The Hunter

Based on Julia Leigh's 1999 Australian bestseller, this moody thriller stars Willem Dafoe as a steely professional hunter going by the name of Martin, who is employed by shadowy European business interests to journey incognito to Australia and bag the last surviving Tasmanian tiger. Arriving in the wooded hinterlands, Martin lands smack dab in the middle of a simmering conflict between roughneck local lumbermen and “greenie” activists trying to protect Tasmania's last great forests. A field scientist who might have been able to provide clues to the Tasmanian tiger has gone missing, leaving a wife (Frances O'Connor) near comatose on prescription drugs and children fending for themselves. Martin gradually becomes a surrogate head of the household while pursuing his mission, and in an atmosphere of growing paranoia and danger begins to realize just how ruthless his corporate client can be. A grim noir-ish tale of human greed and species extinction, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Daniel Nettheim and producer Vincent Sheehan, a “making-of” featurette (33 min.), deleted scenes (7 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an interesting film.] (C. Cassady)