After the Hunt Movie Review

​Not what I was expecting. “After the Hunt” ultimately proved to be… unexceptional. It’s filled with plenty to look at and listen to, the score, top-notch, the cinematography tremendous, as I assumed it would be based on those involved.The cast of “After the Hunt” screamed “see me” at me, and it may do the same for you, but don’t be fooled unless you are okay with being more confused after the movie than you were when reading the synopsis. The Cinematographer, Malik Hassan Sayeed, was the director of photography on Denzel Washington’s “He Got Game” and has been known for making entertaining music videos. His decades-long experience enables him to enhance the images displayed on screen, regardless of the subject matter. The work is like what one would do when needed to put makeup on a pig. Do the job, but you ultimately can’t disguise what it is.

As I mentioned, the music, composed by founding members of Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, evokes a chilling vibe, which is crucial in this particular psychological thriller. In 2010, they composed the score for “The Social Network” and have been composing music for films ever since.

This movie is entertaining because of the cast, sound and the clever camera work, but the script wasn’t very well thought out. It’s one gigantic “He said, she said,” with really nothing else going on. After it began, I prepared for a Woody Allen-type drama due to the opening credits, which oddly resembled the font he uses for all his movies. An ode to him, possibly? “It happened in Yale” is splashed across the screen. Okay, let’s get nuzzled into the seat to find out what that’s all about. Now, I’m asking you a question: What would you do if you were accused of a crime?

If you were Andrew Garfield’s character here, Hank, a professor at Yale, you wouldn’t do much of anything. Two lives are ruined by an accusation of rape, all because the one pointing the finger comes from wealth. I guess we’re supposed to accept that she, student Maggie, played by Ayo Edebiri from “The Bear,” gets to continue accusing anyone of anything? Maggie goes to philosophy professor, Alma, played by Julia Roberts. She’s Maggie’s favorite teacher and someone Maggie’s obsessed with. Alma seems to automatically be on Maggie’s side. There’s no proof whatsoever, no witness or DNA evidence that anything happened between her and Hank. Still, in Maggie’s opinion, Alma’s just going to take her word over a colleague and someone she considers a friend, because Hank walked her home. That’s not enough. How does Alma get out of this pickle without appearing to be on someone’s side? Especially when Hank belongs to her.

Hank defends himself to Alma against what Maggie, a black and gay woman, is saying about him. She barely listens to his accusing Maggie of plagiarism. Why was he with her at all? He explains he is well aware that everything he has worked for can be taken away just because the clash of tales is about money versus a teacher’s pay. When your biggest counterpoint is that this is what happens in society against white men, you’re not starting off very well. But then again, do you automatically disbelieve Maggie because she’s a black woman?

There’s an incredible scene for Roberts to showcase her talent when she tells of her love for an older man. She was a young girl, deeply in love with him. He gave her some attention, but when he pulled it back, she made up a story to hurt him. She was believed, and it shattered his life and career. She destroyed him to show him she loved him. Has Hank considered that Maggie didn’t know how to deal with the feeling of love outside of those she saw as the female champions in her life?

Garret, known for her acting abilities, unfortunately didn’t tidy up her script. Constructing the narrative seemed foreign to her, and Guadagnino’s (Call Me By Your Name) directing should have done some of that for you. He’s known for getting what he wants from his actors, but the storytelling wasn’t there. He didn’t seem to notice Garret’s lack of design elements.

I had hoped Guadagnino would have thought things through enough to give the audience a proper ending at the very least. Conflicting accounts between the two main characters weren’t enough to finish on. With the story leaving you hanging, it’s hard to recommend this to you. However, I suggest it as a see on a day with nothing else to do for what is good.