Going into movies completely blind has become a rather challenging thing for film fans to deal with. We’re marketed day in and day out with countless TV Ads, trailers and posters for any movie that’s coming out within a few weeks or even ones that don’t hit theaters for three to four months. Marketing is also a very crucial tool for people to pay money to see a movie. You have to market a movie, no matter how big or anticipated it is because the film fan community only represent a very small percentage of the movie going public. It’s hard to believe, but it’s just the fact that the general movie going public to pay much attention to movie news sphere. Any way, with that being said, every once in a while there comes a movie that you’ve heard whispers of but haven’t seen anything for it, whether it’s a poster, trailer or a TV Ad. Now it’s hard to make an argument about a movie that never got one’s attention because it clearly will catch somebody’s attention, but it’s happened to us before. There’s always that one movie that you had heard nothing about and went into with zero expectations. It’s very refreshing for die hard film fans to experience something like that because you don’t have any baggage for it nor have you even heard with the critic reception stands. It might also be a healthy dose for the mindsets of film fans to check out movies they’ve heard nothing about because it then allows them to really generate thoughts without having seen any of the reviews prior to the film. Now, you may have heard about the movie Hunter Hunter, and no we’re not talking about the anime series from 2011, Hunter Hunter is the latest horror movie distrusted IFC Films Studios and one that will stick with you for awhile. Hunter Hunter is a ferocious, savage and tension filled horror movie, one that delivers on great horror and terrific breakthrough performances. This is a haunting exploration of the survival of horrors with the brute force of nature and the hostility with mankind. We need to keep our eyes on actress on Camille Sullivan because her stealing and outstanding performance but we also need to discuss how masterful and scarring of this movie is. Oh boy.
Hunter Hunter focuses on this family that lives remotely in small cabin located in the middle of the wilderness. Joseph, the father of the family, is sort of the head of the house hold. He’s a fur trapper and he’s always out hunting for food so that he can provide for his family. His daughter, Renee, accompanies him on his hunting expeditions 24/7, instead of putting her in public schools and maybe an environment that would be better for her. While Joe and Renee are out hunting, the wife, Anne, resides at house, get water from the nearest river and make a trip to the closest store to pick up any essentials or sell the pelts that Joe has skinned. Life is going just fine, that is until their lives are threanted by thus wolf that’s been stalking them for that has come back to hunt them, and it’s then up to Joe to hunt it and put it down.
Tension is key in any horror movie and Hunter Hunter is full of it. The overall force of this is so wonderfully constructed because it encapsulates the formidable and petrifying nature of the forest. Even just by looking at the forest from the ground level and beyond, Hunter Hunter wistfully exhibits the cold blooded shadow that walks among the forrest. Just like in Steve Spielberg’s Jaws, Spielberg relies on character before we get to see the shark in full scale. We don’t see the shark for nearly half the movie but we still are genuinely full of anxiety just by looking at shots of the ocean. Not to say Hunter Hunter is a carbon copy of Jaws but in the woods, but it marvelously leaves it to audiences by showing very little and leaving it to imagine it for themselves. Director Shawn Linden doesn’t pull any punches on the gore and the violence in this movie, but what’s more impressive is the tone and the cruel conditions in this movie elevate the moral sense of the movie.
The next time we see Camille Sullivan casted in any upcoming project, we need to make sure we rush out to see it as soon as possible. She’s mostly known for her work in the realm of TV but has yet to make strong breakthrough in the world of movies. Hunter Hunter proved that Camille Sullivan is a force to be reckoned with. Her character and performance in this movie is, arguably, the best and maybe the most important aspect of this entire movie. Her performance is devastating, despairing and tragic, yet she still carries a cogent sense of control and vulnerability. This is the type of performance that’s not just worthy of an Oscar nomination, this worthy of taking home an Oscar statue.
Hunter Hunter is a unique and very innovative horror movie that deserves to be on the pantheon of a great horror experience. The horror is paced out well and it’s staggering, the performances are incredible and the movie is also prepossessing to look at. The ending of this movie will permanently scare you so just prepare yourselves for something truly gutsy.
My grade for Hunter Hunter: A-
Zane's take at the Cinema's 