Film Name: The Hunting
Director: Mark Andrew Hamer
Writer: Mark Andrew Hamer, Heather Ryan, Terrance Ryan
Starring: Angela Cole, Joelle Westwood, Heidi Azaro, Alan Tuskes, Peyton Hillis
When a mysterious animal attack leaves a mutilated body in the forest, a conservative small
town detective must enlist the help of an eager wildlife specialist to uncover the dark and
disturbing truth that threatens the town.
In a new interview leading up to the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival I got a chance to ask co-writer/director Mark Andrew Hamer a few questions about what we can expect from his film The Hunting.
The Hunting will be showing at Horror-on-Sea at 10am on Friday 13th January.
Q. Your film The Hunting has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival.
Can you tell us what we can expect from the film?
A. You can expect a grounded and modern interpretation of werewolf lore. Particularly the
hidden psychological unrest. The beast in the film is a metaphor.
Q. What were some of your influences when co-writing the script for The Hunting and
what was the process working with your co-writers Heather and Terrance Ryan?
A. Terrance served as a US Marine. After his service he had many conversations with other
former Marines who talked about the “beast they brought back” from active combat duty.
This is what inspired the story. Heather and Terrance are both very creative and intellectual in
their approach to story. So, everything in the film has a purpose. The three of us make a great
team and it was a real joy working with them on this.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. Since a werewolf is a classic character, we wanted to echo the classic nature of the look. So
we took inspiration from The Wolfman (1941). In terms of cinematic style, we wanted to keep
camera motion very smooth and controlled to juxtapose the “out of control” world our
characters were in. We also wanted to draw clear lines between day and night to echo the
duality of our characters. We have vibrant days and dark nights visually.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. The original script was written before Covid. Production started and we had to make big
changes to the script for safety purposes. We rewrote interior scenes to be exterior, we
eliminated characters, and developed scenes that could be achieved with smaller crews to
minimize exposure. It was a big undertaking, but our crew was just amazing and worked for
each other to keep a safe and productive environment.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. The best things are the new friendships that are made through the filming process. When
everyone is working together, and bonds are formed it’s really special. That’s what this film
was behind the scenes. We also had a great relationship with the town we were shooting in.
From the mayor to the police chief to the business owners everyone was very welcoming and made the experience that much better. It’s a small town with all the small-town character that anyone could ask for. The people there really influenced this project in a positive way.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. You mean other than COVID? Well, we shot in northeast Ohio, USA in late fall/early
winter. That means weather is extremely unpredictable. One day you could have snow and
the next day could be 70 degrees and sunny. That caused a few issues in scheduling but we
were able to make it all work out.
Q. What makes The Hunting stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. I would say the metaphoric nature of the beast. It can be interpreted in different ways but
the psychological battle that happens may seem supernatural but in all actuality is a very
nature human response.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. We hope people take away the idea that everyone, regardless of what is on the surface,
may be struggling with something inside.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Sure do. I am working with Terrance and Heather on another feature horror. And, also
working with Joelle Westwood (who plays Maggie in The Hunting) on a psychological
thriller. Both are in development stages. When The Hunting was finished, I started working on
a feature documentary called Lovely Jackson. That film was finished mid-2022 and is now
making its way through festivals. It will be released in 2023.
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you
give them?
A. I would say to really make an effort to get the right people around you to help. The right
people can make or break the process. People that are easy to work with, team players, and
have the drive to help you make it happen. Filmmaking is a team sport. Also, to just keep
pushing. Getting a film made is not easy and really takes perseverance.
You can find out more about ‘The Hunting’ on the website www.thehuntingmovie.com and following social media:
Instagram- instagram.com/thehuntingmovie/
Facebook – facebook.com/huntingmovie2021
Twitter – twitter.com/thehuntingmovie
Murder Scene will be showing at Horror-on-Sea at 10am on Friday 13th January. You can purchase tickets and merchandise for the festival on the website here
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
