After the Hunt

Synopsis: A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroad when a star student levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, threatening to expose a dark secret from her own past. 

Movie Review: 

"After the Hunt" is directed by Luca Gaudagnino and presents an original drama that I was really looking forward to because I admire the director, the cast, and the themes it explores regarding sexual harassment. However, after watching it, I found it to be frustrating, disappointing, and slow. Even though the storyline was weak, the acting and the incredibly talented performances kept me engaged during some scenes. Julia Roberts portrays Alma Imhoff, a seasoned college professor who discovers that a former colleague is accused of assaulting one of her students. She truly shines in this film, delivering one of the best performances of her career, making her character interesting, engaging, and heartbreaking, which adds a sense of realism. Ayo Edebiri plays Margaret, the star student, and she also gives a solid performance. The scenes between her and Julia Roberts are intense, dramatic, and riveting; I just wish the entire movie had that same energy. Andrew Garfield plays Hank Gibson, the accused professor, and he delivers an excellent, compelling performance as this creepy yet charming character. Whenever he is on screen, he is the highlight of the film. My main issue is that many characters are underdeveloped, like Hank, who disappears halfway through the movie despite being the one accused of the crime, and they never delve into his perspective, which was disappointing. The film also drags on and feels boring, with a musical score that felt jarring and distracting, pulling me out of the experience. Another significant problem is that the entire "she said, he said" storyline is never fully resolved, which felt tired and overdone. "After the Hunt" is a complex film that sparks conversation with amazing performances, but it lacks a strong script and relatable characters. I’m giving it a 2.5/5 stars.

Director: Luca Gaudagnino 

Cast: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Chloe Sevigny, Lio Mehiel, David Graham, Thadea Graham, Will Price, Christine Garret, Burgess Byrd and Michael Stuhlbarg 

Runtime:139 Minutes