Manhunt (2008) Rovdyr (original title)

Director:

Patrik Syversen

Writers:

Nini Bull Robsahm
Patrik Syversen (writer)

Release Date:

4 January 2008 (Norway)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

The summer of 1974. Four young friends have planned a relaxing weekend out in the woods. At a remote truck stop they pick up a hitchhiker...

Plot Keywords:

Hitchhiker | Truck Stop | Hunting Horn | Man Hunt | 1970s

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Henriette Bruusgaard	...	Camilla
Jørn Bjørn Fuller Gee	...	Jørgen (as Jørn-Bjørn Fuller-Gee)
Lasse Valdal	...	Roger
Nini Bull Robsahm	...	Mia
Janne Beate Bønes	...	Renate (as Janne Starup Bønes)
Trym Hagen	...	Gutt i tre (as Trym E. Hagen)
Kristina Leganger Aaserud	...	Jenta
Helge Sveen	...	Jeger 1
Jeppe Beck Laursen	...	Jeger 2 (as Jeppe Laursen)
Erlend Vetleseter	...	Jeger 3
Jorunn Kjellsby	...	Kafédame
Martin Slaatto	...	Mann 1
Kristofer Hivju	...	Mann 2
Gudmund Groven	...	Mann 3

Directed by
Patrik Syversen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nini Bull Robsahm		(as Ninni Bull T. Robsahm)
Patrik Syversen		writer

Produced by
Torleif Hauge	....	producer
Aamund Johannesen	....	line producer
Kjetil Omberg	....	executive producer
Gisle Tveito	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Simon Boswell

Cinematography by
Håvard Andre Byrkjeland		(as Håvard Byrkjeland)

Film Editing by
Veslemøy B. Langvik

Makeup Department
Michelle Johansson	....	special makeup effects artist
Dorte Pedersen	....	special makeup effects artist
Jim Udenberg	....	special makeup effects consultant

Production Management
Christell Roset	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mai Dehli	....	second assistant director
Knut Westad	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Thomas Alveberg	....	props

Sound Department
Ingar Asdahl	....	supervising sound editor
Roy Fenstad	....	foley artist
Stig Holte	....	sound editor
Ingar Pedersen	....	sound recordist
Gisle Tveito	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Kai Kolstad Rødseth	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Martin Andersson	....	animator
Martin Andersson	....	modeller
Martin Andersson	....	texture artist
Ragnar Brynjúlfsson	....	animation rigger
Geoffroy Givry	....	color grader
Anette Gjertsen	....	fluid dynamics artist
Daniel Flehner Heen	....	technical
Kristin Hellebust	....	visual effects producer
Tonje Jakobsen	....	production assistant: visual effects
Tom Joelsen	....	production manager: visual effects
Samuel Karlsson	....	modeller
Samuel Karlsson	....	texture artist
Hans Jørgen Kjærnet	....	rendering
Hans Jørgen Kjærnet	....	texture artist
Morten Moen	....	compositor
Otto Thorbjørnsen	....	compositor
Otto Thorbjørnsen	....	on-set visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Christen Kenneth Gran	....	gaffer
Robin Hansen-Tangen	....	assistant camera
Rune Kalgraff	....	gaffer
Lars E. Kristiansen	....	Steadicam operator
Tor-Erik Ofstad	....	lighting technician
Ivan Rios	....	still photographer
Tor Eigil Scheide	....	first assistant camera
Ståle Tveita	....	lighting technician

Editorial Department
Alexander Istad	....	assistant editor
John Robert Mariani	....	assistant editor
John Robert Mariani	....	post-production assistant

Other crew
Christine Robsahm	....	script supervisor
Terje Stroemstad	....	production coordinator
Ola Waagen	....	title graphic design

Production Companies

• Euforia Film
• Fender Film

Distributors

• Euforia Film (2008) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Albatros Film (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Bright Vision Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Horror Collection)
• I-On New Media (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• New Select (2009) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Olax  graphic design (as olax.net)

Also Known As:

"Rovdyr" - Norway (original title)
"Naked: Booby Trap" - Japan (English title) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Argentina:78 min | Norway:78 min

Country:

Norway

Language:

Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Norway:18 | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Finland:K-18 | Argentina:18 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:18

Company:

Euforia Film

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Inside the Whore (2012) (V)

Soundtrack:

En Spennende Dag For Josefine

Very simple but VERY effective

This has got to be one of the most rudimentary plotted and primitively accomplished horror movies of the (still relatively young) new Millennium, but personally I appreciated it a lot more than the vast majority of hi-tech computerized and wannabe trendy & intellectual flicks nowadays. And yes, I do realize I sound like an embittered old man! "Manhunt" is a prototypic so-called backwoods survival thriller and, moreover, a straightforwardly obvious ode to the pioneer and granddaddy of ALL backwoods survival thrillers "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". The resembling plot is the most apparent tribute, of course, but director/co-writer Patrik Syversen expresses his respect and admirations for Tobe Hooper's horror landmark through a handful of minor details in particular, like for example the characters' similar minivan and the year in which the events supposedly take place, 1974, the release year of TCM. Setting the film in the early 70's has another great advantage, by the way, namely the elimination of some horrible clichés like the adolescent characters talking about their Facebook account the entire time and – most importantly – the elimination of the phrase: "I can't get a signal on my mobile phone!". Back then, girls also weren't as stupid as to go on a camping trip wearing make-up and stiletto heels, which makes it a lot easier for them to run from their assailants later on in the film. Anyways, so the year is 1974 and this quartet of youngsters – I deliberately refrain from calling them friends – are heading out to the middle of Norwegian nowhere to go camping. They pick up an extremely nervous female hitch-hiker at a roadside diner and this quickly turns out to be a very bad idea. Shortly after, they find themselves relentlessly pursued by a trio of seemingly motiveless but ultimately savage huntsmen. The biggest trump of "Manhunt" is undeniably the tense and ominous atmosphere. The film isn't just set in the year 1974; it often actually feels like you're watching a 70's flick, what with its raw cinematography and nihilistic tone. Another big trump here is the characterization of the villains. I usually prefer to know a bit about the bad guys' background and/or motivations, but the fact that they remain mysterious, vague and silent throughout the entire film here actually contributes to the gritty overall tone and disturbance level. We only know that they hunt down and set booby traps for human beings instead of animals and that they're unbelievably cruel. For example, they use barb wire to tie up their victims instead of regular rope and stab women in the back of their necks without hesitating. Needless to say "Manhunt" can be considered quite shocking and sick. I assume that the majority of the available budget went to the make-up department to buy blood and fake intestines. Money well spent, as the killing sequences are truly a horror fanatic's delight! The filming locations, acting performances and rough editing are also very suitable to the type of film the makers wanted to deliver.