Aleshia Cowser Jackson’s ‘HUNTHER’ Explores The Complexities Of Trauma In A Raw And Honest Way
Image Source: Buffalo 8
Warning: this film and review discuss topics related to violence against children, sexual assault, and domestic violence!
The newest film from Buffalo 8 and Eyeam Cinema hits Amazon Prime this Friday, September 23. The film stars April Parker Jones (Bel-Air) and Hassan Johnson (Flatbush Misdemeanors) as newlyweds Morgan and Charlie Westbrook. After moving to an idyllic home in Birmingham with Morgan’s daughter Lauren (Jasmyn T. Curry), their fairy tale quickly turns into a horror film.
This review will contain minor spoilers!
RELATED:
The opening scenes of the film came as quite a shock to me because I was not expecting to dive into the subject matter of sexual assault so quickly. As the film opens, we see the aftermath of a brutal assault perpetrated by two teenagers. Next, we see the sentencing of one of the teens, Charlie, and quickly realize that this film is holding back no punches as it quickly explores the unfortunate reality of our current justice system.
Fast forwarding almost three decades, we now see Charlie getting married and moving into a stunning home with his new wife and stepdaughter. Unfortunately, only a few scenes later we realize that Charlie has inappropriately touched Lauren, and Morgan quickly jumps into action to save herself and her daughter from Charlie’s grasp. As this is happening, fans are also given not one, not two, but three fairly massive twists that have to do not only with the sexual assault from the opening scenes but also with how far Charlie is willing to go to keep Morgan and Lauren for himself.
Image Source: Buffalo 8
As the ending draws near the tension grows until it comes to a head during the final brutal twist of the film.
The studio said in a statement that their intention behind the film was to find a “medium between entertaining art and curating productive and relatable conversation that could be potentially life-changing”.
I was not the biggest fan of this film. I feel that the studio achieved its intention of creating a film that sparks important conversations, but I felt that the film was lacking something. Conversations about the double standard within our justice system, red flags that are often missed early on in relationships, and the complexities of trauma that survivors of sexual assault face were explored in a compelling and raw way that you do not typically see in modern movies. The director also used lighting, camera angles, and sound expertly to convey that Charlie was a monster that we needed to look out for.
Unfortunately, the film felt choppy in how it switched between scenes, and some characters felt unnecessary to the story. With a runtime of just 72 minutes, I felt there was too much content for such a short runtime. If the film had been 30 minutes longer I think it could have made all the difference. Lastly, I felt that the final twist needed more setup. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, but in a world where women rarely see justice within the courts, it made sense for the film, especially when taking into consideration the opening scenes and earlier twists that showed the depth of Charlie's depravities.
The film also stars Terrence T.C. Carson (Star Wars: Clones Wars), Ivan Mbakop (Hawkeye), and Roxzane T. Mims (Greenleaf)
HUNTHER will be available to stream on Amazon Prime on September 23, Tubi in October, Cable on demand in November, and iTunes in January 2023.
Rating: 5/10
READ NEXT:
