The Hunter

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The Hunter

R

Released Apr 6, 2012

1h 40m

Drama

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

93 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A shadowy corporation sends a mercenary (Willem Dafoe) to Tasmania to track down a nearly extinct tiger whose genetic code holds the secret to a dangerous weapon.

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Critics Consensus

The Hunter occasionally suffers from predictability, but Willem Dafoe gives a terrific performance as an obsessive hunter on the trail of a mysterious beast.

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Jason Bailey

DVDTalk.com

It's a character study, for the most part, allowing the complications and relationships to puncture the narrative only when they have finally penetrated the man.

Apr 9, 2016

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Its mostly observant temper keeps us from being greatly moved, but it holds us with its acute, almost laboratory dissection of its people's beings.

Jun 19, 2013

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Steve Rose

Guardian

Dafoe is eminently watchable, and for the most part it's a distinctive, atmospheric movie that cherishes the persistence of mystery.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 5, 2012

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Ed Travis

Hollywood Jesus

The Hunter unfolds at a perfect pace and rests on a really strong script.

Mar 31, 2020

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Jim Ross

TAKE ONE Magazine

Although there are morsels to savour in Daniel Nettheim's nature drama, particularly the location and the cinematography that takes advantage of it, the film never really comes together into a satisfying or cohesive whole.

Feb 13, 2020

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

It gets bogged down in a saccharine subplot that ultimately derails the entire affair.

Rated: 2.5/5

Nov 8, 2019

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Pongo K

Deep. Somewhat too dramatic and cruel. Kind of slow, more a drama than action. It's ok. C it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

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Rodney S

Seriously, connected with Tasmania and having been there over 200 times, this was one of the most cringe worthy films I've ever seen. So bad, I literally thought of walking out! William Defoe was so not convincing in the role. It's a long time since seen, can't remember too many specifics. One of the worst sessions in a theatre ever!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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David S

All i can say is willem Dafoe need I say more. Only willem and liam neeson can turn a movie about a hitman hired to find a rare animal into an amazing movie. This movie is awrsome and Willem delivers. The cinematography is excellent in this movie. There is not much more i can say about this movie than that it is awesome. The acting, directing, cinematography and music is great in this movie. If you have not seen this movie then i recommend you do

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

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Emilliano Jr S

I felt the boredom all throughout.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

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Damyn S

While Defoe and O’Connor give commendable performances, the film’s political messaging is deeply flawed. The blatant critique of working-class Australian’s as murderous savages steals the underlying positive message the film attempts to deliver. The dichotomy of environmentalism against genuine working-class grievances sows an unnecessary division. The Hunter has potential as a fantastic tourist promotion for the often-forgotten Tasmanian landscape. But this open-ended attack of the working-class left me with overwhelmingly negative emotions – despite the heartwarming ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/09/24

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Sean M

Slow burn. We'll acted and filmed. But damn it really is disappointing story wise in terms of the culmination.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

Full Review

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Daniel Nettheim

Director

Willem Dafoe

Martin David

Frances O'Connor

Lucy Armstrong

Sam Neill

Jack Mindy

Morgan Davies

Sass Armstrong

Finn Woodlock

Bike Armstrong

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88%

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Synopsis

A shadowy corporation sends a mercenary (Willem Dafoe) to Tasmania to track down a nearly extinct tiger whose genetic code holds the secret to a dangerous weapon.

Director: Daniel Nettheim
Producer: Vincent Sheehan
Screenwriter: Alice Addison
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Porchlight Films
Rating: R (Language|Brief Violence)
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 40m

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