Huntress: Dead On Arrival

Updated
huntressdoa_front
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2021
Original Running Time:
106
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
85
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Netflix
Brief 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

User reviews

6 reviews
 
67%
 
33%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.8(6)
Visual Editing
 
9.8(6)
Audio Editing
 
9.7(6)
Narrative
 
9.2(6)
Enjoyment
 
9.0(6)
View all user reviews View most helpful
(Updated: March 28, 2023)
Overall rating
 
8.3
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Audio 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
W
Top 500 Reviewer 7 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Audio 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.
R
Top 10 Reviewer 156 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
(Updated: February 21, 2023)
Overall rating
 
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
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.)

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
N
Top 500 Reviewer 15 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0
(Updated: October 30, 2022)
Overall rating
 
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This is the kind of fan-edit that I love. Original, creative and a really fun challenge for the editor.
Kate is an average action thriller with a great lead performance that I was convinced I wouldn't ever watch more than once. But by making it part of the DCEU, and viewing it under the new lens of "gritty comic book movie" it works incredibly well and becomes a "must watch" for fans! I've already watched this edit twice.

The story of guarding a child while hunting down a mob family gives the narrative some surprising parallels to Birds of Prey. Additionally, the flashbacks from Birds of Prey fit seamlessly into this film, and give the character more depth that was lacking in the original Kate. The rearranging of scenes and specifically the decision to reveal the Osaka mission later in the film also worked to make the movie far more intriguing from the get go. At 84 minutes, this movie runs at a breakneck pace! The fight scenes are trimmed and edited masterfully. If I hadn't already seen Kate, I'd never know this was a fan edit.

This is a wonderful follow up to Wakeupkeo's Bird's of Prey edit (the definitive version of that film, in my opinion) and an excellent addition to the DCEU. Also, huge props to the title graphics work that was done here. Looks great!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
J
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This is a really nice piece of work, not only in terms of the creativity of the idea but also the execution. The Kate and Huntress characters line up so well. The BOP Huntress scenes have been integrated perfectly and it felt like this is exactly how the movie was always intended to be. The extra effort made to include a nod to the SPYRAL agency is also appreciated. Highly recommend you don't sleep on this and let this surprise addition to the DCEU slip under the radar.

User Review

Format Watched?
Digital
S
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
View all user reviews