Venice 2025: First Reactions to Luca Guadagnino’s AFTER THE HUNT

The Venice Film Festival is in full swing, and reactions to some of the highly-anticipated world premieres are continuing to arrive.

After the Hunt is a psychological thriller directed by Luca Guadagnino, written by Nora Garrett, and stars Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny.

In the film, a college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come to light.

After the Hunt had its world premiere out of competition in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival today, and is scheduled to be released in the US by Amazon MGM Studios on October 10, 2025.

Here are the first reactions out of the festival screening:

‘After the Hunt’ Review: Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri Face Off in Hot-Button Campus Drama https://t.co/X34GFOfrff
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) August 29, 2025

‘After the Hunt’ Review: Luca Guadagnino’s Tricky Post-#MeToo Thriller Boasts a Stirring Julia Roberts and an Underwhelming Script https://t.co/VqPmNhxKbJ
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) August 29, 2025

‘After the Hunt’ Venice Film Festival Review: Luca Guadagnino’s cancel culture drama might be too smart for its own good https://t.co/qdmwqdTawy pic.twitter.com/PKMsWsMvHS
— Decider (@decider) August 29, 2025

‘After The Hunt’ Review: Julia Roberts Is Superb In Luca Guadagnino’s Biting Campus #MeToo Drama – Venice Film Festival https://t.co/pDokq7b9ri
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) August 29, 2025

'After the Hunt' Review: Luca Guadagnino's Sexual-Accusation Drama Plays Like a Muddled 'Tár,' with Julia Roberts as a Scheming Professor https://t.co/hQQVS0I9hu
— Variety (@Variety) August 29, 2025

'After the Hunt' Review: Julia Roberts Is in Brittle Command Even if Luca Guadagnino Isn't in a #MeToo Drama That Mistakes Abrasive for Provocative https://t.co/ahB1TK2Znx
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 29, 2025

review to come but it is with my heavy, luca-loving heart that i admit after the hunt was underwhelming :((((
— iana murray (@ianamurray) August 29, 2025

'After the Hunt' Review: Despite a Stellar Julia Roberts, Luca Guadagnino’s Latest is a #MeToo Misfire [C-] Venice https://t.co/czskuS6dJG
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) August 29, 2025

Marc van de Klashorst sees Luca Guadagnino and writer Nora Garrett tackle some thorny issues in AFTER THE HUNT, a film that indulges the director's tendencies for excess, and is best enjoyed for its performances #Venezia82 https://t.co/8jfFS7AFJ8 pic.twitter.com/VLuhJtTmmh
— IntlCinephileSociety (@ICSfilm) August 29, 2025

‘After The Hunt’ Review: Luca Guadagnino’s Restrained Take On Cancel Culture Is Julia Roberts’ Best Performance In Years [Venice] https://t.co/kqa8oqtKT4 pic.twitter.com/8mthEeuXEf
— The Playlist (@ThePlaylistNews) August 29, 2025

Featured