After the Hunt is a film in which no character inspires much sympathy, which may be one reason why director, Luca Guadagnino’s latest effort has had such a mixed reception. With an all-star cast and a topical subject, it would seem to be a contender for higher honours in a quiet year at the cinema. But something, or several things, have gone wrong.
The plot is laden with deliberate obscurities, as characters keep secrets from each other and from the viewer. This is obviously meant to create a sense of mystery, although it often feels merely frustrating. We know there are things that need to be revealed, but those revelations take too long to arrive.
The story suffers from a lack of clarity, as it doubles back on itself, creating further confusion where we might expect resolution. For first-time scriptwriter, Nora Garrett, this may be a way of emphasising the complexity of the issues being raised. Justice is rarely a cut-and-dried affair, especially today, when many believe you can choose or discard facts to suit your opinion, but “complexity” or “ambiguity” are not concepts that will drive a narrative forward.