Hunter Hunter

On face value what appears to be a fairly unassuming low-budget Canadian backed thriller/horror ends up becoming something else entirely in its latter stages thanks too a sharp pivot as Hunter Hunter escapes the doldrums of a slowly staged start and some el-cheapo production values to become a small-scale genre mash-up that is well worth tracking down.

Directed by Shawn Linden, who brings this film to life based off a script he had in the pipeline since 2007, Hunter Hunter starts out in a so-so fashion as he introduces us to Camille Sullivan and Devon Sawa's couple Anne and Joseph who alongside their young daughter Renee (played well by Summer H. Howell) live out a secluded life in the wilderness scraping out an existence as fur trappers only to have their simple lifestyle interrupted by a ravenous wolf that poses a significant threat to their lives and livelihoods.

There's certainly nothing overly new about this particular set-up, there have been numerous small budget and big-scale tales of man vs beast over the history of film and far before moving pictures ever existed but without going directly into heavy spoiler territory, Hunter Hunter doesn't end up becoming the exact type of film you would initially expect it too be and for a film with miniscule funds and options, it does well to morph into a genuinely unnerving tale that will linger long in the memory thanks to its insane finale.

At the heart of all of these happenings are some memorable little turns also with Sullivan doing good work as the determined yet frightened Hannah and the increasingly rugged looking Nick Stahl as the injured house guest of the couple Lou, a man who offers either a hindrance or a potential help to their survival against a animalistic threat that could strike at any moment.

As is the case with many films of this low-end ilk, Hunter Hunter is rough around the edges in many departments with Linden's direction mostly by the numbers and delivered without much flair and many production values lack a certain polish that could've otherwise elevated this grim and dreary affair but while never reaching grand heights, this is a little film that could and will be sure to please genre fans seeking an unpredictable bout of storytelling from a film many would've expected nothing from.

Final Say -

Doing well to overcome a slow start and a middling middle section, Hunter Hunter takes a dark and shocking turn in its latter stages and proves even the most unlikely of films have a chance to become something more even when the odds are stacked well and truly against them.

3 traps out of 5.

Hadn't heard of this movie until tonight but so glad I watched it. I'd like to argue some of the negatives posted by others but I won't spoil the plot. All I will say is the title is your answer - the two male protaganists had history which explains all the "why didn't he..." criticisms. I hope that is cryptic enough to not mean I need enable a spoiler alert. This starts slow but stick with it, it is atmospheric, the music - especially the drumming - is wonderful. The acting is perfect, the scenery gorgeous and even the sounds accompanying the end credits keep the whole feel going. I love films that are "out there" and just keep surprising you. This movie is brilliant, one of the best I have seen this year.

There are all sorts of predators in the forest of this here film, ranging from a family of trappers to an increasing emboldened wolf to something much, much worse.

An intense and dread inducing 80 min. of quality slow-burn ultimately give way to a catherdic showstopper of an ending that pure grand-guignol grotesquely. A fantastic little cold-blooded indie film to cap of 2020.

My top three list of films for the year now goes like this.

1. Possessor 2. The Dark and the Wicked 3. Hunter Hunter

If you liked the aforementioned titles, I'm positive you'll love Hunter Hunter.

Hope you enjoy it.

A family struggle to survive as trappers in remote woodland, but after discovering traces of a predator they become the prey ...

Movies about isolation can be a real drag, but this is well paced and produced. The cinematography and editing relieve the monotony of endless pine trees, and the music and eerie forest sounds keep up the tension.

Performances are good, with a tense family dynamic revolving around a taciturn Rugged Individual of a father, but that's not what the story explores. Instead it ends up a brutal reflection on solitude, when people are left to their own devices without the support of others, from scraping by in an increasingly pointless tradition to indulging humanity's sickest urges.

The climax involves merciless punishment - to the point of pornographic voyeurism. At best, this is a bleak picture of how bad it gets when depravity is offered no resistance; at worst, no better than a snuff movie.

Overall: Well made survivalist tale, but whichever way you take it the implications are unpleasant.

I don't normally bother to comment on a film that already has loads of reviews but am prompted to do so for this one. A really gripping watch.