All that Mel Gibson's character, Bowdrie needs to survive is a cabin in the wilderness, his teenage daughter Tag, played by the impressive Sofia Hublitz (Ozark) and the wisely chosen moments he intermittently elects to utter a word or two. Apparently, socializing isn’t his strongest suit, and town visits are strictly relegated to supply runs. Sounds like the average anti-social's dream. Unfortunately for Bowdrie, this film needs drama and a whole lot of action, ensuring that his reclusive lifestyle and classically cool silence are disrupted and his suppressed combat skills are appropriately showcased.

The stage is set with Tag stumbling upon a dreadfully injured young woman, January, portrayed by Shelley Hennig (Unfriended), who’s washed ashore near their cabin, riddled with bullets. Enter Gibson's extraordinary nursing abilities, as he prepares to perform impromptu surgery - a moment highlighted with his understated advice to Tag: "It’s gonna get pretty screamy in here.”

From the shadows, a gang of merciless thugs led by the eerily cruel Alejandro (brilliantly played by Jordi Molla), known to have assassinated a law officer and January’s roommate, is hunting her down. Bowdrie opts to be her shield, shunted away from the mistrusted local police.

Two word: Karma visits. Some goons from the gang find themselves at Bowdrie’s home and in no time, they are reduced to mere ashes. Tag underscores the fact that she’s inherited her dad’s knack for handling a rifle, giving us a taste of her badass side.

Channelling the spirit of 80’s B-movie action flicks like a Charles Bronson special, Hunting Season takes a familiar commercial route, a common haunt for cooling off celebrities. But Mel Gibson isn't asleep at the wheel. The actor’s measured yet fired-up performance serves as a stark reminder why his name once dominated movie billboards. A visibly aged Gibson hasn’t lost the spark in his eyes that wowed audiences in the Lethal Weapon franchise. His communication is laconic, succinct and brutally honest, perfectly encapsulated when he threatens a tied-up goon, "You tell me what I want to know or I’ll kill you."

While Gibson’s lines carry a hefty machismo, his moments of humour are pure gold. When a stubborn crook refuses to cooperate, Bowdrie retorts, “What is wrong with you? If you had a lawnmower in my face, I’d tell you everything.” Gibson’s enduring charm keeps the movie afloat, complimented by director Collins' well-orchestrated action sequences and a dense script by screenwriter Adam Hampton.

Every film needs a villain to remember, and Alejandro fits the bill. Molla's weirdly unique take on Alejandro leaves one oscillating between hilarity and trepidation, providing a brilliant contrast against Gibson's subtle style, leading to a memorable showdown.