The Hunt

Name: The Hunt
Genre: Drama
Released: July 12, 2013
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Alexandra Rapaport, Anne Louise Hassing, Annika Wedderkopp, Lars Ranthe, Lasse Fogelstr

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 280 Ratings

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 280 Ratings

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The Hunt

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: July 12, 2013 | R

Starring: Alexandra Rapaport, Anne Louise Hassing, Annika Wedderkopp, Lars Ranthe, Lasse Fogelstr, Mads Mikkelsen, Ole Dupont, Susse Wold, Thomas Bo Larsen

Summary: 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 a lie.

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 115 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Claudia Puig

Jul 11, 2013

An outstanding lead performance by Mads Mikkelsen (who won best actor for the role at Cannes in 2012) anchors this hauntingly layered and nuanced drama of a man falsely accused of a terrible deed. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Jul 11, 2013

This is filmmaking of a high order, even though the production's scale is modest and the climax is not without its facile contrivances. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Jul 11, 2013

Thomas Vinterberg (“The Celebration”) directs with restraint that makes the story all the more affecting. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Apr 15, 2013

It is forthright, powerful, composed and directed with clarity and overwhelming force, yet capable of great subtlety and nuance. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Jul 12, 2013

This is thematically rich material; unfortunately, like a few too many dramas from the past decade, The Hunt resists expressive uses of style, opting instead for gently bobbing handheld camerawork. It's an actor-friendly approach. Read full review

Noel Murray

Jul 11, 2013

While The Hunt skillfully puts viewers through the wringer, it’s often for no higher purpose than pushing buttons and generating outrage. Read full review

Jon Frosch

Jul 9, 2013

Unlike in The Celebration, the cruelty and suffering in The Hunt feel both overly schematic and intellectually muddled. Read full review

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User Reviews

nikos3194

Jul 24, 2023

A powerful and thought-provoking movie that explores the themes of justice, prejudice, and the power of rumor. It’s a movie that will make you think deeply about the nature of truth and the consequences of our actions. The film is a must-see for anyone who loves great storytelling.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

claudiuanophel

Feb 23, 2014

Mads Mikkelsen gives one of the best performance of this controversial subject. This story shows in a subtle way how people's mentality can be changed so easily by an insignificant word. It's a hyper realistic approach to a lot of aspects of life. In my opinion, it was a brilliant idea toMads Mikkelsen gives one of the best performance of this controversial subject. This story shows in a subtle way how people's mentality can be changed so easily by an insignificant word. It's a hyper realistic approach to a lot of aspects of life. In my opinion, it was a brilliant idea to create the martyr-protagonist, the one who shake once again the hands that once had punched him. He shows the courage to live in a society where the equilibrium is shattered even when an apparently peace is restored.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BrianMcCritic

Dec 21, 2013

This is one of the best films of 2013. Mads Mikkelsen gives an amazing performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. I can't say I'd want to watch it again, but this film is deeply powerful. A

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

LegitSalt

May 3, 2020

Mads Mikkelsen’s best movie. The movie’s concept, whereby the main character suffers societal injustice, is all too familiar in the face of today’s “cancel culture” and the greater flaw of human communication, i.e. miscommunication. All the children actors are very well cast and serve theirMads Mikkelsen’s best movie. The movie’s concept, whereby the main character suffers societal injustice, is all too familiar in the face of today’s “cancel culture” and the greater flaw of human communication, i.e. miscommunication. All the children actors are very well cast and serve their roles well. Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is a man who has been beaten into submission by society regarding his marriage, his child, and now his job. Lucas is being forced to give in and give up on the things he loves and enjoys and is ostracized by those who used to be his closest friends. The Hunt is a character study detailing how desperation and innocence can combine to form apparent guilt. The Hunt is shot in such a way that we feel the stigmas of the town and feel how despicable of a person Lucas seems to be, all while knowing that it isn’t true. We are led to believe that friendships are as strong as limp fetters and quickly turn to backstabs. Ultimately, The Hunt shows that the fundamentally flawed credibility of a system wherein guilt is implied and fake news is a given.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

