chicagopoetry Review of The Hunter

The Hunter (IV) (2011)

Classic Example Of A Good Movie Without An Ending

[6/10 · 1 February 2012]

The Hunter. Willem Dafoe gives a fine performance. I almost want to use the words Oscar worthy but, well, not quite, but close. The scenery. Beautiful. Spectacular. Brilliantly shot. The colors of the Tasmanian wilderness from green to white will take your breath away. The plot. Original. A guy is sent to hunt down the last remaining Tasmanian tiger (thought to be extinct) in order to extract biological samples for some presumably diabolical purpose. The set up. Not bad. Instead of being a Ghost and the Darkness ripoff, the story involves the hunter sharing a cabin with two small children and their mother who is unconscious from prescription drugs, where he constantly comes back to after spending periods of time in the wilderness setting traps for his prey. And the townsfolk don't want him there: add some tension. Any other dimensions? Yes, he turns out not to be the first one hired by the evil company and certainly won't be the last based on the attempts upon his life. So what's wrong. Very lame ending. Enough said.