Jagveld

Hunting Emma is one of those "surprises" you come across in cinema once in a while. On first inspection this looks like a "I Spit on Your Grave" knock off. Thankfully, its not.

Better yet its a really enjoyable South African flavoured take on the survivalist horror genre. This film works well first and foremost because its story holds together convincingly well.

There's a well thought out back story that explains Emma's ability to take on what would, for most people, be insurmountable odds. This is married up with Emma's other advantage, her superior knowledge of the environment, which her hunters fail to fully appreciate, until its too late.

There is predictably a lot of violence on offer but what's refreshing is its not overstated or gratuitous. Indeed, the emphasis here is on Emma's survival. She does what she does primarily because she wants to live.

The fight scenes in this film are plentiful, polished and sit comfortably alongside decent gun play, which includes a tongue in cheek nod to Spaghetti Western style showdowns.

If you like the idea of survivalist horror but want something "dialled down" then Hunting Emma is for you. 7/10 from me.

Though the movieposter itself is a spoiler on what to expect, the movie had its own unique way of keeping the tension throughout the entire film. The storyline is old; nice single person against many bad persons, but the South African spice makes it different than the Hollywood version or the scandinavian for that matter. Afrikaan is the spoken language, and I found myself trying to understand it rather than reading the subtitles. If you like «an underdog» vs «some bad guys» type of movie, and are open to an international interpretation, then you'll like this movie. If you need the constant thrill in Mission impossible and its huge budget to get satisfied, you're better off getting a beer and not watching this film.

After watching this South African movie, I want to say just just one thing; treat your daughter as a son and teach her to be ruthless with the scums of the society. The lead character Emma, played her part well. No histrionics. Well-made and well-acted character.

While there is nothing new in the story line to rave about, the dreary location suits the mood of the film. Except the main baddie, other actors, as henchmen, are just plain useless. The father character of Emma ambles along, describing her.

Watchable movie. Nothing great, but still worth watching once, especially with your daughter, if you are blessed with one.

It is movies like this that shows what South African actors are really made of. The movie is based on a book written by South African legend Deon Meyer. The acting is superb, the story is amazing, and it leaves you in awe at the end. A definite must for action/thriller fans.

I like movies that get you from the start and this is one of them. The tension is kept till the end, even as the story takes a few unlikely turns here and there.

The cinematography is just great and really adds to the story; watching this will put you in that wide and deserted area on a hot summer day. This movie is perfect in its genre.