Blu-ray Review: Great Willem Dafoe Stars in Mesmerizing ‘The Hunter’

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CHICAGO – Willem Dafoe is one of those wonderful actors who seamlessly moves from mainstream fare to indie films and always seems purely in the moment and totally in character. He’s one of our most diverse and consistently underrated stars and I’ve loved the daring choices he’s made lately in films like “Antichrist,” “4:44 Last Day on Earth,” “Miral,” and “The Hunter,” my favorite of his recent stretch of arthouse flicks and recently released on Blu-ray and DVD.

“The Hunter” is a mesmerizing tale of man, nature, and business and how the three intersect. Dafoe plays the title character, a man hired to find a Tasmanian tiger that’s believed to be extinct. He grows closer to the family with which he lodges in between hunting excursions and Daniel Nettheim’s film build a wonderful sense of dread while also featuring some of the most spectacular nature cinematography of the year (which looks particularly impressive in HD). Very few people saw “The Hunter” in theaters. Do yourself a favor and catch up with it on Blu-ray and DVD. We need to support actors like Willem Dafoe, the few men and women who take honest risks with their careers and sometimes end up with gems like “The Hunter.”

The Hunter was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 3, 2012
The Hunter was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 3, 2012
Photo credit: Magnolia

Synopsis:
Martin David, a skilled and focused mercenary, is sent into the Tasmanian wilderness on a hunt for a tiger believed to be extinct. Hired by an anonymous company that wants the tiger’s genetic material, Martin arrives in Tasmania posing as a scientist. He proceeds to set up base camp at a broken-down farmhouse, where he stays with a family whose father has gone missing. Usually a loner, Martin becomes increasingly close to the family; however, as his attachment to the family grows, Martin is led down a path of unforeseen dangers, complicating his deadly mission.

Special Features:
o Making Of The Hunter: The Story, The Characters, Tasmania, The Tiger
o Deleted Scenes With Commentary
o Commentary With Director Daniel Nettheim and Producer Vincent Sheehan
o Theatrical Trailer

“The Hunter” stars Willem Dafoe, Frances O’Connor, and Sam Neill. It was directed by Daniel Nettheim. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 3, 2012.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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