Charles Salom | Staff Writer
“After the Hunt,” directed by Luca Guadagnino, is a confusing attempt to address issues of sexual assault, power, and gender. However, it ultimately conveys nothing of real significance.
The film follows Alma (Julia Roberts), a middle-aged philosophy professor, as she navigates sexual assault allegations involving her colleague Henry (Andrew Garfield) and PhD student Maggie (Ayo Edebiri).
The film immerses viewers in Yale’s intense academic atmosphere during the peak of the “Me Too” movement, when women in Hollywood and beyond openly criticized abusers and the systems that support them.
Roberts delivers a compelling performance as her character struggles to handle her declining health, marriage, and academic career.
The issue is her stance as a woman in power regarding a sexual misconduct allegation, which varies from mildly incompetent to morally questionable.
This, on its own, presents an interesting path to explore: sometimes, women in positions of power choose to uphold the status quo because they have successfully advanced within a misogynistic and restrictive system.
But this path would require more restraint and a clear vision. Instead, it’s just one of many aspects the film throws at you to see if anything will stick with you as a viewer.
The film is obscured by secretive affairs, infidelity, substance abuse, and academic and gender politics, seemingly to divert attention from the core reason for the story: the sexual assault allegations against Andrew Garfield’s character.
Although Garfield is portrayed as a deeply reprehensible character, he remains undeniably compelling. Whether he’s teasing a student playfully or reacting angrily to accusations, his presence is always charged and captivating.
Along with Garfield, the cinematography and score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are well crafted but hard to appreciate when the story is this unfocused.
On paper, “After the Hunt” promises a celebrated director, a multigenerational cast of stars, and heavy subject matter that these artists can handle uniquely.
But in reality, the film is unclear about whether it aims to promote Me Too values, highlight men’s abuses, or explore women’s potential weaponization. It also seems uncertain whether to comment on Generation Z’s extreme politics that clash with the ideas of previous generations.
With a topic as sensitive as sexual assault, the fatal flaw of “After the Hunt” is staying undecided and failing to convey clarity.
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