The Hunt Review: A Lie That Destroys a Life
8.5/10 — The Hunt (2012)
Pros
- Mads Mikkelsen's superb performance
- Tense, believable portrayal of mob mentality
- Strong direction
Cons
- Uncomfortable subject
- Ambiguous ending
A kindergarten teacher, Lucas, is falsely accused of abusing a child, and his small community turns on him. Mads Mikkelsen won the Best Actor prize at Cannes.
What works
Mikkelsen is outstanding, showing Lucas’s disbelief turning to anger and despair. The film builds an atmosphere of creeping dread, and the way the community’s good intentions curdle into cruelty is chillingly believable.
Where it falters
The story’s final scene is ambiguous, and the portrayal of the child is handled cautiously, which some viewers find lacking in nuance.
Verdict
A tense, upsetting drama with a powerhouse lead.
