In medieval times, a lone warrior (Christopher Rygh) seeks revenge on a creature who claimed his young daughter’s life many years ago. The plot is simple- a warrior hunts different monsters down, comes home and pins the head of the dead monster on his wall. The warrior will also take time to recover from his wounds before hunting again. But it’s evident that while the warrior is killing many monsters, he is ultimately seeking one creature for the complete revenge that will give the warrior peace and satisfaction. Should another violent animal cross his path while on his main mission, the warrior will handle them too.
To my surprise, this film only has a couple of actors: the warrior and the warrior’s daughter, who are only seen through flashbacks or visions. For a solo actor to carry the film is very risky. Not only that, it’s an actor who has never been in a film before. For the most part, I’m pleased with the results and ultimately surprised.
Many viewers may find the film’s plot slightly slow at some points, particularly when the warrior repeats some of his tasks. But what makes it exciting is the different locations the warrior investigates and the stunning visuals that are used in the film, which brings me to my most positive point about The Head Hunter.
The visuals here amaze me. It’s a stunning film to look at and incredibly well-shot. It’s obvious, considering the film’s budget, that the style of filming and the quality were essential to the director and fellow crew members. While the third act is shot in rather dark locations, I still found the film’s image quality and creativity the best elements.
I also loved the costume work, especially the leading warrior’s costume. He looks fantastic, and it’s rather convincing when he’s suited up in armour, ready to kill. As an audience, I believe this unknown man is an experienced killer, and it’s obvious he has no problems getting his hands dirty (or bloody) if it means revenge is served against creatures within the land. This film also has a quick runtime of 1 hour and 12 mins. This was a wise choice, given how basic the plot truly is.
Overall, this is a film that left me feeling pleasantly surprised. It’s a film that delivers high-quality visuals and a creative filming style. Sure, it’s a basic story, but it still feels fresh as it reintroduces horror and fantasy, which I think have been lacking from our big screens lately. The disappointment factor did occur for me with some of the elements within the story, which can feel slow at times or slightly repetitive. But! Based on the film’s budget and the fact it was filmed within approx. Thirty days is quite an achievement to witness, and the team behind this movie should be very proud of the results.
6.0/10
18th February 2020
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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