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Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt has sparked conversation since its Venice Film Festival debut, not only for its star-studded cast but also for its provocative themes surrounding academia, gender politics, power dynamics, and sexual assault. While some praise its intellectual ambition, others find its narrative emotionally distant. One thing is clear: the film demands attention, even when it frustrates.
Cast and Crew
After the Hunt, directed by Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Challengers), premiered at Venice on August 29, 2025, and is set for theatrical release on October 10, 2025. The film features Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Chloë Sevigny. The screenplay is by debut writer Nora Garrett, with a score composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The film is distributed by Amazon and MGM, running 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Plot Overview
Set within Yale University’s philosophy department, the story follows Professor Alma Imhoff (Julia Roberts) as her life is upended when a student accuses her colleague and close friend, Hank Gibson (Andrew Garfield), of sexual assault. The accuser, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), is Alma’s star doctoral student. What starts as an investigation spirals into a complex web of ambition, betrayal, and hidden trauma.
A Visually Composed but Emotionally Rigid Drama
Guadagnino trades his usual lush, immersive tones for a colder, more austere aesthetic. While visually striking, the film often feels emotionally rigid, and the narrative lacks grounding.
Julia Roberts Commands Every Frame
Julia Roberts is the undeniable highlight. As Alma, she delivers a layered, often chilling performance, portraying a woman whose intellect masks deep emotional fractures. Her commanding presence may even put her on track for another Oscar nomination.
Ambitious Script, Complicated Execution
Nora Garrett’s debut script brims with philosophical discourse, gender politics, and academic jargon, but it often sacrifices clarity. Emotionally resonant moments are clouded by complicated dialogue and underdeveloped motivations.
Supporting Cast Undermined by the Narrative
Ayo Edebiri’s Maggie is intense yet narratively overcomplicated, Andrew Garfield’s Hank is erratic and unclear, and Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny are underused, reduced to side roles. Key plot developments, including Alma’s mysterious illness, a plagiarism charge, and a five-year-later epilogue, are introduced but left unresolved. While the ambiguity may feel sophisticated to some, it may come across as pretentious to others.