THE HUNTER is an atmospheric film
with beautiful landscapes and an aura of mystery as Martin David (Dafoe), a skilled mercenary, keeps his distance from everyone
only to let a family in as he searches for the last Tasmanian tiger for his client. Martin
stays with this family whose eco-activist father is missing- the kids are running the place while the mother (Frances O’Connor)
is despondent. He reluctantly lets the family in as the dangers of the
mission of finding the elusive Tasmanian tiger become more dangerous. Martin
has an ally/ rival in the form of Jack Mindy (Sam Neill) who is torn between helping Martin and being loyal to the loggers
who think Martin is some green scientist doing a study. THE HUNTER
is one of those films that combines beautiful scenery captured by excellent cinematography with great acting and a story that
lets things breath. Most of the movie is from Martin’s point-of-view
except one scene (which I felt they should have left out of the final film). Martin
isn’t a man of many words as Dafoe lets Martin’s journey be portrayed through actions and silence through many
scenes, and showing the character as an internal figure who opens up through the course of his job.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio commentary with Director Daniel
Nettheim and Producer Vincent Sheehan that reveals many behind-the-scenes facts about the production. It is a very easy
listen.
Five deleted scenes which can be played
with or without director commentary. They’re extra moments cut for
pacing and story reasons.
THE MAKING OF THE HUNTER is a making-of
that split into several featurettes which can be played all at once or separately:
THE STORY- what drew the director and
cast to the novel which the film is adapted from
THE CHARACTERS- the cast and director
talk about the characters they play. Sam Neill says the story is about his character Jack Mindy.
TASMANIA- all about Tasmania
and the challenges they faced making the movie there.
THE TIGER- the history and continuing myths on the supposedly extinct Tasmanian Tiger (or does it still survive?).
Also included on the disc is the theatrical
trailer and previews for other releases from Magnolia Pictures.
FINAL ANALYSIS: THE HUNTER is a beautiful and atmospheric mystery capturing the mystery of the plot and the beauty of Tasmania
together in one film.
This DVD review is ©7-1-2012 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com
