The Hunters (1996)

Why so much hype?

ridiculous rating

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Got this on DVD not long ago but having watched it now, can I have my money back and the time it took to watch it? Perhaps we have been spoiled by some fine Nordic Noir in the last few years,and thus bad writing,improbable "plot twists" and incoherent "drama" stands out all the more...I really don't know. Loved the stunning landscapes,it's only redeeming quality but the whole"people who live in remote,rural parts of the world are bloodthirsty ,sadistic,racist,etc,etc ,bla,bla,bla" idea has been done to death. Let's be honest,the real weirdos live in big cities... Sure,Peckinpahs "Strawdogs"is a masterpiece that defines this type of movie but this flick does not reach up to old Sam's ankles... This"Deliverance"in Norrland falls flat on its face. I've been told that the sequel,that I've bought but I've yet to see, is better... Boy,let's hope so... T

The movie makes brilliant use of one the screenplays cliché:the man who left the small town to become a cop (with a not-so-brilliant career)and comes back to find a brother ,apparently happy to meet him again and a secret (there's a bit of melodrama thrown in a solid thriller for good measure). Leif,the kid brother has a warm manner at first ;you should see him go through his mail ,cause he is looking for a wife :but he then appears rather smug and despising:" they are impressed when they learn I'm part of the Church choir".And as the plot thickens ,his behavior becomes more and more suspect and we finally see him as he is really like :an unscrupulous coward ,who is the principal responsible for a gang rape ,and the death of poor Owe , surrounded by a bunch of hateful poachers .The poacher is rarely an important character in a movie ;in this one,they look more like paramilitaries,it's not even sure some of them realize that hunting might be murder (one of them tries to give himself up:but he won't because he would not be virile) There are enough scenes to satisfy a thriller buff :the place where the poachers hide their big game,and Erik spying on them ;the car in the lake ,which will remind you of "psycho" ;the Russian woman trying to escape;Owe ,going "hunting" with the big boys :this latter scene and many more show an unusual sense of space :the filming on location is impressive .I'm looking forward to watching the sequel to "Jagarna" .

All (relatively) closed circles like distant villages, churches, schools have something to hide, but if guns and/or money is involved (often boosted by greed and booze), then felonies are eager to happen. And if there is a need to cover up a small one, then bigger ones are likely to happen - particularly if there is someone near by to hide it from...Such is the framework of events in Jägarna - after a police officer from Stockholm moves back to his small hometown in Norrland in northern Sweden and begins to deal with a long-running case of illegal hunting. When someone outside starts digging, consequences can be fatal... And by the end of the day, there is no winner at all. Such hints progress throughout the film, and its ending is a proof of that. It seems that the protagonist Erik (credibly played by Rolf Lassgård) had no idea where his actions would lead him to. As for the rest of the cast, all are good as well, although I shrug my shoulders when I read that Lennart Jähkel received Guldbagge Award and Lassgård did not; by the way, Lassgård-Stormare confrontation in Jägarna 2 was more convincing to me.Jägarna is a decent film, where the interaction of good directing, acting and stunning Nordic nature provide a valuable experience. However, most women and some men would probably dislike its naturalism and harsh depiction of deer hunting.

Sundvall has made an intense movie about illegal hunting. It's loaded with tense and excitement. Actually, it's about people living in a desolated place, not wanting to play with the rules of the community. We haven't seen such an intense movie in Sweden for at least a decade.