Directed by T.J Penton and Maxime Lecocq, from a screenplay by Lecocq, ‘Hunter’ is a short drama film that follows Henry Dupres (Lecocq) – a reporter in pursuit to uncover “The Shadow” – a cryptic organization that safeguards endangered wildlife. Additional cast include Jay Klay as Jack and Trinity Swearington as Leslie. The film explores themes of adventure, guilt, animal-welfare and society.
The 19-minute film opens with Henry reporting/streaming live as his aid (Leslie) drives in between the Arizona and Nevada desert. He speaks to his audience about the month of research invested so far and how “The Shadow” deters poachers from ever coming back. As Henry sets off to discover the curious company, he is introduced to a Jack Milton (Jay Klay) – who is in fact the “The Shadow”. After Jack’s initial hesitancy to allow Henry to come along on his wild-life protection duties, he succumbs to his pleads – on the condition that everything is off-the-record. The narrative takes a dark turn when Henry realizes the consequences of the preservation.
Maxime Lecocq delivers a captivating performance throughout. The audience will empathize with his passion for protecting endangered species. Jay Klay’s performance as Jack is equally engaging – the character’s backstory is chilling, albeit comprehensive. Visually, cinematography is of an exceptional standard with outstanding aerial photography. Lighting, sound and editing is of high quality with a professional finish. As Martin Luthar King Jr once said, “Nothing worthwhile is gained without sacrifice” – the film explores exactly that. Highly Recommended.
