After the Hunt Review: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri Explore Sexual Politics
Director Luca Guadagnino continues to delve into the complex nature of desire and love with his latest film, After the Hunt. Following Challengers and Queer, Guadagnino examines how these powerful emotions can distort our perceptions of the world and each other.
Recurring Themes in Guadagnino's Work
In Challengers, Guadagnino presented a tangled love triangle so intricate that lead actress Zendaya suggested viewers watch the film twice to fully grasp the character dynamics. Meanwhile, Queer portrayed Daniel Craig as a frantic, obsessive character, hopelessly fixated on a younger man who could not reciprocate his intensity.
After the Hunt’s Unique Approach
Unlike the urgency of a tennis championship in Challengers or the intense experience of an ayahuasca trip in Queer, After the Hunt builds its story around a more subdued yet deeply layered pyramid of longing filled with resentment. The central characters’ relationships unfold with a complex emotional tension that replaces the earlier films’ frenetic energy.
Reception
The film premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August, where it received mixed to negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, After the Hunt holds a 49% rating, marking the lowest score for any Guadagnino-directed film to date.
"Zendaya insisted audiences needed to see the movie twice to get a proper feel for all the character dynamics."
"Daniel Craig wound himself up into a frantic and sometimes pathetic obsessive, pining for a rather unremarkable younger man."
Author's summary: Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt explores complex emotional longings with less intensity than his previous films, but met mixed reviews, reflecting its challenging narrative.