After The Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield, and I have to be upfront: this movie is not going to be for everyone. I could actually hear some snarkiness in the theater during the screening, but it certainly offers a lot to unpack.
The Story and Its Core Theme
The film centers on a Yale professor who becomes intertwined in a sensitive situation involving a colleague and a budding student, Maggie. The student claims that she was assaulted by the other professor. But while this central conflict unfolds, there’s another underlying story involving Julia Roberts’ character, Alma.
The main takeaway I had from this story is that many things can be true at once. You see this specifically with the student, Maggie, who at times is cringy in the way that she behaves or presents herself, but there is this other truth to her situation that also exists. This complexity extends to Julia Roberts’ and Andrew Garfield’s characters as well.
The movie is very political, and I suspect it will probably upset a certain group of people. Go experience it for yourself and come up with your own opinion.
The Execution: Boldness and Distractions
I walked away feeling that there was something truly here in the concept. I think the filmmakers were trying to be bold, but then they seemed to pull back, only to try to be bold again. I don’t know how great they delivered on the story itself, and at times, I thought they were weaving in an underlying story that I’m not even sure was needed—it almost felt like they were building an excuse for things, which will make more sense when you see the film.
I also felt there were moments where the story felt “dumbed down” or over-explained specifically for the audience, which I don’t think was necessary. You will not walk out of this film with a neat, tight little bow; there are a lot of unanswered questions.
Divisive Sound and Visuals
Now, a lot of people are going to hate the sound, the music, and the sound editing. I actually did not; I enjoyed it. The person I went with absolutely hated it, but to me, those elements folded the story together a little bit better.
Visually, there is amazing cinematography in moments where you’re wondering why you’re not seeing something and they’re showing you something else. It felt a little vignette-y at times, but I didn’t hate it.
The Most Redeeming Element: The Cast
The most redeeming thing about this entire film is the acting, specifically by all three of its stars.
- Julia Roberts is phenomenal. This is probably one of her best performances. I am convinced that if she is not nominated, there is something wrong with the universe.
- Andrew Garfield is really, really good in this, another strong performance from him.
- Ayo Edebiri’s performance is so different from what we’ve seen her in before. Her character, Maggie, is developed so purposefully that she puts you in a position where you’re asking yourself, “Do I like her or do I hate her?” The more I thought about it after the film, I realized that the cringiness was intentional and brilliantly executed.
My Final Verdict
I’m going to give After The Hunt a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
It is not the masterpiece that you hear a lot of people talking about, but I did find it enjoyable and thought-provoking. Go check it out now in theaters and form your own opinion!
