The Hunter

2011 • 101 minutes

About this movie

Based on the acclaimed novel by Julia Leigh, THE HUNTER is a powerful psychological drama which takes us deep into the stunning Tasmanian wilderness.

Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe (SPIDER MAN, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, PLATOON) stars as Martin David, a mercenary hired by a mysterious biotech company to hunt for the last remaining Tasmanian Tiger. Under the wing of Jack Mindy (Sam Neill, THE PIANO), Martin lodges at the home of Lucy (Frances O'Connor, AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE), who is grief-stricken after the disappearance of her husband, Jarrah and struggling to care for her two children, Sass and Bike. As Martin goes about his clandestine mountain search, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to the troubled family and the treacherous landscape. 2011 Porchlight Films Pty Limited, Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Tasmania Development and Resources and Nude Run Pty Limited.

Ratings and reviews

Sense of unease never really subsides. It creates much fear of the beautiful but cold and unforgiving Tasmanian landscape. At times it makes the Tasmanian tiger seem like a supernatural beast, but the humans around the hunter are the truly hostile dangerous ones. It has a very emotional core. When I had first seen this I came in a little late and I just saw Defoe gutting what looks like a possum, but I thought to myself it couldn't possibly be an Australian possum. The Tasmanian Devils soon cleared it up.

If ever a film fell far short of vast potential this did. I expected the mounting tension to end in an explanatory crescendo. Sure I get the die free rather than be exploited by a faceless corporation concept but the moral of the story conflicts with the fact HE KILLED A TASMANIAN TIGER

Each actor confidently carry's their character through this intense movie. The story moves along slowly, but gracefully with an ever-present sense of drama. Words don't have to be spoken, the drama is just always there. Well worth seeing and with the Tasmanian wilderness as the backdrop, you will find the scenery breathtaking.