AFTER THE HUNT (AMAZON PRIME) (2025)

SYNOPSIS: Set within the elite walls of Yale University, After the Hunt follows Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts), a respected ethics professor nearing tenure. When student Maggie Resnick (Ayo Edebiri accuses fellow professor Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield) of misconduct, Alma must navigate moral ambiguity, institutional politics, and her own buried trauma. As the accusation unfolds, Alma’s private struggles — including chronic pain, a faltering marriage, and a past false accusation with lasting consequences — come to light. The story explores truth, trust, and self-preservation against a backdrop of academic power plays, generational divides, and hidden loyalties.

MOVIE REVIEW:

After the Hunt is not an action drama starring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, even though it sounds like one. It’s billed as a psychological thriller directed by acclaimed filmmaker Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Challengers).

Still, there are hardly any thrills or much psychology throughout the entire affair. The story feels more like an afterthought built around the whole #MeToo movement. Provocative, maybe. Intellectual, perhaps. The script, however, never lands on any clear message or takes a firm stand, even after a hefty 2.5-hour runtime.

Roberts stars as Yale philosophy professor Alma Imhoff. She has a loving husband, Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg), and her best friend at work happens to be a fellow professor, Hank (Garfield). Coincidentally, both Alma and Hank are up for tenure. Alma is also a close friend and mentor to her protégée, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri). Shortly after, Hank is accused of sexually assaulting Maggie, forcing Alma to take sides as secrets and key information slowly peel away to reveal the truth.

As a talky drama, After the Hunt is filled with long scenes of characters sitting around engaging in philosophical questions and discussions. It’s a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo if you’re not particularly into the world of academia. That said, there are a few intense moments that feel far more engaging than the movie as a whole. Chief among them is Alma and Hank’s prolonged diner sequence, which stands out as a quietly, brilliantly staged scene, and later, a confrontational moment between Alma and Maggie.

Alma, it turns out, is hiding a huge secret. And is Hank really the victim in this accusation? Is Maggie a victim of her own nepotistic background? The film raises plenty of major questions and tackles aggressive, hot-button themes—intriguing issues that are both uncomfortable and fascinating. But alas, for all the hoo-ha, the drama ends on an empty note, offering no specific answers to the questions it so eagerly raises.

The performances are outstanding, especially Roberts. Garfield, who appears for less than half the film, and Edebiri are both excellent. Even Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny, who plays the university psychiatrist, enhance the overall narrative with their brief appearances. It’s easy to see why everyone in Hollywood seems eager to work with Guadagnino.

In the end, After the Hunt likely won’t connect with a wide audience not because of its arty approach, but because it promises a lot and delivers very little. A classic case of trying too hard to be smart.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee