Pop Culture Happy Hour After the Hunt
Oct 14, 2025
In a gripping exploration of moral ambiguity, Julia Roberts plays a professor caught in a web of allegations when a student accuses a colleague of assault. The hosts debate the film's approach to truth and victimhood, examining characters' hidden motivations and pressures. Julia Roberts's performance sparks discussion on whether the film makes a statement on cancel culture. Comparisons to other works highlight both strengths and shortcomings in storytelling and direction. Listeners are invited to share their thoughts on the film's challenging themes.
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Story From The Bystander's View
- After the Hunt centers on Alma, a Yale philosophy professor who must decide whom to believe about an assault allegation.
- The film foregrounds the experiencer who is told about harm rather than the alleged victim, shifting moral focus and uncertainty.
Performance Anchors A Muddy Statement
- Linda Holmes praises Julia Roberts' performance and notes the film often feels like a narrowly focused character study.
- She says production notes reveal broader ambitions about cancel culture that the movie doesn't compellingly deliver.
Ambivalent Filmmaking Feels Like A Cop-Out
- Aisha Harris finds the film's choice to avoid taking a stance frustrating and feels it
