Night of the Hunted (2023): A Brutal, One-Night Battle for Survival
Night of the Hunted (2023) is a tightly-wound horror-thriller directed by Franck Khalfoun and produced by Alexandre Aja. The film plays out almost entirely in a single location and follows the harrowing ordeal of a woman trapped in a remote gas station, hunted by an unseen sniper. Tense, grim, and psychologically unnerving, the movie offers both an intense survival story and a bleak commentary on modern paranoia and ideological extremism.
The story centers on Alice, a young marketing executive portrayed by Camille Rowe, who is returning from a business trip with her colleague and secret lover, John. Late at night, their journey is interrupted when they stop at an isolated gas station to refuel. While inside, Alice notices signs of a recent struggle—blood stains and signs of violence. Before she can react, she is shot in the shoulder by a mysterious sniper hidden in the shadows outside. John is killed instantly, and Alice is left alone, wounded and terrified, locked in the gas station with nowhere to run.
What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between Alice and the shooter, who speaks to her via radio. His voice is calm but chilling, revealing a man deeply embittered and ideologically driven. He accuses Alice of being complicit in the pharmaceutical industry’s corruption and lambasts her for being part of a society he sees as broken and hypocritical. Through his ramblings, it becomes clear that he sees his actions not as murder, but as justice. These conversations introduce a layer of social commentary, touching on topics such as corporate greed, conspiracy theories, misinformation, and the dangerous appeal of extremist thinking.
Throughout the film, Alice uses her surroundings to defend herself—improvising weapons, finding cover, and trying to outsmart her attacker. The tension is unrelenting, with each attempt at escape or rescue met by brutal retaliation. Several people who try to help her, including a passerby and an elderly couple, are killed, further emphasizing the sniper’s dominance and the stakes of her survival.
Camille Rowe delivers a raw and committed performance, capturing Alice’s pain, fear, and determination. Much of the film relies on her ability to carry the emotional and physical weight of the role, and she rises to the challenge with conviction. The cinematography is dark and intimate, emphasizing the claustrophobia and isolation of the setting. Director Franck Khalfoun skillfully sustains tension, although some of the sniper’s monologues feel overly drawn out and can interrupt the pacing.
Despite its minimalist setup, Night of the Hunted is more than just a survival thriller. It’s a bleak reflection on the consequences of unchecked anger, disinformation, and alienation. The sniper is not a monster in the traditional horror sense, but a man shaped by hatred and a desire for retribution. His violence is terrifying not just because it is sudden and lethal, but because it is rationalized and delivered with conviction.
In the end, Night of the Hunted is a haunting and intense film that lingers in the mind. It challenges the viewer to confront the darker impulses in society and the ease with which fear can evolve into violence. While not without flaws, it is a gripping experience that rewards those who can endure its bleak, relentless atmosphere.
