Huntress: Dead On Arrival

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8.8
 
9.7 (8)
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Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2021
Original Running Time:
106 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
85 minutes
Subtitles Available:
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
From a shallow POV, the original movie is a mix of “The Wolverine” (Japan setting) and Logan (Dies at the end, mentors protégé.) But since the script is a rip off of the 1950s film D.O.A., we lean into that – trying to leave some mystery as long as possible. I love that part of Huntress's mythos is that she crusades to put an end to the crime families. All the violence in this edit is focused on yakuza gangs, so I think this edit ends up working well within the overall idea of Helena Bertinelli, pre New-52. Also that Varrick's agency could actually be Spyral.
Intention:
I do LOVE my DCEU, so any chance to add to that franchise is a worthy challenge IMO.

An edit of Kate (Netflix 2021) that removes all name references so the movie can stay within the DCEU.
Additional Notes:
Major Changes: Flashbacks integrated with backstory from Birds of Prey movie. Dialogue tightened throughout to remove the most cringy lines. Shots in fight scenes where Huntress looks anything but badass are removed as much as possible, fight scenes tightened for better intensity and flow. Some scenes reordered for more narrative mystery.
Other Sources:
BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)
Special Thanks:
DirtyCop1036 for great support and ideas!
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
Major Changes:
Flashbacks integrated with backstory from Birds of Prey movie.
Dialogue tightened throughout to remove the most cringy lines.
Shots in fight scenes where Huntress looks anything but badass are removed as much as possible, fight scenes tightened for better intensity and flow.
Some scenes reordered for more narrative mystery.
Cuts and Additions:
Opening Osaka scene removed, used later as flashbacks
Movie opens with Huntress telling Varrick she is done working for him. Dialogue edited to remove Kate name and extra exposition.
Bar scene dialogue edited to be a basic hotel bar hookup.
Dialogue with Agency during the Huntress agency missions (possibly Spyral) removes “Seasonal” codename for Huntress.
First flashback heavily trimmed and mixed with flashback footage from Birds of Prey movie (Now added more flashback footage including the full Bertinelli Massacre)
Doctor scene trimmed to remove some exposition and Huntress knocking items off table
Huntress hospital escape scene trimmed to remove some of the discussion by the security staff, so Huntress stealing the cop’s gun is more believable. After Effects and Topaz used to remove burned in subtitles of cop dialogue.
Dialogue in confrontation with Stephen and wife trimmed heavily to introduce the Kijima Clan first, then mention Sato.
Dialogue in Bathroom scene with Stephen’s wife trimmed to remove Boom Boom Lemon mention and their chat about “remembering her”
Dialogue with Varrick trimmed to remove her name, and to remove the obvious signs (odd looks) that something is fishy with Varrick.
Shots of Huntress sneaking Black Lizard removed.
Fight scene at Black Lotus trimmed to keep Huntress as badass as possible, tightening fight sequences for brutality.
Club scene trimmed to remove flashback of Ani in the alley with her dead dad.
Renji office scene FX to remove Kate’s name from the screens
Huntress and Gang fight in alley trimmed for more badass-ness
Dialogue during the attempted execution of Ani trimmed to just be about her mixed heritage.
Huntress alley flashback rebuild to focus on Helena losing her brother in the Massacre as a similar helpless child victim
Ani and Huntress alley dialogue trimmed to remove some exposition
Ani making fun of Boom Boom Lemon at the vending machine removed
Ani and Huntress picnic table dialogue trimmed to remove some of Ani fawning over Huntress
Jojima fight start trimmed to remove any gunfire that might alert security, Ani shooting Huntress removed
Huntress phone call with Varrick dialogue trimmed to remove Helena name and her revealing Kijima’s location
Ani and Huntress taxi ride dialogue trimmed
Ani and Varrick alley dialogue trimmed to remove Kate name
Osaka hit scene moved to alley discussion when Varrick reveals the truth to Ani. Flashback edited to remove shots of Ani’s braces, removing signs this event was more recent.
Huntress “head wound recovery flashback” scene rebuilt to focus Ani’s progressing mirroring Huntresses own path toward violence from Varrick’s guidance
As he walks up to her, Kijima line that he found Huntress medicine removed, burnt-in subtitle removed with After Effects
Huntress getting up from gunshot wound removed
Renji and Varrick meeting dialogue has been heavily trimmed to remove some of the most cringy lines and get straight to the point
Kijima in limo outright saying “Boom Boom Lemon?” removed
During Tower shootout scene, most scenes of Renji and Varrick reacting and planning their defensiveness trimmed. Some tower shootout scenes trimmed and reordered to keeping Huntress as badass as possible
Final Huntress/Varrick confrontation dialogue heavily trimmed.
Huntress death scene intermixed with end credits, dialogue trimmed and slightly rebuilt to have Huntress’s last line to Ani be “Be someone less angry”
Teaser Trailer

Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2021
Original Running Time:
106 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
85 minutes
Subtitles Available:
Available in HD:
Synopsis:
From a shallow POV, the original movie is a mix of “The Wolverine” (Japan setting) and Logan (Dies at the end, mentors protégé.) But since the script is a rip off of the 1950s film D.O.A., we lean into that – trying to leave some mystery as long as possible. I love that part of Huntress's mythos is that she crusades to put an end to the crime families. All the violence in this edit is focused on yakuza gangs, so I think this edit ends up working well within the overall idea of Helena Bertinelli, pre New-52. Also that Varrick's agency could actually be Spyral.
Intention:
I do LOVE my DCEU, so any chance to add to that franchise is a worthy challenge IMO.

An edit of Kate (Netflix 2021) that removes all name references so the movie can stay within the DCEU.
Additional Notes:
Major Changes: Flashbacks integrated with backstory from Birds of Prey movie. Dialogue tightened throughout to remove the most cringy lines. Shots in fight scenes where Huntress looks anything but badass are removed as much as possible, fight scenes tightened for better intensity and flow. Some scenes reordered for more narrative mystery.
Other Sources:
BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN)
Special Thanks:
DirtyCop1036 for great support and ideas!
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
Major Changes:
Flashbacks integrated with backstory from Birds of Prey movie.
Dialogue tightened throughout to remove the most cringy lines.
Shots in fight scenes where Huntress looks anything but badass are removed as much as possible, fight scenes tightened for better intensity and flow.
Some scenes reordered for more narrative mystery.
Cuts and Additions:
Opening Osaka scene removed, used later as flashbacks
Movie opens with Huntress telling Varrick she is done working for him. Dialogue edited to remove Kate name and extra exposition.
Bar scene dialogue edited to be a basic hotel bar hookup.
Dialogue with Agency during the Huntress agency missions (possibly Spyral) removes “Seasonal” codename for Huntress.
First flashback heavily trimmed and mixed with flashback footage from Birds of Prey movie (Now added more flashback footage including the full Bertinelli Massacre)
Doctor scene trimmed to remove some exposition and Huntress knocking items off table
Huntress hospital escape scene trimmed to remove some of the discussion by the security staff, so Huntress stealing the cop’s gun is more believable. After Effects and Topaz used to remove burned in subtitles of cop dialogue.
Dialogue in confrontation with Stephen and wife trimmed heavily to introduce the Kijima Clan first, then mention Sato.
Dialogue in Bathroom scene with Stephen’s wife trimmed to remove Boom Boom Lemon mention and their chat about “remembering her”
Dialogue with Varrick trimmed to remove her name, and to remove the obvious signs (odd looks) that something is fishy with Varrick.
Shots of Huntress sneaking Black Lizard removed.
Fight scene at Black Lotus trimmed to keep Huntress as badass as possible, tightening fight sequences for brutality.
Club scene trimmed to remove flashback of Ani in the alley with her dead dad.
Renji office scene FX to remove Kate’s name from the screens
Huntress and Gang fight in alley trimmed for more badass-ness
Dialogue during the attempted execution of Ani trimmed to just be about her mixed heritage.
Huntress alley flashback rebuild to focus on Helena losing her brother in the Massacre as a similar helpless child victim
Ani and Huntress alley dialogue trimmed to remove some exposition
Ani making fun of Boom Boom Lemon at the vending machine removed
Ani and Huntress picnic table dialogue trimmed to remove some of Ani fawning over Huntress
Jojima fight start trimmed to remove any gunfire that might alert security, Ani shooting Huntress removed
Huntress phone call with Varrick dialogue trimmed to remove Helena name and her revealing Kijima’s location
Ani and Huntress taxi ride dialogue trimmed
Ani and Varrick alley dialogue trimmed to remove Kate name
Osaka hit scene moved to alley discussion when Varrick reveals the truth to Ani. Flashback edited to remove shots of Ani’s braces, removing signs this event was more recent.
Huntress “head wound recovery flashback” scene rebuilt to focus Ani’s progressing mirroring Huntresses own path toward violence from Varrick’s guidance
As he walks up to her, Kijima line that he found Huntress medicine removed, burnt-in subtitle removed with After Effects
Huntress getting up from gunshot wound removed
Renji and Varrick meeting dialogue has been heavily trimmed to remove some of the most cringy lines and get straight to the point
Kijima in limo outright saying “Boom Boom Lemon?” removed
During Tower shootout scene, most scenes of Renji and Varrick reacting and planning their defensiveness trimmed. Some tower shootout scenes trimmed and reordered to keeping Huntress as badass as possible
Final Huntress/Varrick confrontation dialogue heavily trimmed.
Huntress death scene intermixed with end credits, dialogue trimmed and slightly rebuilt to have Huntress’s last line to Ani be “Be someone less angry”
Teaser Trailer

