‘The Hunter’ never really comes together

Cert: 15

A grim, minimalist, drama from one of Iran’s most interesting moviemakers – here taking the central role – about an ex-con whose life is going nowhere, bent on revenge against everything around him - particularly the corrupt state officials he is forced to deal with.

Finally driven in a random moment of violence to kill two policemen, he takes to the woods where he is arrested by two more policemen … and become lost with them. It is a grim, downbeat story of who is the hunted and who the hunter.

It must clearly be difficult to make such a film in present day Iran – there are clearly things it is dangerous to examine too closely – and in this Pitts is somewhat restricted in fully developing his central character, who is already difficult for audiences to relate to.

The film really breaks into two parts, the first concentrating on the character’s dead-end life, work, family and the second moving into the realms of conventional thriller … a brave effort though neither really comes together.

Star Rating: 3/5