Movie Review: After the Hunt

 Movie Number 39 of 2025

The Movie: After the Hunt

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Runtime: Two hours 18 minutes

Stars: 4

This is going to be a contentious one to review. I went with Jay to see this today. I loved it. She hated it. Everything I loved about it she loathed. She put it down to a pile of wank. I loved so much about this film - but it is not going to be for everybody, and I'm ready to admit this. It's not been favourably reviewed on RottenTomatoes.com, although it's faring better on the IMDB.com reviews. I am also posturing that the Ritalin is making me pay extra attention to what's on the screen, making me enjoy it more.

The cast drew me to this first up. Julia Roberts, Ayi Edebiri (from The Bear) Andrew Garfield, Chloe Sevigny and Michael Stuhlbarg are the key players. They're all fantastic. 

Also, the film is touted as a thriller/crime/drama. I'd put it in the straight drama group and be done with it - but not knowing where the film is going at any time is one of its strengths.

Also, maybe I'm biased. I've loved Luca Guadagnino's films in the past. Call Me By Your Name and A Bigger Splash are two of my most beloved films.  

What's this about? Alma (Roberts) is a Philosophy Professor at a prestigious Ivy League University. She has had to work hard to get where she is. She's married to Frederick (Stuhlbarg) in what appears to be an unequal, but solid marriage. She is very close to her colleague, Hank (An exuberant Andrew Garfield) and adored, almost to the point of obsession by her student, Maggie (Edebiri - if you haven't seen her on The Bear, hunt her out.) 

After a party at Alma's place, where Hank offers to take Maggie home, things go down. You get the feeling that something is up with Maggie from the film's early minutes. Maggie is also rich, black and gay - ticking a lot of boxes. When Maggie approaches Alma to tell her that Hank had assaulted her, the wheels start to come off for everybody. 

Jay found a lot of this heavy handed. I think she's missing the point. There are a lot of grey areas to navigate in this film. Who is telling the truth? Why has the power? What does privilege buy you? What can you get away with? When is lying by omission alright? Do women have to support other women all of the time? 

There are plenty of moral and existential minefields to navigate - this being the big drawcard for me. 

Next up, Luca Guadagnino's is cool. With a vision and lighting making everything feel up in the air, you're kept guessing. Nora Barrett's script is tight and relevant. I could also see this transferring to the stage very easily. If you've seen Guadagnino's other films, especially Challengers, you'll recognise how he loves to play in the grey. 

The other highlight for me, which was also disliked by Jay, was the soundscape. Envisaged by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame, the sound effects and music lend themselves to the claustrophobic feel of the film. Ticking clocks, overly loud music, what feels like inappropriate songs (the scene in the bar is very funny - and relatable) all bring this film into its own. 

This is not going to be for everybody. It takes you on a cat and mouse run around the morals and ethics of modern times. It's stylish and harsh. It makes you think. 

It's my sort of movie. 

Today's song: