The Hunter 2011

Stephen Holden, New York Times: "The Hunter" never declares who is good or bad or right or wrong. And the implications of Martin's decision when the moment of truth finally arrives are left for the viewer to unravel. Read more

Soren Anderson, Seattle Times: Not much happens in "The Hunter." And what little does happen, happens very slowly. And then is repeated. Read more

Sam Adams, AV Club: Dafoe invests every action with a sense of purpose (not, thankfully, the same thing as meaning), to the extent that viewers would likely turn up to watch him peel potatoes, Jeanne Dielman-style. Read more

Jake Coyle, Associated Press: "The Hunter" doesn't particularly test him, but Dafoe, who's in every scene of the film, easily dominates it. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: A movie with more plot than it can comfortably handle. Read more

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: The film is really Dafoe's show, and he reminds once again why he is such a tremendous actor and also one so easy to underestimate and take for granted. Read more

Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic: Its mostly observant temper keeps us from being greatly moved, but it holds us with its acute, almost laboratory dissection of its people's beings. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: Mostly this is just too mild, too quiet, too distant. It tracks its target. But it never quite manages to get it in its sites. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: "The Hunter" loses its way. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: Dafoe proves to have the right blend of ruggedness and sensitivity for this conflicted hero. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The character arc is strong on paper but not well-realized on film, and therein lies The Hunter's greatest failing. Read more

Ryan Lattanzio, San Francisco Chronicle: A thriller brooding with disquiet and dread. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: It's all intended to be darkly metaphorical. In actuality, it's a mediocre film unfolding without plan, purpose or enthusiasm. Read more

Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: With a rucksack of gadgets, Dafoe makes a believably cunning tracker, and when he finally confronts his prey, the mutual respect feeds a poignant parable. Read more

Adam Nayman, Globe and Mail: By the time The Hunter jettisons its narrative ballast altogether and embraces its elemental appeal, it's too late. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: Alas, just when you'd like the movie to double down, a la Peter Weir's Witness, on its cryptic hero's rebirth, he's yanked back into an abrupt close that feels rushed and poorly linked. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Nettheim films long stretches without dialogue and lets the landscape take centre stage, relying on Robert Humphreys' superb camerawork to tell the story. Read more

Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: The Hunter is too many films in one... Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: "The Hunter" is engrossing and thoughtful entertainment. It's a mystery with a message. Read more