HIFF Review: ‘Headhunters’
“Headhunters” is exactly the type of movie that makes film events like the Hawaii International Film Festival so worthwhile.
After browsing through brief summaries of the lineup, you decide which films sound interesting, then go watch them, not knowing what to expect. Occasionally, you take a gamble and waste two hours of your life on something pretentious, silly or even too foreign for your taste. Other times, you leave the theater amazed and wonder why Hollywood can’t make more films like the one you just saw. That’s how I felt after seeing the Danish film, “Headhunters.”
Roger Brown is a successful headhunter for large corporations, who values a man’s reputation more than his resume. To him, it’s all about how others perceive you. This also applies to his personal life. Although he appears to have the perfect life — a beautiful wife, fabulous home and fancy car — he fears he’ll lose his wife Diana to another man if he doesn’t continuously shower her with extravagant gifts. Of course, gifts cost money — lots of money that he doesn’t have.
So to fund his gift-giving, Roger steals valuable pieces of art from prospective job candidates. During their interviews, he queries them about whether anyone is at home during the day, and whether they have maids or dogs. If an opportunity arises, he breaks in, taking their art and and selling it for cash. During his latest attempt, however, he finds his wife’s cell phone in the home, leading him to suspect an affair. The man he steals from is also no ordinary victim. He’s an ex-military specialist whose expertise is to hunt people down. Once he discovers that Roger stole his artwork, it turns into a deadly cat-and-mouse chase.
The suspense generated in “Headhunters” is at a level rarely seen in recent films. Once Roger begins to run, he’s willing to do absolutely anything to stay a step ahead of his pursuer. And it’s during these chase scenes that the film really succeeds. Whether he’s drastically altering his appearance or hiding in a disgusting spot, Roger’s desperation is palpable, and you can’t help but hold your breath when the killer nears. After a few successful escapes, he tries to figure out those he can trust and who’s really behind his pursuit. The pieces of the puzzle slowly come together, and the final showdown between Roger and his pursuer brings the film together with a very satisfying conclusion.
Director Morten Tyldum does a fabulous job establishing all the key characters, then pacing their storylines throughout the film. There isn’t a single wasted minute in “Headhunters,” and the thrills are abundant and effective. All the storylines are neatly tied up, and all of the performances are excellent. Tyldum also successfully makes the audience cheer for Roger, who really is a likable character despite his flaws, and that alone could be his greatest achievement.
The second screening of this film will be on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 9 p.m. Tickets and scheduling information are available at www.hiff.org.
