Review by James Lindorf
If you ever wondered what would have happened if teenage heartthrob Devon Sawa’s character from Final Destination never left the isolated cabin in the woods, the answer may be his character Joseph Mersault in “Hunter Hunter”. Joseph, his wife Anne (Camille Sullivan), and their teenage daughter Renée (Summer H. Howell) live in the remote wilderness, scraping together a living as fur trappers. With fur prices declining and winter on the horizon, things are already getting tight, but things take a turn when a rogue wolf returns to hunt their traps. Determined to catch the predator in the act, Joseph leaves behind an increasingly anxious family to track the wolf. One night several days into Joseph’s hunt, Anne hears a strange noise outside their cabin; instead of her husband, she finds Lou (Nick Stahl), severely injured and left for dead. The desire to help her fellow man may move the threat of a mysterious predator in the woods much closer to home. “Hunter Hunter”, which was written and directed by Shawn Linden and produced by Neil Elman, Juliette Hagopian, and Linden, will be available through VOD and in a limited number of theaters beginning December 18th.
Such a small film relies heavily on its performances and has put together an eclectic group for the cast. The cast centers on two men who are 20 years beyond their brightest days and two women who you’ve seen in things but are far from household names. Sawa is perfect as the chain-smoking isolationist who wants to live life on his terms away from everyone but his family. There is no explanation as to why he feels this way; he was probably raised that way since the land has been in his family for generations. Now he is indoctrinating Summer H. Howell’s Renee into the same thinking. Howell has some serious horror cred for a 16-year-old, with over a quarter of her filmography being in horror-themed film or television. Howell gives a better performance than Renee deserves given how the character was written. Renee is the weakest character in the family who mostly exists to be the scream queen and potential prey for both predators.
Stahl has had a rough time since his heyday in the late 90’s and early 2000’s including multiple stints in rehab. Stahl is just as good as Sawa while doing something completely different. Stahl trades in the nervous energy that made him famous for something more sinister. He would have been a good option for the new show “Clarice,” which will need a great villain to follow up Buffalo Bill. He doesn’t get much screen time in “Hunter Hunter”, and it would be nice to see what he can do with a more developed character and motivations the audience can understand. While her three co-stars career their weight, the rest of the film falls squarely on the shoulders of Camille Sullivan. Anne is easily the most complex character. She loves her husband and she is the support system for his lifestyle; she is the one that goes into town for food, supplies, and to sell their furs. She is also enticed by the lure of modern conveniences. There is a much more emotional film buried beneath the horror where Anne is stuck between supporting him and changing their way of life. Moving to the city could provide more stability and offer Renee more opportunities for a future outside of the woods, but it could cost her marriage. The idea of moving is quickly forgotten with the reappearance of the wolf and the need to survive to have the chance to make a change. While terrified of the wolf when pushed Anne is the typical momma bear, ready to fight to the death to protect her family.
Initially set up as a man vs. nature Linden’s third feature film takes a dark turn. Anne mistakenly believes she is living in a version of “The Grey” but finds herself in “Silence of the Lambs.” The climax of “Hunter Hunter” grips you with the strength of a bear trap as you wait to see how twisted things are going to get. The brutality in the closing moments rivals that of the Saw and Hostel franchises. It is not for those with a weak stomach or aversion to blood. Linden’s script gets by on character moments and by sprinkling in shocking moments. I would have liked to see a little more action or at least a more in-depth exploration of Lou and Joseph are and what drives them to do the things they do. “Hunter Hunter” shows a lot of promise for the future, but audiences may find the experience more fulfilling if they wait for it to show up on a streaming service they already have.
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Mystery
Original Language: English
Director: Shawn Linden
Producer: Neil Elman, Juliette Hagopian, Shawn Linden
Writer: Shawn Linden
Release Date Dec 18, 2020
Runtime: 1h 33m
