Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Afouotos
Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Ibby Levin
I had the pleasure of stumbling onto this while on a Willem Dafoe marathon, It definitely surpassed my expectations in the sense that I went in thinking it would be another typical shallow hunter/wilderness special. It was more than that with a refreshingly original main story with a sub plot that kept me thinking. with gloomy visuals of the environment and town, it really compliments the overall tone of the movie. Dafoe's acting is so natural and really draws you in with subtle facial expressions (you'll notice when he is alone) definitely recommend for a rainy night in by yourself or with people with similar taste.
Paul Magne Haakonsen
I happened to find "The Hunter" at the local secondhand DVD store and at a price of $2 it as worth a try. A with Willem Dafoe at the helm you are already well on the way. And I will say that this was a good movie, and Willem Dafoe had a lot to carry and he came through on every account."The Hunter" is about Martin (played by Willem Dafoe) who is sent from France to the Tasmanian wilderness by his employer to look for the elusive Tasmanian tiger.While the movie is mostly just Dafoe out in the wilderness, then there was just something majestic and fulfilling about the movie. Not only did Dafoe carry the movie so well and put on a great performance, but the beauty of the movie and the atmosphere was just spellbinding.I think it was a shame that Sam Neill didn't have a bigger role in the movie, because he is also a great actor."The Hunter" is the type of movie that creeps up on you, sinks its teeth in and sticks with you. If you haven't already seen it, you should take an hour and a half to actually sit down and watch it, because it is a beautiful movie.
Elizabeth Rose
Using the idea of tracking the last Tassie Tiger to tell a larger tale could have failed badly, but in this case, it was handled with such subtlety, it lets the viewer tease out the story for him or herself, making it a far better movie. In some respects, it reminds me of *The Constant Gardener* in the sense of pitting human conspiratorial greed vs. nature and local populations. But it also tells an amazing story of human relationships by showing a parallel between the endangered/extinct animal and several different characters. (I urge you to keep an open mind about the symbolism, it is multi-layered.) It unfolds carefully, but builds suspense from the beginning. It lets the viewer ascertain the characters and their motivations for him or herself. The acting was pitch perfect all around, the cinematography was beautiful, and the score was perfect. If you keep your expectations reasonable (e.g., don't expect an action-heavy movie), you will be impressed by a real thriller that will leave you breathless with the climax and with a lump in your throat at the denouement.
mpurvismattp
I just finished this film and found it to be a good watch, it's a slow moving film but a viewer with some patience should find it quite emotionally satisfying. Defoe is once again magnificent and plays a hunter out on the trail of possibly the last Tasmanian tiger left in existence. He comes into a place where he is not wanted by the locals and his only sanctuary is with a mother and her two children who's husband/father was lost mysteriously while tracking the very same animal. The two children play very different parts, the girl a precocious little chatterbox and the young boy very possibly scarred by his fathers disappearance and left speechless. Both children are terrific little actors and even though the boy does not have much to say verbally he still expresses himself quite clearly and Defoe's character seems to speak his language. Overall this movie is very unique and beautifully shot, It's minimal dialogue and picturesque surroundings leave your mind to ponder what is around the bend and what the story's characters may find in each other. if you need a movie with a fast pace and a typical storyline then this may not be what you're looking for but to me it's a very good indie and shouldn't be missed.