Of all the things I can say of 'Call of the Hunter', the most important is that it certainly wasn't what I was expecting first off. But who doesn't like to be surprised by a film?
I went in with the preconception of an American slasher/splatter horror with a British twist, and whilst neither element disappointed, neither was the key thing I remember about the film.
Incredibly well-written and developed; a plot that on the surface is fairly simple manages to stay interesting and engaging for the duration. It has twists and turns, unexpected elements, and most importantly a cast that hold their own and make it all come alive. Katrin Reidel-Kelly (Natasha) develops beautifully and subtly throughout the film from an adorable young woman into a pixie-like, mentally disturbed killer, and Michael Instone (Dan) provides a much-appreciated sense of comic relief and unique British feel. Also, although he does not see quite as much screen time as some of the other leads, I found Jonathan Hansler's performance as Max thoroughly enjoyable and reminiscent of all my favourite misanthropes.
The humour is perhaps one of the things that delights the most about this film, as the last thing you see coming is the kind of laugh-out-loud comedy that is so simple and subtle, but in the context of a terse horror also so much more amusing, especially promoted by Michael Instone's 'Northerner'.
Verdict: A brilliant piece of independent British cinema, worth a watch for horror and humour buffs alike. £25k for this? It would have been a bargain at twice the price.
I went in with the preconception of an American slasher/splatter horror with a British twist, and whilst neither element disappointed, neither was the key thing I remember about the film.
Incredibly well-written and developed; a plot that on the surface is fairly simple manages to stay interesting and engaging for the duration. It has twists and turns, unexpected elements, and most importantly a cast that hold their own and make it all come alive. Katrin Reidel-Kelly (Natasha) develops beautifully and subtly throughout the film from an adorable young woman into a pixie-like, mentally disturbed killer, and Michael Instone (Dan) provides a much-appreciated sense of comic relief and unique British feel. Also, although he does not see quite as much screen time as some of the other leads, I found Jonathan Hansler's performance as Max thoroughly enjoyable and reminiscent of all my favourite misanthropes.
The humour is perhaps one of the things that delights the most about this film, as the last thing you see coming is the kind of laugh-out-loud comedy that is so simple and subtle, but in the context of a terse horror also so much more amusing, especially promoted by Michael Instone's 'Northerner'.
Verdict: A brilliant piece of independent British cinema, worth a watch for horror and humour buffs alike. £25k for this? It would have been a bargain at twice the price.