Original Title: Hunting Day
Production Year: 2022
Film Type / Genre: Horror, Thriller, Survival
Director: Julien Patrice
Stars: Clothilde Huet, Steve Bardoul, Cloe Duez
Story
Summary
Hunting Day is a tense survival thriller with horror undertones that
follows Sarah, a young woman whose life is shattered after the brutal
death of her sister. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Sarah descends into grief
and overwhelming rage, determined to confront the man responsible deep within a
remote and threatening forest.
Unlike many horror films that rely
on dialogue to convey narrative, Hunting Day stands out because it is
largely nonverbal, letting visual storytelling and atmospheric tension
carry much of the plot.
Haunted by memories and driven by
vengeance, Sarah ventures into dangerous territory where lawlessness and primal
danger lurk behind every tree. Along the way, she encounters a ruthless hunter
who may be tied directly to her sister’s killer. With minimal exchange of
words, the forest becomes a grim battlefield of pursuit and escape — a
desperate cat-and-mouse chase where survival hinges on instinct rather than
strategy.
As night falls and the forest grows
darker, every rustle, shadow, and distant noise could be a friend or a fatal
foe. Sarah’s emotional and physical endurance is tested until she must confront
not only the masked hunter but her own inner demons. The film’s pacing gradually
increases from contemplative stillness to intense confrontation, keeping
audiences on edge as they share Sarah’s harrowing journey toward closure.
Review
Hunting Day delivers a raw, atmospheric survival experience that relies
heavily on mood, tension, and physical performance rather than conventional
storytelling or dialogue. The absence of spoken English dialogue gives the film
a universal feel — making it accessible and eerie for global audiences
regardless of language background.
Director Julien Patrice
builds suspense organically, using the forest setting to its fullest potential.
Wide shots of towering trees, eerie night scenes, and slow, creeping camera
moves pull viewers into an unsettling external world that mirrors Sarah’s
internal emotional turmoil.
Clothilde Huet’s performance as
Sarah is the emotional anchor of the film. Her expressive reactions, body
language, and fierce determination convey a depth of pain and resilience
without relying on words. The dynamic between her and the hunter, played by Steve
Bardoul, feels primal — like two forces of nature locked in a grim dance of
survival.
Visually, the film embraces a gritty
and realistic aesthetic. The use of natural lighting, rustling forests, and
atmospheric suspense rather than bloodshed or jump scares makes the tension
more psychological than visceral. This approach is reminiscent of survival
thrillers that emphasize character experience over flashy visuals.
Commentary
At its core, Hunting Day
explores themes of grief, vengeance, and the lengths one might go to reclaim
agency after trauma. Sarah’s journey is as much internal as it is external.
The forest becomes a metaphorical battleground where she must reconcile her
rage with her desire for peace.
The film’s unique nonverbal approach
allows viewers to feel rather than be told what the characters are
experiencing. This stylistic choice becomes its strength — forcing audiences to
interpret emotions and intentions through action and expression rather than
words.
By removing dialogue, the director
places viewers directly in Sarah’s shoes, making her fear, exhaustion, and
single-minded focus incredibly immersive. The tension doesn’t just come from
the threat of a hunter in the woods, but from the psychological unraveling of a
protagonist pushed to her limits.
Behind
the Scenes
Hunting Day was directed by Julien Patrice, a filmmaker known
for atmospheric and visual storytelling that often subverts traditional
dialogue-driven narratives. Patrice chose to emphasize emotion over exposition,
letting the setting, performances, and suspenseful pacing drive the film’s
impact.
Shot primarily in natural forest
environments, the production used real locations to enhance the film’s
authenticity. The decision to keep dialogue minimal presented both creative
challenge and opportunity: actors had to convey complex emotional states
through movement, facial expression, and physicality alone.
Clothilde Huet and her co-stars
trained to react intuitively within the forest setting, blending choreography
with improvisation. The forest itself becomes a character — unpredictable,
vast, and indifferent — adding to the film’s immersive tension.
While Hunting Day did not
rely on elaborate visual effects or high production budgets, its strength lies
in mood and directorial vision. By focusing on atmosphere, pacing, and
psychological intensity, the film offers a compelling experience for fans of
survival thrillers.
Final
Thoughts
Hunting Day is a gripping survival thriller that appeals to viewers who
enjoy atmospheric tension over typical horror tropes. Its nonverbal
storytelling and immersive forest setting make it stand out in the genre,
providing a raw and emotionally charged experience that lingers long after the
credits roll.
