Indie Movie Review – Climate of the Hunter

Vampire movies can be a lot of fun.  Some of my favorites include Dracula (Bela Lugosi version), Twilight, 30 Days of Night, the underrated Vampire Academy, and What We Do in the Shadows.  You can read my review of Fright Night here.  Climate of the Hunter is an indie take on the vampire story.  It’s a satisfying character study with lots of dialogue.  Two sisters reunite with an old friend they haven’t seen in twenty years.  The catch is, he may be a vampire.

What’s good about Climate of the Hunter

Two words: Ben Hall.  His performance makes the entire film.  He is charming, sophisticated, romantic, and tortured.  He’s almost hypnotic.  When he’s on screen you can’t look away.  I can’t wait to see him in Minari, which opens later this year.

The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App

The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.

As seen on

Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)

     

Read more about the RunPee app.

The movie has great dialogue, much of it going to Hall.  Several of the indie films I’ve reviewed have surface level, on-the-nose dialogue.  Climate of the Hunter actually has subtext.

Sheridan McMichael gives a memorable performance as Hall’s cruel son Percy.  McMichael gives off some majorly creepy vibes and may be the next Crispin Glover.

What Climate of the Hunter could do better

Please note that the following are minor quibbles.  Overall, I found the movie to be highly enjoyable.

There are elements of the film that seem at odds with its dramatic tone.  For instance, one of the clues that Hall’s character might be a vampire is that he coughs up a tampon.  It feels like a gross-out comedy moment thrown into a drama.  There’s also a Wes Anderson type thing that happens with every meal.  A twee voiceover announces the menu.  I think it’s supposed to be comic.  Some of the meals appear to be things invented solely for the film.  Maybe they’re trying to make a point that everyone eats disgusting things, not just vampires.

There are characters who are underused.  Their storylines don’t really wrap up at the end.

This movie does not bring the scares.  It’s more of a thriller or a supernatural drama than a straight up horror film.  This may be a disappointment to horror fans.

What people are saying
about the RunPee app.

dd33803, 07/05/2023

This is a great app. I wish more people would support it

This app provides info about movies, reviews, ratings from people who have seen it before and after viewing. It has links to info about the movies. It let’s you know when there will be a lull in the action and how long it will last. If you want to know what happens during that time, you can check the brief synopsis (you have to click a link, so no accidental spoilers). It has a timer you can set (silent) to alert you to a break. It also tells you whether there is anything extra during or after the credits. It’s really a wonderful app. I’ve subscribed for a couple of years to support the developers, but I noticed some of the links to provide feedback didn’t seem to work today. They also made it free, with voluntary donations to see the pee-times. If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to do so, and subscribe if you like it. I really hope the app is supported so it can continue to be maintained!

Developers note: RunPee doesn’t make much money but it supports itself nicely. Donations are appreciated, but not required. We’ll add as many movies to the database as we can until there are no more movie theaters.

View all reviews: Apple App Store | Google Play Store

     

Final Thoughts on Climate of the Hunter

This is one I would definitely watch again.  Hall’s effortless portrayal feels lived-in.  Fans of character actor Ray Wise (who was recently featured in Beast Mode) will probably enjoy Hall’s performance.

Availability:  On demand and digital iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu,  Direct TV, Dish Network and all major cable providers.

Grade: B

Vampire Academy – movie review

Indie Review-Beast Mode

Movie Review – Interstellar

Golden Man

Golden Man loves comedies, romantic films, superhero movies, and awards bait.  He blogs about the Oscar race all year long at www.etchedingold.ninja