 | | | | | |
| LAPDANCE LARRY |
| SEVENTIES SIMON |
| PHOTOGRAPHY |
| COMIC ART |
| INTERVIEWS |
| Sub-menu 1.2.1.1 |
| FESTIVALS |
| EXHIBITIONS |
The Hunter
A mercenary, Martin David (Willem Dafoe), is dispatched by a biotech company to the Tasmanian wilderness to retrieve a DNA sample from the thought-to-be extinct Tasmanian Tiger; apparently the animal is possessing of a toxin which the corporation seeks to weaponize. Walking a thin line between local redneck miners and tree huggin' greenies, David surreptitiously lays traps for the rumoured, elusive beast while he shacks up with widowed mother, Lucy (Frances O'Connor).
The Hunter has many things going for it but credibility of plot is not one of them. Why on earth a multinational corporation, which clearly has some clout, would pour resources into tracking down an animal that by most accounts is extinct rather than source a tissue sample from a museum is not made clear. Perhaps the novel by Julia Leigh (the writer and director of the recent Sleeping Beauty), on which the film is based, exposed the reasoning behind this. There is also a turn of events towards the end of the film which defies all apparent logic but to mention it here would be too big a spoiler.
Plot flaws aside, however, the film is very competently produced and it is to director Daniel Nettheim's credit that the narrative cracks are papered over reasonably effectively as the film plays out to its remarkably brave conclusion.
The performances are roundly excellent and the slow burn nature of this psychological thriller puts it on par with the likes of Deliverance. Its application of themes of extinct Thylacines and murder in the Tasmanian wilderness invites frightful parallels to the gratuitous Aussie horror, Dying Breed, which is a little disconcerting while watching the film, but rest assured that no cannibals turn up here. And of course, the Tassie wilderness is, naturally, absolutely stunning.
Stuart Jamieson
www.thehuntermovie.com
|
|
| also featured |
| CURRENT COMPETITIONS! Get the Gringo Competition Thanks to Icon Movies, we have ten in-season double passes to give away to Get the Gringo! Read more >> The Women in Black Administering the sale of a deceased estate for a law firm, widower
Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) discovers a town where the children are
dropping like flies seemingly at the ghostly hands of a local vengeful
spirit - the woman of the title. Is it safe yet? After a mixed season last year of too many films that had a social agenda, is it safe now to go back to the cinema for nothing more than just a good time? Read more >> The Avengers After years on the outer, never quite making the big time, Buffyverse creator and Toy Story scribe, Joss Whedon, has finally arrived. Read more >> Mirror Mirror Funny how time and again movies with similar themes or stories seem to hit the cinema around the same time, think Deep Impact/Armageddon or even Naked Lunch/Barton Fink, and it's happening again this year with (of all things) Snow White. Read more >> American Pie: Reunion vs. Battleship In a titanic struggle to capture the hearts, minds and disposable incomes of an ever-younger audience, two films line up to do battle for the crown in the great popcorn war of 2012. Read more >> 21 Jump Street Transforming a popular TV show into a mainstream movie is very seldom a successful endeavour. Read more >> John Carter The votes are in and the result is clear: Andrew Stanton is the dud director of Pixar. Read more >> The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel There is a common complaint among older moviegoers that the majority of releases today are tailored to a specific demographic and their group gets short shift. Read more >> Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close As a clear sufferer of Asperger Syndrome, Oskar (Thomas Horn) is not short of an anxiety or two or a measure of compulsiveness. Read more >> Contraband Contraband is a continuing response to the question of where does a superstar film career go when the matinee idol good looks start to fade? Read more >> |
 |
| Stay up to date with modmove news |
| about modmove |
| What to know how we got started? Read more >> |
| read the modmove blog |
| Check out all the random stuff that didn't make it to the website! Read more >> |
| contact Us |
| If you have any queries or if you would like more information about modmove, we would love to hear from you! Read more >> |
| join our mailing list |
| subscribe to the mailing list and receive the modmove newsletter. |
| search |
| search modmove for previous news and reviews. |
Privacy Notice | Contact Us | Site Map | Copyright © 2009 modmove.com | Entertainment and Popular Culture in Review at modmove.com