Style and substance, seldom compatible elements across categories of creative expression, are at odds within this Australian production where strong exploration of the former by director Frank Howson clearly wins out over his own shallowly constructed screenplay. When first seen, Michelle Harris (Kerry Armstrong), executive secretary to the managing director of a large stock brokerage firm in Melbourne, is ostensibly happily married, but her jobless husband's low level of self-esteem causes her to lose interest in their physical relationship, simultaneously increasing her vulnerability to her employer's most influential client, American Michael Bergman (John Savage), with whom she begins an affair. Larry (Jeffrey Thomas), her spouse, not oblivious to a personality change in his love bewitched wife, takes what he perceives as needed steps to shield Michelle from Bergman, but following Larry's dubitable suicide, she becomes the financier's mistress although as she lives with him it becomes apparent to her that her lover is clearly not what he originally appeared to be. Ruthlessness to rivals in his business dealings is a trademark of Bergman who additionally uses blackmailing methods to corral potential foes and politicians, yet an even more significant lesson to be learned by Michelle is that seduction of women is a sport for Bergman, and since she has forsaken all that she formerly valued in order to follow him, she seeks for a way to escape what has become a snare. Visually there are few dull moments in this film, for even when a highly predictable script dictates the action, baroque compositions chosen by Howson provide more than enough creative camera and lighting imagery to offset what is essentially a trite, often uncomfortably so, tale of a scorned woman seeking revenge. The twitchy Savage offers a typically mannered performance while Armstrong's strongest moments are when her character is startled, which is frequently, Thomas winning acting honours here as a cuckold who defies his fate; versatile Howson composes several songs for the production ( sung by Guy Pearce, cast as a Bergman henchman) and notice shall be given to the sets, ably designed by Jan Dowding and Bernadette Wynack, and to top-flight work from costumer Aphrodite Kondos, for a film wherein visuals and scoring happily triumph over the scenario.
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rsoonsa16 July 2005
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jess-1215 December 1998John Savage fans will be delightfully surprised by his performance in this movie as it is unlike anything he has ever done. His character, Michael Bergman, is a wealthy Australian with a penchant for the finer things in life and does whatever it takes to get what he wants, including the married secretary, Michelle, at his client's office. To insure his future with this woman, he woos her away from her unstable husband and "takes care of him". After he's got her where he wants her, he starts to ignore her and it's back to work making money and pursuing other women. She later opens her eyes to all his wrong doings, but then it's too late as she realizes he's using her like he uses everyone else to fulfill his needs. She's just another item in his collection and she gets her revenge in the climax which is really shocking. I think this one of Savage's best movies.
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videorama-759-85939126 September 2022I don't know what to make of Hunting. I really don't. It almost has admirable enigma about it. It's much thanks to American import, John Savage, a shady tycoon who owns a film company, only he's profiting from other not so legal means. He's character is intriguing. We really want to know more about him. A pretty secretary, a Armstrong, who's really good here, and I really liked her too ,in Grievous Bodily Harm, my of my Aussie faves, falls for Savage like a moth to the flame, and believe me, you'll see a few within the film, while her stay at home hubby, who can't compete, becomes suspicious. One hot scene has Savage doing another female employee in his own. As a savage fan, he's the best thing about this unexceptional drama.thriller, while Pearce, really good, is fun as one of Savage's henchman, in a barely adequate if even vague thriller drama, where if not a savage fan, this isn't worth a huntdown, although it retains a classy style.
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Looking round the DVDs at the newly opened rental store near me.I came across this film,that from the back of the case sounded like a really gripping film,After seeing it,Ii feel its very empty and very hollow.
The Plot: Business woman Michelle Harris has a fantastic job,but feels that she is having problems with her marriage(one of them being,is that her husband cant get her pregnant.)So when she sees on the T.V.very rich businessmen Michael Bergman,(who lives near her)she decides to go round to his place to become "friends",but that night leads to a one-night-stand,the turns into a full blown affair.The only problem is that her husband is getting suspicious,and when Michael finds out about this,he feels its time he sorts somethings out..
View on the Film: The screenplay by Frank Howson is the main thing that lets the film down.When the film tries to be a Fatal Attraction style film,it just feels flat and does not feel gripping or at all erotic (These are the main types of things that should make a film like this fun)The only good thing about the film is Jeffey Thomases performance as Carry Harris.Who gives a good performance of a guy down on his luck(the part where he watches Its a wonderful life on T.V. is the best part of the film)
Final view on the film: A extremely poor "adult thriller",whit a good performance by Thomas. -
lalinjo21 February 2016This MAY CONTAIN some SPOILERS,BUT THIS IS JUST ONE TRUE GENERAL EXAMPLE AND DOES NOT REVEAL MUCH IF ANYTHING MORE THAN MOVIE STORYLINE/SYNOPSIS!
I am so happy and surprised that someone finally decided to deal with this problem. There is a an old folk saying here that translates something like this; "Who lies with children wakes up in pi.s (and s..t)"
(I know,sounds like pedo joke but there is no pedophilic element i this one,it's from the time where people were poor,had tight bond with their kids and big families and usually living all in one room...)
This is especially true nowadays when pedophile awareness is high and many children are unfortunately border-line mentally-ill and hyper-sexualized from early age due the inappropriate media exposure,which I find extremely tragic!
THIS is the reason why I CANT STAND being with children in the same house,especially children that are not my siblings and I study psychology!
I vividly remember there was a case in my own home town where little girl from broken family where dad was a violent prick,happily saw family-home of her aunt & uncle as safe heaven,unfortunately,having abusing and unstable dad as bad influence,who never showed even a trace of love and care for the child,she looked up to her uncle (who is A GREAT GUY and has 2 adult children) as BOTH surrogate father but also a boyfriend,brother,friend and whatever else was in mind of that broken/sick child!
Situation gone from bad to worse after she soon progressed from need of innocent attention and good role-model to request of often kissing,stroking,excessive tingling and saying thing that she want her to touch and kiss her in other places!!!
Unfortunately,her uncle,being a good naive child-loving person who already raised 2 healthy children never saw anything bad in that,but fortunately older boy from family reacted strongly,trethening child with beatings if she ever does something like that that and then called family friend/cousin from child protection service who put a very sudden and decisive alarm and stop on that and brought child to psychiatric evaluation,preventing possibility of sickening scenario in this movie!
In the end ,there was no damage,but on psyche evaluation child show how actually sick she was for her age (3-4) and openly declared that she want's her uncle to be her boyfriend,probably not even knowing that that means apart fro what she might sen on TV!
Aunt and uncle thought it was a harsh and cruel to expel child from the family,feeling pity for the neglected child,but fortunately their decisive family member (older son) reported everything to the lazy mother of the child and threatened her with police if she ever drops the child in his home again and bring her problems with her,at least before their family situation get better and child get the help she needed!
I AM IN NO WAY DEFENDING PEDOPHILES,ANY MY Personally OPINION THEY NEED TO BE PUBLICLY QUARTERED OR AT LEAST SHOT! This example shows you how this movie is not far fetched at all, au contraire,this scenario is very likely and possible in many cases with those who work and like to spend their time with (broken) children who are not their own,especially adult males!