Review of The Hunting Ground (2015) by True D — 30 Sep 2015

The Hunting Ground lays out its mission statement early and often: Rape on college campuses is an epidemic and universities are actively contributing to its perpetuation. It begins by portraying the general reverence and idealization with which students perceive universities before quickly delving into the seedy underbelly of these institutions, pointing to the fact that rape on college campuses is rampant, that 90% of survivors don't report their rapes, and that universities actively discourage these survivors from seeking help or retribution in the name of protecting the college's reputation. The figures laid out are shocking, and the endless amount of personal accounts from survivors only contributes to the profound, collective effect this kind of information could have when viewed by a wide audience.

The film itself is competently assembled, rightfully focusing on the accounts from the survivors themselves instead of doing so indirectly, as this level of intimacy removes any possibility for audience members to explain away their claims. As a motivating tool, The Hunting Ground could play a vital role in holding universities accountable for their abysmal non-reactions to the hideousness of fraternity culture and their active suppression of survivors seeking justice, as well as finally convincing the general public to stop writing these accounts off without giving them any thought in the name of protecting players on their favorite sports teams.