After the Hunt review: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri wade into sexual politics
Director Luca Guadagnino continues to explore complex themes of desire and love in his recent films Challengers, Queer, and now After the Hunt. His work delves into how these emotions can distort our perceptions of the world and relationships.
Recurring Themes in Guadagnino’s Films
- In Challengers, Guadagnino presents a twisted love triangle so intricate that Zendaya, the lead, felt the audience needed to watch the film twice to grasp all character dynamics.
- Queer features Daniel Craig as a frantic, sometimes pitiful obsessive, longing for a younger man who cannot handle such intense devotion.
- After the Hunt shifts from a love triangle to a pyramid of longing, entwined with resentment, without the adrenaline of events like a tennis championship or an ayahuasca trip to heighten tension.
Reception of After the Hunt
Despite its intense exploration of relationships, After the Hunt received mixed to negative reviews after its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 49% rating, marking the lowest score for a Guadagnino-directed film.
"With Challengers, Guadagnino presented a love triangle so twisted that leading lady Zendaya insisted audiences needed to see the movie twice to get a proper feel for all the character dynamics."
"Now, with After the Hunt, there’s no need for the rush of a tennis championship or the frenzy of an ayahuasca trip to crank up the pressure on the central characters, who are less a love triangle and more a pyramid of longing, etched with resentment."
Author’s summary: Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, After the Hunt, offers a nuanced study of desire and resentment but has faced critical challenges, reflecting a complex emotional journey that divides audiences.