6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 3.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A mercenary is hired by a private biotech company to search for the last Tasmanian Tiger, a dog-like animal believed to have been extinct since the mid 1900s.
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Frances O'Connor (II), Sam Neill, Morgan Davies (XII), Finn WoodlockPsychological thriller | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
At the heart of The Hunter is a search for the thylacine, a.k.a. Tasmanian Tiger, the striped and dog-headed marsupial that presumably went extinct in the early twentieth century due to over-aggressive population control. The last known captive specimen died in a zoo in 1936, but ever since there have been nearly 4,000 unconfirmed sightings. In 1973, a couple even captured ten seconds of 8mm home movie footage showing an animal that looks quite like the thylacine loping across a road in South Australia. There’s at least a chance—however small—that the creatures are still around in dwindling numbers inside the island’s dense old growth forests. For Tasmanians, the Tassie Tiger has taken on Big Foot status—legendary and elusive, the stuff of local lore. But it’s also a potent symbol of the negative impact humans have had on the environment through deforestation and animal bounty hunting. If we found a living thylacine, would that make us feel any better about ourselves as a species? And is there possibly redemption in the ongoing—though increasingly futile—efforts to clone a Tasmanian Tiger? The questions remain in the background of The Hunter—which might be classified as an eco-thriller—while in the foreground the film focuses on the atonement of an individual man.
Cinematographer Robert Humphreys has given The Hunter a gorgeously moody look—shooting on a medium-grained Super 35mm—and the film's 2k digital intermediate transfers easily to Blu-ray, with a 1080p/AVC-encoded presentation that's seemingly true to intent. The encode sits on a single-layer disc with no visible signs of compression, and the print looks wonderful, with a rich, natural grain structure unhindered by DNR or edge enhancement. Sharpness is no concern here; with the exception of a few softish shots—mostly due to shallow depth of field—the level of clarity is consistently impressive, cleanly rendering fine details like the craggy features of Willem Defoe's face, the textures of his clothing, and the hard lines of his rifle. Color is strongly reproduced too, with an emphasis on the lush forest greens and a palette of grayish neutrals. Contrast is somewhat softened, with black levels that skew closer to deep grayish, but I suspect this is probably an intentional aspect of the film's color grading. Regardless, the image looks fantastic—I really can't drum up any complaints.
The Hunter features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that more than does justice to the film's careful sound design. Since so much of the story is set outdoors in a harsh wilderness, it's important to get the ambience right—and this mix definitely does. The full multi-channel capabilities are utilized to put those with capable home theater systems right in the middle of Tasmania's central plateau. Wind moves through the rears; rain pours in torrential bucket-loads; insect hums and animal chirps seep into the soundscape from a distance. Even the quieter interiors—the hotel next to the airport, the logger's pub—include a good deal of environmental noise. The other key aspect of the mix is the music, from Martin's opera selections to the surging orchestral score by Matteo Zingales, Michael Lira, and Andrew Lancaster. It all sounds great, clear and resonant, with—at times—a surprising amount of subwoofer-wobbling bass output, underscoring the onscreen tension. Without exception, dialogue is cleanly recorded and easily understood, resting effortlessly at the top of the mix. For that might need or want them, the disc includes optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
My one bit of advice: Don't expect The Hunter to be anything like last year's lupine thriller, The Grey. This is a more subdued story— with, forgive me, less bite—and those looking for amped up man versus nature action will most likely be disappointed. The film is entrancing in its own quiet way, though—even without a plot I could enjoyably watch Willem Defoe set traps in the woods for ninety minutes—and while it stumbles at the end with an emotional payoff that it doesn't quite earn, The Hunter does present some provocative questions about extinction and loneliness. As usual, Magnolia's Blu-ray presentation is excellent, with great picture quality and sound, and the disc includes some worthwhile special features too. Recommended.
2017
Limited Edition
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