In Hunter of Hyena (2025), the stakes couldn’t be higher as the brutal world of wildlife trafficking collides with the gritty realism of action-thriller cinema. This first teaser offers an electrifying glimpse into a film where raw tension and relentless pursuit define every frame. With Dwayne Johnson and Scarlett Johansson in lead roles, this film promises not only heart-pounding action but a moral undercurrent that could make it one of 2025’s most gripping thrillers.

The story follows a phantom trafficker known only as “Hyena,” who turns warzones into wildlife pipelines, selling both human lives and endangered species as mere cargo. It is a world where cruelty and exploitation reign supreme, and it’s up to two unlikely allies to stop it. Johnson plays an ex-tracker with a tortured past, haunted by demons that push him toward redemption. Alongside him, Johansson portrays a razor-calm intelligence operative, whose skillful mind matches her deadly precision. Together, they form an uneasy but effective partnership in a race against time to cut the chain of trafficking before it reaches its final destination—a coastal auction where the fate of countless lives hangs in the balance.
The teaser itself is a feast for the senses, offering flashes of haunting imagery that set the tone for the film’s brutal aesthetic. Tire tracks carve through salt flats like scars on the earth, symbolizing the relentless march of exploitation. A freight train ambush unfolds under the cold, eerie light of the moon, while thermal silhouettes blossom in tall grass, adding an element of tense, heart-stopping anticipation. Every sequence feels deliberate, each shot contributing to the ever-present sense of danger and urgency.

Hyena’s calling card—an unnerving laugh without a face—haunts the protagonists throughout, a constant reminder of the phantom they are chasing. The stakes are personal, not only in terms of the lives at risk but also for Johnson’s character, whose past is woven into the very fabric of the mission. The film’s world is one where every clue, every moment of tension, feels like it is designed to mock the efforts of those chasing justice, as if the hunter is always one step ahead.
As the film progresses, the action intensifies. A market riot, triggered by the eerie laughter on shortwave radio, pushes the characters to their limits. Close-quarters combat in a cargo hold showcases sharp, visceral knife work, while a high-stakes cliff-edge convoy adds a sense of danger that could lead to extinction with a single missed shot. These are not just action set-pieces—they are moments of moral reflection, as the protagonists are forced to make life-or-death decisions that blur the line between right and wrong.
The director behind Hunter of Hyena has crafted a world where sun-baked realism meets slick, high-tech spycraft. The film is feral and fast, grounding its action in the harsh landscapes and difficult realities of human trafficking and environmental devastation. If the film can maintain this moral charge while delivering the muscular action promised in the teaser, it could carve out a new niche in the eco-thriller genre, offering not only adrenaline but a powerful message about the consequences of global greed.

Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of a man driven by redemption after years of personal turmoil promises to be a highlight. His presence on-screen is magnetic, his physicality matched only by the emotional weight of the character he brings to life. Johansson, as always, brings her signature calm intensity to the role, offering a perfect foil to Johnson’s more emotionally turbulent character. Their partnership is one of tension, trust, and the shared drive to stop a force greater than themselves.
The trailer’s pacing is unrelenting, leaving no room for breath as it cuts between high-octane action and quieter moments that reveal the stakes of the mission. The tension isn’t just in the explosions and gunfire—it’s in the space between, where every choice is critical and every second counts. The moral complexity of the story is what sets Hunter of Hyena apart from your typical action film. The line between hero and villain becomes increasingly blurred, challenging the audience to question the cost of justice.
As the teaser closes, the haunting laugh of Hyena lingers, leaving an unsettling sense of foreboding. This is not just a chase—it’s a battle against time, against the clock, and against an unseen adversary who plays the game of life and death with a cold, calculated hand. Hunter of Hyena has all the makings of a thrilling, thought-provoking action film, where every victory feels hard-won and every loss feels deeply personal.
With its blend of heart-pounding action, complex characters, and a world teeming with moral ambiguity, Hunter of Hyena is shaping up to be one of the most exciting thrillers of 2025. As the trailer promises, this is a journey where survival is just the beginning—and justice is an ever-elusive target.