Director Luca Guadagnino makes provocative movies, the kinds of films that really get people talking, even if the movies themselves are sometimes uncomfortable to watch. His newest project is AFTER THE HUNT, which involves professors and students at Yale, and their social mingling that leads to some controversial issues. It’s also a pretty heavy commentary on the power of words, and how accusations can destroy lives.

Alma (Julia Roberts) is a respected college professor at Yale College, best friends with fellow professor Hank (Andrew Garfield), and close friends with her top student Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), who has become so comfortable with her mentors that she frequently spends evenings at Alma’s house having dinner and drinks. Alma’s husband Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is fiercely supportive of his wife, but it seems their relationship is more obligatory than loving. When Maggie leaves with Hank one night after a party, it leads to an unfortunate sexual assault, at least that’s what she claims to Alma, who doesn’t know how best to handle the bombshell – she cares about Maggie’s feelings, but also feels compelled to support Hank as they are so close. There is also reason to question Maggie’s honesty and integrity, making her claims as suspicious as they are disturbing.

AFTER THE HUNT is a slow burn of a film, digging in deep with each character, and forcing us to question everyone we come across. There are no heroes here, everyone has their own quirks and odd behavior that shows how flawed they are, even when others assume them to be well put-together. It keeps you guessing and engaged, but it’s also frustrating as the narrative never really leads to a definitive conclusion. There’s an ambiguity to the story that refuses to reward any of these characters with a solid payoff, which may leave some viewers questioning the point of all this. I know Luca Guadagnino’s work isn’t always accessible for moviegoers, but this particular production left me feeling somewhat incomplete. I wanted more of a cohesive ending, more effective wrap ups than what was given. There’s a point in the last section of the film where it fades to black in a way we expect just before the credits roll, and I remember thinking if that was the ‘ending’ of the story, I was going to be really upset… then it cuts to a “five years later” epilogue, which sadly doesn’t really help tie everything up either.

All of the actors are delivering masterful performances, really doing their best with the material, and keeping the dialogue strong and emotional in the best possible way. Julia Roberts sheds her typically endearing demeanor to play Alma as a flawed and conflicted persona – someone who should be a commanding presence in the lives of those around her, but who is also clearly not okay and is dealing with her own issues. With blond hair and drab suits, there is nothing glamorous about this role, but it gives Roberts a chance to show how serious she can be in the face of difficult material. Andrew Garfield is great as the careless but seemingly well-meaning Hank, a man everyone seems to think a lot of, making it all the more surprising when he (apparently) displays terrible judgment. Ayo Edebiri is excellent as Maggie, a seemingly innocent protege for Alma who also happens to have some dark secrets that may call her assault claims into question. One of the best characters here is Michael Stuhlbarg as Alma’s flamboyant husband Frederik, a man who wants to charm everyone around him, but doesn’t take kindly to being shut out on personal conflicts with those he cares about. He’s also a welcome bit of comic relief in an otherwise heavy and serious film.

I appreciated the effort that went into AFTER THE HUNT, but I didn’t find it to be a very satisfying experience, and the lengthy two hour and 19-minute run time doesn’t help things, especially with the movie’s rather slow pacing. I was never bored by what was unfolding on the screen, but I couldn’t help wondering what the point was, if not just talking about the power of words to define and encourage someone, but also potentially damage someone in very impactful ways. It’s also a film that begs the question of whether or not “coming forward” about something traumatic is really the best thing to do, not just for getting justice but for defining someone in a long-term way as a victim… there’s a moment in the film where Alma asks Maggie some hard questions, and it’s the kind of thing that will likely have people getting into really deep discussions.

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