pdw123

Sep 19, 2016

Although the production values seemed a bit melodramatic and soap opera-ish (a trademark of Swedish/Danish cinema which had the great Bergman who started in TV dramas certainly), this is a must-see story (and based on a collage of news columns) about how GOSSIP can go so awry in a smallAlthough the production values seemed a bit melodramatic and soap opera-ish (a trademark of Swedish/Danish cinema which had the great Bergman who started in TV dramas certainly), this is a must-see story (and based on a collage of news columns) about how GOSSIP can go so awry in a small school setting, and by folks who are obviously supposed to be professionals, BUT who ACT like the little kids they are supposed to be supervising...and another 2014 AA nominee that probably got snubbed. For another great American film about GOSSIP, I also highly recommend "DOUBT" with the late great Philip Hoffman, but also Amy Adams and Meryl Streep.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Nesbitt10

Dec 12, 2013

Back in 1998, Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg shook up the cinematic establishment with "The Celebration," a devastatingly powerful debut which explores shocking revelations and the power of a lie, and the incalculable, irreparable damage it can cause. Fourteen years later, VinterbergBack in 1998, Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg shook up the cinematic establishment with "The Celebration," a devastatingly powerful debut which explores shocking revelations and the power of a lie, and the incalculable, irreparable damage it can cause. Fourteen years later, Vinterberg returns with "The Hunt," which shares many similarities with its celebrated predecessor, and it has received high praise at both the Cannes and London film festivals. "The Hunt," a Palme d'Or nominee, revisits familiar ground, where Vinterberg continues to fan the flames of social unrest in a far more conventional manner.

Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is a kindergarten teacher in a small, hunting village in Denmark, who is recovering from a painful divorce and working to receive greater custody of his teenage son. He is best friends with the couple that lives next door, Theo and Agnes (Larsen and Hassing), and has a fond relationship with their daughter Klara (Wedderkopp), who is also one of his young pupils. One day, the young girl says some odd things which imply that Lucas is a sexual predator. Suddenly, the town closes ranks against him, and everyone assumes that children don't lie about such things. Klara, though she tries, is unable to take back her words.

It’s a childlike act of revenge orchestrated by a little girl who doesn't know any better, and who is trying to avoid further embarrassment or torment. However, the narrative of the story is driven by the adults of this small town. Quickly shunned by a community that once welcomed him, Lucas is left to absorb the nightmare alone, finding even his closest companions unsure of his innocence.

Vinterberg maintains a human focus to the story, emphasizing strained relationships and universal suspicion, while capturing the essence of despair as the characters struggle to make sense out of a confusing and volatile situation. "The Hunt” is unsettling and enraging to watch because of Lindholm’s forceful script and the incredibly vivid performances, most notably Mikkelsen’s sensational performance as the condemned man. The film's premise isn't anything particularly new, however, Mikkelsen's powerful performance creates a strong sense of empathy for Lucas which transcends this engrossing nightmare, where simply surviving doesn't mean your days as a target are over.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jpb09

Jan 10, 2014

If you want to see an actor doing his job as well as you've ever seen, you must see this movie. However, if you want to see a good film that amuse you for nearly a couple of hours, you'd better think twice in double-clicking in that one... For me, the worst film i have seen since i saw 'ToIf you want to see an actor doing his job as well as you've ever seen, you must see this movie. However, if you want to see a good film that amuse you for nearly a couple of hours, you'd better think twice in double-clicking in that one... For me, the worst film i have seen since i saw 'To the wonder'. 1h 40 minutes to tell you not to believe every word the children say. I think there's no need in seeing that film to acquire that knowledge. The plot is based in a lie said by a little girl that her parents hardly ever listen and everybody knew was special. My score for this film is ZERO, but, i must insist, my score for the main actor is 10, amazing, as usually.… Expand

2 of 22 users found this helpful220

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