Henry Cavill, widely known for his portrayal of Superman in the DC Extended Universe starting with 2013’s Man of Steel, faced significant setbacks in his career following that global recognition. The biggest misstep came with his lead role in the 2018 action thriller Night Hunter, where he portrayed Walter Marshall, a Minnesota detective chasing twin serial killers targeting young women. Despite Cavill’s star power and a strong ensemble including Alexandra Daddario, Nathan Fillion, Ben Kingsley, and Stanley Tucci, Night Hunter failed to resonate with audiences or critics, ultimately becoming a forgotten film briefly revived only by streaming platforms.
The film’s recent streaming success underscores a growing trend of popular services becoming refuges for movies that initially flop, even when featuring big-name actors. Cavill’s involvement in Night Hunter adds an ironic twist amid renewed discussion about his tenure as Superman, especially as David Corenswet’s acclaimed debut as the superhero shines new light on Cavill’s previous performances. Unfortunately, Night Hunter remains arguably the weakest film in Cavill’s career.
Why Night Hunter Failed to Connect with Viewers and Critics
Night Hunter presents itself as a serial killer thriller but suffers from a contrived and muddled storyline that unsuccessfully tries to borrow elements from iconic films like Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs. Instead of adding depth, these references only expose how far inferior it is compared to its genre predecessors. The movie attempts to dive into the psychological profile of its perpetrators—twin killers—but fails to surprise those familiar with serial killer tropes.
The characters lack depth and credibility, serving primarily as plot devices rather than believable individuals. Cavill’s character Walter Marshall is introduced as a Midwestern police detective, yet he inexplicably speaks with his natural British accent, creating a disconnect. Ben Kingsley’s Michael Cooper, a former judge turned vigilante, hunts child predators with his adopted teenage daughter by castrating them, a grim and sensationalist subplot. When the daughter is kidnapped, a tracking device quickly leads Marshall to a mansion housing kidnapped women and Simon Stulls, a schizophrenic supposedly responsible for a series of murders.
Simon’s portrayal as drooling, hysterical, and jittery reduces him to a caricature of depravity, far from the psychologically nuanced killers depicted in acclaimed films like 1986’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Unlike that film’s almost documentary-style realism, Night Hunter uses exaggerated stereotypes that feel both unconvincing and unintentionally absurd. The talented cast, including Cavill and Kingsley, are trapped in a narrative that neither uses their abilities nor convinces the audience of their characters’ motivations or actions.
Critical Reception Confirms Night Hunter’s Flop Status
The critical consensus was swift and harsh. Night Hunter rarely made a cinematic splash; it debuted on DirecTV’s video on demand and only later received a limited international theatrical release, where it earned roughly $1 million before fading into obscurity. The recent uptick in streaming views on Paramount+ brought the movie back into conversation, but critics remain unkind, with the film holding a low 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—the worst rating among Cavill’s lead roles, trailing even Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which scored 28%.
This film also stands out as the directorial debut of David Raymond, who has not directed any other features since Night Hunter, highlighting how this flawed thriller was both a misstep for Cavill and the filmmaker. Fans and critics alike often wonder how Cavill and other well-regarded actors became involved in a project with such a weak screenplay and disappointing execution.
Where Henry Cavill’s Career Stands After Night Hunter
The streaming revival of Night Hunter illustrates a broader reality for Henry Cavill: outside of the DCEU, none of his roles have fully captured public attention like Superman did. However, with David Corenswet now firmly associated with the modern Superman, Cavill can potentially redefine his career and escape the lingering shadow of his superhero persona. His willingness to take diverse roles signals his intent to showcase versatility rather than being typecast.
For example, Cavill’s upcoming casting in the reboot of Highlander might not have been well-received a decade ago, but now audiences are more willing to accept him in varied parts. Unlike Christopher Reeve, who struggled to break free from the Superman image, Cavill has worked with respected directors like Guy Ritchie, appearing in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) and preparing for another project, In the Grey. Over the last ten years, Cavill has proven to be a sort of acting “decathlete,” consistently performing in a broad range of genres and roles without capturing a definitive career-defining success outside the superhero realm.
While Night Hunter represents a notable failure, it may serve as a turning point in Cavill’s journey, emphasizing the challenges actors face when branching out of major franchises. How Cavill leverages this crossroads will determine the next phase of his career and whether he can definitively escape the mixed legacy of his post-Superman work.
