Jagveld

Hunting Emma is one of those "surprises" you come across in cinema once in a while. On first inspection this looks like a "I Spit on Your Grave" knock off. Thankfully, its not.

Better yet its a really enjoyable South African flavoured take on the survivalist horror genre. This film works well first and foremost because its story holds together convincingly well.

There's a well thought out back story that explains Emma's ability to take on what would, for most people, be insurmountable odds. This is married up with Emma's other advantage, her superior knowledge of the environment, which her hunters fail to fully appreciate, until its too late.

There is predictably a lot of violence on offer but what's refreshing is its not overstated or gratuitous. Indeed, the emphasis here is on Emma's survival. She does what she does primarily because she wants to live.

The fight scenes in this film are plentiful, polished and sit comfortably alongside decent gun play, which includes a tongue in cheek nod to Spaghetti Western style showdowns.

If you like the idea of survivalist horror but want something "dialled down" then Hunting Emma is for you. 7/10 from me.