Trusted Reviewer review

1 review
Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Even with the improved BOP movie we got from Keo, this is a huge contribution to the fan-edited-DCEU, and much closer in tone to an actual Huntress story. A super-clever idea, I hope this isn't the last backdoor-superhero movie we get. God knows there's lots of potential out there since just about every single actor has done a) a superhero movie and b) a middling action movie that could shine with some judicious trimming.
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8 reviews
 
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7-9 stars
 
0%
5-7 stars
 
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3-5 stars
 
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1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.7
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(8)
Audio Editing
 
9.9(8)
Visual Editing
 
9.8(8)
Narrative
 
9.4(8)
Enjoyment
 
9.3(8)
View all user reviews View most helpful
(Updated: February 26, 2024)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This was a deeply welcome surprise. I had never heart of the Netflix movie "Kate" (2021) so, WakeupKeo's idea of lightly filing away her given name, switching in Birds of Prey footage seamlessly with the flashbacks to her past REALLY did make this feel authentic. Likewise, it was watching Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who just goes from strength to strength) apply all that training and physicality she employed as Huntress in what feels like a continuity of character. The only reason I've left one star off enjoyment is because this is such a sad tale, soaked in regret that time has run out. It's a 10 for engagement, but the subtraction for "enjoyment" signifies a bitter-sweetness, which is frankly, to me, BETTER. It means that like Leon (which this felt rather like) it will stay with me. Meanwhile my wife also wasn't aware of the movie's existence and only worked out it was a fanedit about halfway through, when she realised there were no references to anything DC-related outside the flashbacks. Now THAT takes some skill and subtlety. Bravo!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0
(Updated: January 21, 2024)
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
As an original film, Netflix's Kate falls into the usual Western action movie traps of relying on making fun of foreign names/culture and letting its story get a bit heavy-handed with exposition and fight scenes. It is a solid film, but gives its own game away too soon in an effort to make the viewer care for the protagonist.

