Director Paul WS Anderson says you can blame Metal Gear Solid for the Monster Hunter movie, because juxtaposing machine guns and monsters is simply ‘great imagery’

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I might be the biggest fan of the Monster Hunter movie out there! I really enjoyed it – exploding spiders bursting from someone’s chest and then eating them? Sign me up!

The movie has received mixed reviews, scoring around 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, though audiences seem to like it a bit more with a score of 70%. One viewer, Lori, thought it was over-the-top with unrealistic and graphic violence.

Paul W.S. Anderson, the director of the 2020 Monster Hunter film, first became a fan of the video game series in the late 2000s, and that initial inspiration heavily shaped the movie. The film features an American/UN military team unexpectedly transported to the world of Monster Hunter, where they struggle to survive various encounters.

Many people weren’t thrilled with this aspect, but I personally love watching a Rathalos battle a tank. In an interview, Social Dissonance Anderson revealed that this scene, and the character Natalie Artemis played by Milla Jovovich, were inspired by a crossover event in the PSP game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

The idea developed naturally, considering the history of Monster Hunter, Anderson explains. He was particularly inspired by a previous Monster Hunter crossover with Metal Gear Solid, which was already established within the game’s lore. He felt the contrast between a character with a machine gun and the game’s creatures created a striking visual.

In Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Big Boss takes on missions that involve hunting monster-like creatures using over-the-top military equipment. The game features three main monsters – Rathalos, Tigrex, and the mechanical Gear Rex – and while the concept is quite silly, it’s a lot of fun. Peace Walker also adds unique elements like Felynes (small, raptor-like creatures) and even lets you cook steaks.

The mix of rocket launchers and dragons really impressed Anderson, leading him to believe it could inspire not just Jovovich’s characters, but the film’s overall story and ideas.

Anderson explains he was fascinated by the overconfidence of today’s society when creating the film. He believes we rely on technology far too much, and in the movie, that reliance ultimately leads to disaster for those who depend on it – their weapons and vehicles don’t save them.

Just a heads-up: Milla Jovovich’s character makes it through the movie! It always seemed unlikely the director would kill off his real-life wife. On the bright side, Monster Hunter didn’t do very well in theaters, meaning we probably won’t see a sequel.

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2025-11-05 00:03