The Hunter was a
film I began to hear good things about late last spring but was unfortunately
unable to find a screening anywhere close to my local area (which happens to be
the third largest city in the UK).
In the end I probably saved myself a needless trip to the local Art House
Cinema as although featuring some decent moments and a good central
performance, The Hunter isn’t a film
worth writing home about.
A mercenary/hunter (Willem Defoe) is employed by a shady
European biotech company to travel to Tasmania
and track the illusive, presumed extinct Tasmanian Tiger. The animal, which
hasn’t been seen in the wild since 1930 is believed to have had a venom in its
bite which was capable of paralysing its prey. The company, Red Leaf, wish to
extract that venom for use in their biotechnology business. When he arrives in Tasmania, the hunter
stays with a family who have recently experienced loss and attracts the
unwanted attention of local loggers who are fearful for their jobs.