Some films frighten us with monsters; others chill us by holding up a mirror. Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt belongs to the latter. There are no ghosts here, no creaking floors or blood-stained corridors. Instead, the terror comes from the very real horrors of academia: secrets, whispered accusations, and moral ambiguity. With Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri at the helm, the film feels unnervingly close to reality.
Julia Roberts plays Alma Imhoff, a respected Yale philosophy professor whose carefully curated world begins to crumble when her star PhD student, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), accuses Alma’s longtime colleague Hank (Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault.
The accusation sets off a cascade of moral dilemmas and personal revelations. Alma must navigate loyalty, truth, and her own hidden past while the academic community around her reacts with whispered judgments and quiet indifference. The story’s tension lies in its ambiguity — who is lying, who is hiding, and what is the ultimate cost of silence?
Julia Roberts Transforms in After the Hunt – Her Darkest Role Yet
Roberts is magnetic. She dials back the warmth we
Andrew Garfield in After the Hunt – A Chillingly Ambiguous Performance
Garfield’s Hank is impossible to pin down. He alternates between charm and menace, making viewers question his innocence and intentions. This performance thrives on ambiguity, keeping the audience perpetually off-balance — a masterclass in psychological tension.
Ayo Edebiri as Maggie – The Brave Student Who Sparks the Horror
Edebiri shines as Maggie, bringing a mix of vulnerability, determination, and moral courage to her role. She becomes the emotional center of the film, her confrontation scenes charged with fear and authenticity. Watching Maggie speak out against a powerful figure keeps the audience on edge, rooting for justice while questioning how truth survives in a world stacked against it.
When Fiction Mirrors Campus Reality
The film’s most unnerving moments come not from jump scares but from its realism. After the Hunt mirrors countless real-life academic and institutional scandals:
- The silence of institutions protecting reputations.
- Power dynamics that silence victims.
- Hidden pasts and moral compromises.
Guadagnino masterfully turns these all-too-familiar situations into a psychological horror, showing that real-world consequences can be more frightening than any supernatural entity.
How real could it be after the hunt? Exploring Fact, Fiction, and Campus Horror
While After the Hunt is a work of fiction, its storylines feel eerily plausible. Power imbalances, institutional cover-ups, and moral ambiguity are frighteningly real, giving the film a chilling resonance. The heightened drama—Alma’s past colliding with the present—is cinematic, yet it reflects the unsettling realities we often see in universities, workplaces, and headlines. The official trailer perfectly captures this tension, offering a glimpse into the confrontations, secrets, and moral dilemmas that make the movie so gripping.
Scariest and Most Unsettling Moments in After the Hunt
- The Confrontation Scene: Maggie faces Hank in a tension-filled dinner scene, where every word feels like a weapon.
- Alma’s Flashbacks: Hints of her past add layers of suspense and uncertainty.
- Institutional Silence: The university’s reluctance to act amplifies dread in a way that feels frighteningly authentic.
These moments prove that psychological tension and moral ambiguity can create more fear than any jump scare.
After the Hunt Release Date, Festival Premiere, and Where to Watch in the U.S.
- Venice Film Festival Premiere: August 29, 2025
- Limited U.S. Release: October 10, 2025 (New York & Los Angeles)
- Nationwide Release: October 17, 2025
Audiences can expect this film to spark conversation and debate across campuses and living rooms alike.
Why After the Hunt Is One of 2025’s Must-Watch Thrillers
After the Hunt is more than a thriller; it’s an exploration of truth, power, and morality in a world that rarely rewards honesty. Roberts, Garfield, and Edebiri deliver unforgettable performances in a story that keeps you guessing until the last frame.
It’s tense, unsettling, and hauntingly real — the kind of film that doesn’t leave you when the lights come up.