Huntress: Dead On Arrival manages to fix the flaws of the original film while seamlessly integrating Bird of Prey flashbacks to make this a very special entry in the gone-too-soon DCEU. The story and its mystery flows better, the fight scenes are more brutal and a bit more "comic book-y" in their speed and focus, and the relationship between Huntress and Ani is allowed to both breathe and build to its heartbreaking conclusion. I appreciate the "show don't tell" philosophy on display with Boom Boom Yellow--film is a visual medium and we don't need to use the soda to take cheap shots at Japanese culture for levity.

I will echo jasonflippy's notes about the leftover dishonored killer line and the boardroom-captive-boardroom movement and just add that the subtitle track had a slight inconsistency: sometimes it would translate the spoken Japanese, leading to white subtitle text appearing over the burnt-in blue subtitles. It only happened a few times (the server speaking at the restaurant before the second and third fight scenes, when Ani first enters the hotel claiming to have gotten away, and one or two lines in Kijima's confrontation with Huntress).

Varrick's death/final confrontation with Huntress felt a little too quick (he says a shot to the stomach will make you die slow, then immediately dies), but given the dialogue trims and the original scene anyway, I don't know that much can be done about that. All in all, an excellent release and one I intend to revisit frequently.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
(Updated: January 05, 2024)
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
This was a very tight and impressive clean-up of "Kate," and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The original was fun the first time but it lacked emotion, there were some strange choices, and it dragged just a little too long. This time through I swear I almost cried when she drank that damn soda. Good for her.

The one visual editing instance was at 1:06:26 where Kijima's subtitle says "...are a dishonored killer." but he doesn't say anything before that. It seems to cut in halfway through a sentence of his.

The one narrative issue for me was at the end when Ani goes from sitting at the board room table to being held prisoner, and she also goes from so mad at Kate that she shoots her to being really excited that Kate is coming to save her. I think cutting right from 1:08:47 to 1:09:13 will make it seem like Varrick and Ani have just been in the board room the whole time and also keep Ani's emotional responses consistent.

Other than that, this is a really really great cut. I enjoyed this so much more than the original. Excellent work!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 3 0
(Updated: March 28, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
7.0
This was a great concept, and I hope there are more opportunities to create superhero movies like this one. It's very well executed as well, with the flashbacks to Huntress' origin weaved in seamlessly, to the point that no one who didn't already know could tell you they were out of place.
I don't know if this was supposed to replace Birds of Prey or exist alongside it, but I felt it could have done with including some more scenes where Mary Elizabeth Winstead is explicitly being Huntress (though I haven't thought about it hard enough to know if that would be possible). I also think it would have been better for her to be acting as a vigilante rather than as an assassin for an agency. Removing the voice in her ear would go a long way to making this feel more like a Huntress movie.
Unfortunately the edit doesn't save Kate from being a pretty mediocre movie. If it wasn't an awesome concept fanedit, I don't think I would have much love for it, but I definitely hope the editor does more like this,

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
(Updated: February 21, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Checking the runtime for Kate, I noticed that twenty minutes had been cut from the edit. I was concerned that might cause problems, but as I sat through the thing, I was never happier to be proven wrong. Huntress: Dead on Arrival is a revelation, a creative work that delivers a tight, solid noir thriller starring a great lead performance and insanely cool action. It's such an arresting experience, you never notice how the main character isn't called by her name. You never need to be reminded, the character has enough parallels to Huntress in Birds of Prey that she speaks for herself, which this edit brings more to the front by seamlessly integrating that movie's flashbacks into the appropriate contexts, adding depth to the story by proxy. The edit is so well executed that.anybody who loved Birds of Prey, or even just loved Huntress in that movie, will get a kick out of this. It is definitely a gritty movie, which feels appropriate for her character.

(Based on the cut list, I kind of wish the editor kept the Boom Boom Lemon gag, that sounds like a cute bit of levity in that moment, and the pay off would have been utterly hilarious.)

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Yes
Format Watched
Digital
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