Review by Melissa Hanson (Dial M For Melissa)
The story of a lone man hired to pursue an presumably extinct Tasmanian Tiger, the film is able to capture every angle of the consequences of it's capture with humility and beauty.
Willem Dafoe delivers a silent and moving performance as his character, Martin David, struggles with separating his duty from his longing to connect with the family from which he's renting a room. The children, Sass and Bike, are a joy; at once vulnerable and guarded as they interact with Martin. Sam Neill gives a layer of depth to his character who's caught between the two different sides and must make difficult decisions.
SPOILER I was very unsatisfied with the ending, as I would have liked for him to capture the tiger and share it with the world, but I understand that in this context of this story, it's exactly what the character would do. END SPOILER
As much as I enjoyed The Hunter as a film, I gained a greater love for it once I watched the special features. Making The Hunter, which consists of four parts, is a fantastic look into the production of the film and features multiple interviews with the director, production designer as well as with Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill. If you've never seen Willem Dafoe off-camera, it's a special treat as you can tell why the actor is one of the most prolific and respected actors working today. It's fascinating to watch him as he's preparing. Equally impressive is the insight into the production side, such as finding the location of the house and on casting a part that's only mentioned and featured in a photograph.
As a viewer, I always wonder how deleted scenes and why they are cut from the final feature. Make sure to watch the Deleted Scenes with the commentary to get the perspective of the director as those crucial decisions effect the outcome of the film.
Special Features
- Making The Hunter
- The Story
- The Characters
- Tasmania
- The Tiger
- Deleted Scenes (with or without commentary)
- Commentary by Director Daniel Nettheim and Producer Vincent Sheehan
Melissa Hanson, also known as Dial M For Melissa, has been a Cinemit member since 8/29/10, is a member of the Women Film Critic's Circle and also writes for MoviePass.
Follow me on Twitter @DialMForMelissa or Like Me on Facebook facebook.com/DialMForMelissa
The Hunter
Rated: R
Directed by: Daniel Nettheim
Written by: Julia Leigh (novel), Wain Fimeri (original adaptation)
Featuring: Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Morgana Davies
Plot: Martin, a mercenary, is sent from Europe by a mysterious biotech company to the Tasmanian wilderness on a hunt for the last Tasmanian tiger.
Trailer:
