What would you do if aliens invaded your home? That’s the question Hunted asks when an alien race descends on a small American town, leaving Bryn Addams, an isolated young woman, in the middle of a terrifying invasion.
The film stars Caitlin Dever as Brynne, a young woman with agoraphobic tendencies who lives alone in the countryside and rarely comes into town. When he does, he’s not the most popular resident in town.
Also, when visitors from another world arrive with unknown intentions – but who, we believe, are not really benevolent – the film really lives up to the original title “Nobody Will Save You”: no one will come to save him, and Brian must fend for himself.
Hunted pays homage to several sci-fi and horror classics with clear visual references to films such as Independence Day, Signs and The Village.
A comparison with John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place would not be unreasonable either, as the film has virtually no dialogue and terrifying alien creatures seemingly bent on ending the human race.
However, Handy carves his own path and stands out thanks to some good turns and a standout performance from Caitlin Dever.
A film that brings us to the screen
Written and directed by Brian Duffield, Hunted is a fine addition to the sci-fi horror genre. The film keeps us in suspense from the first minutes of the film until its unexpected and disturbing ending.
While the personal aspect of Brian’s story leaves something to be desired, with a somewhat facile emotional shortcut used to pack a punch in too short a time, the action and scares are both inventive and intense.
Duffield skillfully plays with the rhythm to leave the audience with only a few moments between the fight scenes and the tense scenes that build up the tension.
It’s the kind of film you can’t take your eyes off of, and you don’t want to look away, as Dever encounters increasingly terrifying alien creatures with unclear motives, but their mere presence makes things quite unsettling.
The carefully crafted details of Hunted allow it to stand out from other films in the same genre. Music and sound design play an important role. Along with the music, which is a character in itself, the film’s sound design plays the horror game well.
The aliens have a rather disturbing guttural tone. At night, the sound evokes such dread that you feel like you’re holding your breath along with Brin.
As for the creature’s design, it’s intelligently done, playing on aliens, a classic representation of the “Little Green Man” style made popular in the 1960s by reports of alien sightings and abductions.
However, these aliens incorporate disturbing elements in their body movements and certain characteristics that vary slightly from one creature to another.
With a clever mix of practical effects and CGI, as well as a retro, small-town aesthetic, the film feels disconnected from time despite being set in 2022. It is very well done and anchors the film, while the CGI elements bring a mystical touch. to the thriller.
The only downside to Hunted is its streaming release. Its oppressive atmosphere is well-suited to the big screen, with a room full of gasping spectators and a sense of dread taking their place.
The film uses its modest budget with atmospheric aerial shots and impressive action sequences to give it a scale worthy of a theatrical release.
An incredible performance by Caitlin Dever
At just 26 years old, Caitlin Dever has already had quite the career, starring in Unbelievable, Dopesick and more. With Hunted, he delivers one of his best performances to date, his character fighting for his life and uttering only one line of dialogue!
While the human side of Brian’s story could have been fleshed out in a longer film, it doesn’t have to because Dever tells everything we need to know through his face.
From hope to broken hearts, rejection and horror, she deftly moves from one emotion to another to portray nuance, compassion and is very accurate.
Hunted is a mix of big concepts and classic genre tropes that wouldn’t work without Dever’s compelling and engaging performance. By constantly delivering compositions different from her previous roles, she proves that she is the “final girl” like no other.
He seems to have appropriated Duffield’s intelligent and angst-inducing script to enrich it with his complex performance. Together they form a powerful duo, delivering a chilling sci-fi thriller that promises to become one of the genre’s favorite films.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
