A teacher lives a lonely life, all the while struggling over his son's custody. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie.
The Hunt demonstrates how quickly the veneer of ‘civilization’ can be stripped away, and equally how swiftly ‘normality’ can be restored, although to the film’s credit, the coda adds a layer of ambiguity to proceedings.
It’s familiar territory but Mikkelsen is terrific, and the movie is earnestly engaged.
Vinterberg has created a drama-thriller with the atmospheric grip of a horror film.
It’s a remarkable, powerful and provocative piece of filmmaking and the fact that it’s being released in the UK at time when temperatures are already running high about this issue just gives the ideas within it added traction. The Hunt mercifully doesn’t hector or moralise though; it soberly encourages us to hold on to our humanity.
The acting on all fronts is outstanding, with Mikkelsen holding the centre magnificently as the wronged teacher, his life contaminated by the slow-acting poison of rumour. Twitterati take note.
About hyseria but never hysterical the picture is a grippingly told human drama which feels terrifyingly real.
One of the year's best films.
Beautifully performed and tough as nails, Vinterberg's social drama could not be any more timely.
Mikkelson is a past master at portraying wretched discomfort, but not every element in the film is so convincing.
Outstanding.
Self-satisfied and deeply cynical.
Vinterberg’s uneasy but compelling film comments not just on the willingness of society to believe the worst, but also how in relishing the fight against a common enemy, they abandon common sense.
Thomas Vinterberg--back in The Hunt
Climate of fear: Thomas Vinterberg has returned to form, revisiting child abuse, the subject of his breakthrough film
Thomas Vinterberg, interview: journey into the heart of darkness
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday November 30, 2012, until Thursday December 13, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday December 7, 2012, until Sunday December 16, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee from Friday December 7, 2012, until Thursday December 13, 2012. More info: www.dca.org.uk
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