Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Brutal
- grim
- atmospheric
- austere
- late night horror
- dark fantasy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's stripped-down revenge premise, atmospheric medieval world, evocative cinematography, and Christopher Rygh's quiet intensity.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The unnamed Father lives alone in a remote dwelling and organizes his existence around hunting the monster responsible for his daughter's death.
The film hints at wider supernatural dangers through severed heads, potions, graves, and the monster while leaving the surrounding world largely unexplained.
Snow, woods, emptiness, and the Portugal landscape create an ancient, otherworldly setting and deepen the warrior's grief-driven isolation.
The Father's relentless hunt is explicitly driven by the loss of his daughter years earlier and by his need to kill the remaining monster.
Films like The Head Hunter, and why
The Green Knight
minimalist dark fantasy, medieval atmosphere, and a solitary warrior confronting supernatural threats
The Witch
grim folklore horror, isolated landscapes, and a revenge-driven confrontation with a monstrous force
The Ritual
low-budget creature horror built around practical effects, bleak wilderness, and escalating dread
Conan the Barbarian
sword-and-sorcery sensibility, terse storytelling, and a grief-stricken warrior facing monsters
Movie Details
- Director
- Jordan Downey
- Release Date
- 2019-04-05
- Runtime
- 72 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (345)
Cast
- Christopher Rygh
- Cora Kaufman
- Aisha Ricketts
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Head Hunter about?
- A taciturn medieval warrior turns his grief into a brutal, solitary hunt for the monster that murdered his daughter.
- What is The Head Hunter like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Head Hunter as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Head Hunter violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Head Hunter as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Head Hunter?
- Critics broadly praised the film's stripped-down revenge premise, atmospheric medieval world, evocative cinematography, and Christopher Rygh's quiet intensity.
- Which films are like The Head Hunter?
- Films with a similar feel include The Green Knight, The Witch, The Ritual, and Conan the Barbarian.
- How long is The Head Hunter?
- The Head Hunter runs 72 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Head Hunter?
- In United States, The Head Hunter is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
