Hunting For The Hag, written and directed by Paul A. Brooks and co-written with co-star Sierra Renfro, mixes found footage horror and survival thriller to exciting effect. The story is framed with sole survivor Tara (Jasmine Williams) talking to yet another long line of lawyers. She convinces the lawyer (Daniel Roebuck) to watch the footage Tara and her friends filmed, which will prove her innocence.
The footage is the “found” part of the film. Tara, Candy (Renfro), and Beth (Alexa Maris) are driving deep into the forests of Illinois to investigate a famous scary folk tale of the area. The friends are looking for evidence of the Hawthorne Hag, the evil spirit of a woman wrongfully killed hundreds of years ago. During the shoot, their friend Alyssa (Nora McKirdie) shows up, only to be promptly shot in the head by three rednecks, up to no good.
Ray (Thomas A. Jackson), Danny (Paul A. Brooks), and Clint (Steve Christopher) claim her killing was an accident. But, instead of calling the police, the three take the girls hostage. Although Clint protests and wants to help them, Ray’s rage takes over, and he degrades and demeans Tara, Candy, and Beth. Will the friends escape their captors and be able to take care of business? Is the Hawthorne Hag real? If so, will the entity help or hinder the trio in their flight for freedom?
There’s a lot to love about Hunting For The Hag, but it does have a big plot hole. Roebuck’s unnamed attorney is not the first one Tara has talked to because the cops arrested her for several murders. So, nobody in the police department bothered to watch this evidence that clearly gets her off the hook? At the very least, the video makes an excellent case for full-on self-defense. It is baffling, to say the least, and makes the framing story awkward. Granted, there’s a twist at the very end that is pretty good, but it does not clarify or change this improbable turn.
“…looking for evidence of the Hawthorne Hag, the evil spirit of a woman wrongfully killed…”
That said, the film is really good minus the set-up. Yes, The Blair Witch Project looms large over this (and all found-footage films), and there are inescapable similarities. But that isn’t to say there’s nothing new here. The legend of the Hag is intriguing and could make for a solid horror feature on its own. The inclusion of the hunters and their ill intentions adds an extra layer of dimension to the characters and the plot.
Brooks effectively uses the medium throughout Hunting For The Hag. The sound design is eerie and atmospheric. The corrupted/distorted effects whenever the Hag appears are really well handled. Aleah Kraft’s special make-up is truly outstanding. Whatever the budget was, it’s all up on the screen, looking immaculate.
However, the secret sauce to the film’s success is the cast. Williams has the perfect traits to be a final girl: determination, likeability, and ferocity. Maris has terrific comedic timing, and her telling of the legend of the Hawthorne Hag is genuinely creepy. Renfro is superb throughout the 85-minute runtime. Her hatred and fear of the rednecks is palpable. Most importantly, these three actors share a natural chemistry that makes them believable as life-long friends. Jackson is menacing while Brooks is both funny and hateable. Christopher is empathetic but annoying as the lone voice of reason among the hunters.
Hunting For The Hag introduces viewers to its world via a plot hole that is unnecessary and gives them distracting thoughts for most of the film. But the directing is outstanding, the cast is impeccable, and the mix of different horror subgenres intrigues. Plus, the promised sequel would be awesome now that the heavy lifting of world-building is done.
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"…the cast is impeccable..."
