Let’s face it, we’re really into serial killers. Their actions are despicable. Their motives cryptic. Their inner, deepest thoughts are an enigma. And yet, they have this striking presence about them that begs to be paid attention to. The Huntsman, a killer named after the hired-hand tasked with murdering Snow White, has just killed another woman, leading strangers toward a path of caustic collision.
When an ICU nurse volunteers to help a coma patient accused of murdering six women, he’s drawn into a chilling web of lies, obsession, and deadly secrets as a detective races to stop the killer.
The Huntsman, IMDB
When you’re outside of the legal system, it’s easy enough to put all of your hate toward the person blamed for a series of murders. It’s a whole other thing when you’ve been given power over them. ICU nurse Max (Shawn Ashmore) looks over comatose Lincoln (Garrett Dillahunt), the suspected Huntsman. Lincoln’s wife Jolene (Elizabeth Mitchell) is more than ecstatic when Lincoln is exonerated and allowed to go home after his recovery, leaving Max and his detective sister Darby (Jessy Schram) to uncover the whereabouts of the true killer. After Max is hired as Lincoln’s in-home care person, his life becomes entangled in Lincoln and Jolene’s too-good-to-be-true personas; with yet another victim found, Max himself is suspected, and everyone’s secrets start to bubble to the surface.
The Huntsman‘s thriller status is on full display in this film. Every which way is a new secret, a new suspect. Of course, I had my thoughts on who was behind these grisly murders, but The Huntsman kept me on my toes and had me changing my mind with every piece of new information. The tension is definitely present, especially when every character has their own motives and goals they want to achieve. The film isn’t bogged down with boring procedurals, but instead gives us subdued action, suspense, and a psychological edge that keeps you wanting more.
But it’s not just investigations and drama. The Huntsman doesn’t shy away from the victims’ bodies and — dare I say — tasteful kills. Crime scenes where bodies are found with bruises and scrapes are the first things we see. One woman’s capture and death is filmed from beginning to end. It is a stark reminder than although this is a movie, it is a horror film that features horrible acts that could very well take place in reality… Hell, it has happened before! And that’s where The Huntsman excels in scare-factor — presenting an awful situation that doesn’t give an ounce of empathy for the victims and just goes right back to uncaring slaughter. The shock keeps your breath at bay. When the true killer’s identity is finally revealed… well, you’ll just have to watch it for yourself!
The Huntsman‘s restrained brutality and tense plot puts an edge on serial killer movies that makes them more palatable for those who don’t like ultra violence, yet it retains the awful cruelty of what people can do to one another. With a story that keeps you guessing like a messed up game of Clue, The Huntsman makes you think twice about your neighbor and who the real villains really are.
The Huntsman is currently playing in select theaters and will be available to rent or purchase on VOD starting February 10th. For more information, visit Epic Pictures Group on their website or Instagram.
