Based on the acclaimed novel by Julia Leigh, The Hunter is a powerful psychological drama that tells the story of Martin (Willem Dafoe), a mercenary sent from Europe by a mysterious biotech company to the Tasmanian wilderness on a dramatic hunt for the last Tasmanian Tiger.

Directed by Daniel Nettheim, The Hunter stars Academy Award® nominee Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man, The English Patient, Platoon), Frances O’Connor (Blessed, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Mansfield Park) and Sam Neill (The Dish, Jurassic Park, The Piano).

A reader writes: “Hi Loren, I visited your museum last year with a friend of mine; my name is Jerrod Farthing. I’m from Toronto, and just the other night went to see a movie at the Toronto International Film Festival called The Hunter. It stars Willem Dafoe as a hunter who is hired to seek out the last remaining Thylacine. This film is a refreshing break from the typical bad Bigfoot horror movie. It was also entirely shot on location in Tasmania. Check it out for yourself.”

Willem Dafoe stars in The Hunter, which premieres at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and tells the story of Martin, a mercenary sent on a mission to find the last Tasmanian tiger. He tells Bonnie Laufer of Tribute about his experience working in Tasmania (beware of the leeches) and shares his thoughts on sharing the movie experience with strangers.

The Hunter is due in theaters on October 6, 2011.

Thanks for the original newstip from Jerrod Farthing.