what is termed ‘hoodie horror’, however the film spins conventions on its head. A hoodie horror typically refers to a film where those clad in hoodies are the antagonists. Eden Lake and Cruel Summer would be two examples of innocents terrorised by hoodie-cloaked figures. Hounded instead places those dressed as such in the role of victim as they are ruthlessly hunted down in a human version of a fox-hunt. The role-reversal makes sense here as Hounded seeks to explore the class issues that are tearing the United Kingdom apart. Our ‘heroes’ are a quartet of criminals. A lack of available jobs and the ever-increasing cost of living has left the group with no other means of surviving. Rather than smash and grab within their own neighbourhoods, they are employed by local art dealer Gregory (Larry Lamb) to steal artefacts from the wealthy and elite. Obviously crime never pays, but you can see the desperate logic behind the group’s decision.

The foursome consists of leader Leon (Nobuse Junior), second-in-command Vix (Traylen), their immigrant friend, Tod (Ross Coles), and Leon’s younger brother Chaz (Pullar-Latchman). They’re a close-knit crew who, and with the exception of the slightly clumsy Tod, are good at what they do. An opening robbery demonstrates the hierarchy and professionalism of their operation. Things aren’t smooth sailing though, with Boulding already providing plenty of dramatic tension. It’s the next job however that sees the trouble begin. What starts out as a simple burglary ends with the group bound and bundled into the back of a van. From here on, Hounded reveals the villains of the piece, a quartet of members of Britain’s high society. Headed by a chilling Samantha Bond, this group has found an answer to the fox-hunting ban: hunt people instead. Cue a dangerous game of cat and mouse. 

Rather than remain one-sided, Boulding does allow time to be spent with the hunters, though there is no attempt made to make them likeable. Boulding instead uses the time to highlight their sense of entitlement. This group sees the hunt no differently to their days of culling innocent animals, and they associate the lower class as nothing more than beasts. It’s an awful way of thinking, but sadly the way that many of a certain tax bracket and political leaning share in some ways. Hopefully not quite to the same levels of extremity as demonstrated here, but there’s enough credibility to some other aspects of their opinion that ring true. This theme is what helps make Hounded that much more uncomfortable. The rich often appear to get away with murder and the idea that something simialr could happen in real life doesn’t feel too far-fetched. 

Boulding builds on these societal fears and ensures the viewer is firmly on team tealeaf, rooting for them in this ultimate class war. Even the costume helps to code the fighting factions as good and bad. Chaz, Vix, Leon and Tod quickly shed their hoodie apparel with each of them wearing an element of white. The colour white has connotations of innocence, so sublinialy the viewer aligns with them. Opposite them are the red uniforms of the Redwick family. Red of course means danger, but can also be read as an indicator for bloodshed. It’s a very subtle way of pushing the gap between the two sides further, but one that works perfectly. Despite their perceived lack of intellect by their captors, Chaz and co are switched on. Even Tod, who early on is a source of humour, proves his ability to outwit his pursuers. Watching them utilise their street smarts and fighting back provides the bulk of the entertainment. 

Hounded isn’t a film filled with torturous deaths – though it has one rather horrific demise – as Boulding is more concerned about the thrill of the chase. With almost all of the film spent in the fight-or-flight mode, Hounded is packed with adrenaline spikes. The result is a film that places the viewer in the ultimate game of hide and seek, ensuring maximum thrills and chills in the process. A simple idea realised beautifully, Hounded is a new, uncomfortably relatable, battle of Britain.

Hounded was reviewed at Arrow Video FrightFest 2022. Signature Entertainment presents Hounded on Digital Platforms 31st October.