Directed by Xander Robin, every year, the Florida government invites the general public to compete in an invasive python removal contest in the Everglades. For ten nights, an eclectic group of hunters confront the dangerous terrain, nocturnal creatures and their own desires. Featuring: Toby Benoit, Anne Stratton Hilts, Jimbo McCartney, Shannon McCartney, Richard Perenyi, Joe Wasilewski and Madison Oliveira.
The fascinating thing, or one of them, about The Python Hunt is that having read the synopsis or simply the words: Florida, hunt and snakes, you know what you’re in for and yet it’s still surprising to watch. That’s because it’s utterly bizarre, it’s as if this community of eclectic, dedicated, fanatics are living in a world of their own for the duration of the hunt. It’s reality as we know it and yet it’s incredibly strange to watch and there’s a surprisingly strong charm to that.
Part of what it makes it so captivating is the quality of the cinematography (from David Bolen & Matt Clegg) and direction. There’s something suave and thrilling about the way that it uses the darkness and colour. It almost gives the feel of Spike Jonze’s Adaptation, there’s tension, suspense and a wild, erratic edge. That style also imbues an adventure like quality, they’re on a very specific quest and are determined to achieve their goals, as monotonous or endless as it may seem along the way. Xander Robin really does a great job of recognising the entertainment value and how big of a curiosity this group is, without making The Python Hunt necessarily feel like it’s condoning or encouraging their behaviour.
It would have been interesting to see it delve a little deeper into the conspiracy side of things, which feels hugely complementary to the tone of The Python Hunt. It dips its toes into the idea of the hunt being a tourist trap, and designed to bring people in, rather than actually solve a problem. As well as questioning whether that problem in itself is being used as a distraction for other actions by local bodies which are damaging the environment. It’s a very interesting thread to pull, so while the documentary does stand on its own two feet, it would have been a bonus to go down that rabbit hole further.
At the same time, the way that this story is presented, with its eccentric characters, does feel like an interesting parable for the human condition, with all of its greed, envy, violence and thirst for domination. There’s a lot of emotions running through The Python Hunt, particularly sadness, there’s a big feeling of loneliness lingering in the background. It also captures how obsession and pride play strongly into their thirst for the hunt.
Although none of which could quite capture Anne Stratton Hilts, who is an undefinable quantity. There’s a lot of interesting subjects in this documentary, but Hilts is in a league of her own, with her g and t’s (very heavy on the g), and desire to kill a python, without wanting to actually do the hunting part. She’s frank and raw, and absolutely fascinating to watch.
The Python Hunt feels like what you’d get if you blended a documentary with a thriller. The aesthetic is excellent and injects so much tension and a gripping edge. The subjects are easy to watch, even though their actions might not always be. Xander Robin makes a lot of fantastic choices to question the moral nature of the hunt, the intentions of the hunters and the validity of the hunt itself. It potentially could have delved a little deeper in that respect, but it didn’t need to, as even without that it’s a slightly surreal, very fascinating and unapologetically eccentric adventure.
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