The Hunt film: Watch an exclusive clip of the controversial suspense thriller

The film was previously cancelled after critics claimed it would incite violence and inflame political conflict

The Hunt tells the story of a group of red-state strangers kidnapped and hunted by “liberal elites” for sport.

Produced by Blumhouse, the suspense thriller sees the elites’ master plan derailed as one of the hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin), starts to play the game better than they do.

Gradually picking the elites off, one by one, Crystal slowly makes her way towards the mysterious woman (Oscar-winner Hilary Swank) who sits at the centre of what is a dark internet conspiracy.

The exclusive clip shows Crystal and Hilary Swank’s character fighting in a kitchen.

The feature was produced by Jason Blum, the horror mastermind behind Get Out and The Purge, and Damon Lindelof, creator of the HBO series Watchmen and co-creator of the TV series Lost. The director is Craig Zobel (Z for Zachariah, The Leftovers).

The film was originally set to be released in August of last year but was cancelled by Universal in the wake of a series of mass shootings in the US and criticism of the film by Donald Trump.

In his first interview since the movie was shelved, Zobel has argued that the thriller’s message was misrepresented in media reports.

Zobel told Variety he had no intention of inflaming political conflict.

“If I believed this film could incite violence, I wouldn’t have made it,” he said, adding that his aim was to satirise “both sides” of the divide.

The Hunt will be in cinemas from the 11th March