Review of The Hunt (2013) by Deadly V — 02 Apr 2013

People have an overwhelming desire to believe that children always tell the truth. Unfortunately, sometimes they lie. The Hunt is a film that shows what can happen when a child accuses a man of sexually abusing her, when he didn't do anything of the sort. It's a display of how people are so quick to condemn someone even though they aren't sure of the truth. This movie makes you reflect upon what you would do in situations like this, which is why it's one of the best films of 2012.

Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) works at a kindergarten where he befriends many children, especially a young girl who has a crush on him named Klara (Annika Wedderkopp). She comes from a home where there is constant fighting. Her brother and his friend look at pornography in her presence, where she learns some sexual terminology. When Klara tells a worker at the kindergarten that she hates Lucas because of... sexual things, a full scale investigation is led to uncover the truth as to whether he is a paedophile or not.

The genius in this movie is that it makes you question "Who is to blame?" You can't blame Klara, even though she made it up. She is a young girl who comes from a dysfunctional home; and people would not listen to her when she said she lied. You can't blame Lucas, who did nothing wrong whatsoever. You can't fully blame the parents, who were rightfully concerned that a paedophile abused their children. So who do you blame?

I think everyone, and no one is to blame. The actions of each person are fully understandable (except those who beat Lucas up). So that leaves the audience to sit back and watch what happens. Obviously you will take Lucas' side in the matter because he is innocent, but that doesn't make everyone else wrong to suspect him of paedophilia.

Mads Mikkelsen gave a masterful performance as a man whose whole life has been ruined by the lie of a little girl. The only people who believe him are his son and a close friend. Isolated and tormented by the town, you see this good man breakdown bit by bit. There is a scene where he sees the children of the kindergarten sing Christmas Carols. In this scene, Mikkelsen gave a spine chilling performance.

I think this is a great movie because of the way it can twist your opinions on matters. There is a lesson to be learned from this movie. If you don't know the truth, then you have no right to condemn a person based on allegations. The town punished Lucas severely based on the word of a sad little girl that didn't understand what she was saying. The Hunt is brilliant in every way a movie can be.