After the Hunt was intriguing to me. I liked the cast and was interested in the story as described in the synopsis. What I found after watching the movie was complex performances with complicated characters, some of which were difficult to like and a film that left me with mixed emotions. 

After the Hunt is a psychological thriller directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Nora Garrett. In the movie, a well respected college professor, Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts) is forced to confront her own secretive past when her protégée Maggie Resnick (Ayo Edebiri) accuses her closest friend, fellow professor Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield) of assault. She avoids dealing with the emotions brought up by the event, not even telling her husband Frederick (Michael Stuhlbarg) until she has to and refusing the help of her friend Dr. Kim Sayers (Chloe Sevigny) the student liaison. After several confrontations with Maggie, things come to a head and Alma relives her secrets. 

In this film, part of what makes it interesting is the complex characters. No one is quite who they seem to be and all of them seem to hold secrets from themselves and others. As a viewer, you are never quite certain of the truth of anyone. They are all complicated and Alma the most mysterious of all, as she holds all her emotions inside and rarely lets anyone see any vulnerabilities. The mystery of her past is threaded throughout the film and it is this dynamic that does keep me wanting to know more. It is also clear that the relationships between Alma, Maggie and Henry are far more involved than they appear on the surface, adding to the mystery and intrigue.

If there is anything truly outstanding, it is the performances. Julia Roberts excels as Alma, giving a performance that is subtly emotional but also reserved, her desire for privacy clear from the beginning. Michael Stuhlbarg as Frederick is incomparably charming, emotional and funny. He gives Frederick warmth and the relationship between the pair is clearly one of a loving marriage, full of flaws but also longstanding. What I like best about both performances is that they are emotional and Michael Stuhlbarg frankly adds a levity to the movie that is much needed in the more complex moments. Ayo Edibiri is talented as Maggie, infusing her character with emotion, hurt and confusion. Andrew Garfield allows his character to be complicated and charming but difficult to truly like. Chloe Sevigny is excellent as Kim.

What makes me question the film’s effectiveness is that it is slow and odd. There are scenes that don’t quite make sense or sequences like focusing on one woman’s hands that doesn’t seem necessary. There are plenty of scenes that add to the drama and complexity of the situation but the story drags and leaves me feeling like not all the questions raised in the movie are answered. Even at the end, we never quite get told everything and that leaves me feeling unsatisfied. Despite that, I do like the performances and did enjoy the complexity of the situation, especially the idea that we aren’t owed private information from those who teach us, just their time and instruction. 

If you do like Luca Guadagnino’s directing style and psychological thrillers with haunting secrets, you might like the film. Julia Roberts, Michael Stuhlbarg and Ayo Edibiri in particular are excellent with emotional and powerful performances. The strange dynamics between Alma, Maggie and Henry are interesting as they are explored in the movie and Alma’s secrets are riveting. I might not like the characters, except Frederick but I did like the complex performances and the intriguing secrets. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 phone calls  

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