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Hunter Hunter, 2020
Deep in the woods, Anne (Camille Sullivan) lived with her husband Joseph (Devon Sawa) and teenage daughter, Renee (Summer Howell). The family lives off the grid, sustaining themselves through hunting local animals. But following a disturbing discovery in the woods, Joseph goes AWOL, and Anne and Renee are left wondering what has become of him. A less than helpful response from the local police (Gabriel Daniels, Lauren Cochrane) and the appearance of a mysterious stranger (Nick Stahl) make things more complicated.
A lot of horror films suffer from setting up an intriguing concept and then slowly declining, often not knowing how to wrap things up. This film is interesting in that it is the middle third that lags the most, while the ending is actually quite strong. The first act does a good job of establishing the family's isolated life in the woods. But once Joseph disappears, the film lingers in a weird space. Some of the character actions just didn't ring true to me--the film struggles as it tries to put all of the pieces in place for its final act. Once that final act arrives, however, it is suitably shocking and gory.
Aside from its finale, the film's other main strength is the ambiguity it threads throughout. This is one of those films that keeps you wondering whether what is happening is supernatural or real (or some mix of the two), and I enjoyed that. Being isolated in the woods can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be very dangerous. The film really shows this double-edged relationship, and particularly the way that a stressful situation can lead to an antagonistic relationship with your environment.
The film does drag at times--especially in the middle third--and I was frustrated at points by character decisions that seemed to exist only so that certain characters would be in certain places at certain times in order for the finale to work. At the same time, the finale is powerful enough that I walked away with an overall positive impression. Especially recommended for horror fans. Not great, but worth a look in my opinion.
Hunter Hunter, 2020
Deep in the woods, Anne (Camille Sullivan) lived with her husband Joseph (Devon Sawa) and teenage daughter, Renee (Summer Howell). The family lives off the grid, sustaining themselves through hunting local animals. But following a disturbing discovery in the woods, Joseph goes AWOL, and Anne and Renee are left wondering what has become of him. A less than helpful response from the local police (Gabriel Daniels, Lauren Cochrane) and the appearance of a mysterious stranger (Nick Stahl) make things more complicated.
A lot of horror films suffer from setting up an intriguing concept and then slowly declining, often not knowing how to wrap things up. This film is interesting in that it is the middle third that lags the most, while the ending is actually quite strong. The first act does a good job of establishing the family's isolated life in the woods. But once Joseph disappears, the film lingers in a weird space. Some of the character actions just didn't ring true to me--the film struggles as it tries to put all of the pieces in place for its final act. Once that final act arrives, however, it is suitably shocking and gory.
Aside from its finale, the film's other main strength is the ambiguity it threads throughout. This is one of those films that keeps you wondering whether what is happening is supernatural or real (or some mix of the two), and I enjoyed that. Being isolated in the woods can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be very dangerous. The film really shows this double-edged relationship, and particularly the way that a stressful situation can lead to an antagonistic relationship with your environment.
The film does drag at times--especially in the middle third--and I was frustrated at points by character decisions that seemed to exist only so that certain characters would be in certain places at certain times in order for the finale to work. At the same time, the finale is powerful enough that I walked away with an overall positive impression. Especially recommended for horror fans. Not great, but worth a look in my opinion.