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The Hunter (2012) movie poster

Timeline

The Hunter (2012) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2012 · 100 min · Kannada
JustWatch #3,185 5
Directed by
Daniel Nettheim
Starring
Sam Neill, Willem Dafoe, Jacek Koman, Morgana Davies

In the remote Tasmanian wilderness, a seasoned mercenary named Martin accepts a dangerous job: tracking an elusive, supposedly extinct tiger for a secretive client interested in its genetic material. He assumes the guise of a scientist and inserts himself into the lives of a close-knit rural family. As Martin carries out his mission, he unexpectedly develops genuine connections with them, challenging his own sense of morality. However, the isolation and perils of the wilderness, combined with the client's mysterious motives, threaten to unravel his assignment and endanger everyone involved.

Adventure Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (16)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like The Hunter
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Hunter (2012)

Where can you watch The Hunter? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, Kanopy and Fandango at Home Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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16 events in order · contains spoilers

The Hunter Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Hunter (2012) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Martin's Mission Begins

    Mercenary Martin David is hired by Red Leaf to gather samples of the Tasmanian tiger, with explicit orders to eliminate any remaining tigers to prevent competition. The urgency of the mission is heightened as the tiger is believed to be extinct, and Red Leaf has limited time to secure the samples.

    Where
    Tasmania

  2. Arrival in Hobart

    Martin flies into Hobart, Tasmania, to commence his work. Posing as a biologist, he is assigned to stay with the Armstrong family due to unsuitable local accommodations.

    Where
    Hobart, Tasmania

  3. Living Conditions

    Martin discovers the Armstrong home is in dire condition, lacking basic amenities such as electricity and clean water. Despite his discomfort, he decides to repair the house during his stays.

    Where
    Armstrong Residence

  4. Lucy's Condition

    Lucy, the mother of the Armstrong family, is mentally dulled from medication taken after her husband's mysterious disappearance. Martin learns that her struggling health is linked to her dependency on these drugs.

    Where
    Armstrong Residence

  5. Speculation and Conflict

    Local tensions arise from the unresolved disappearance of Lucy's husband, Jarrah, and the ongoing conflict between loggers and environmentalists. The community suspects Martin may share Jarrah's environmentalist tendencies.

    Where
    Local Community

  6. Setting Traps

    Martin ventures into the bush for extended periods, meticulously setting traps and snares for the elusive Tasmanian tiger while mapping his progress. His adeptness at surviving in the wilderness is tested during these excursions.

    Where
    Tasmanian Bush

  7. Signs of Rivalry

    After hearing gunshots nearby and finding his car vandalized, Martin realizes he may not be the only one pursuing the tiger. The presence of another hunter raises the stakes of his mission considerably.

    Where
    Tasmanian Bush

  8. Confiscating Medications

    Recognizing the harmful effects of Lucy's dependency, Martin confiscates her medication and manages to care for her while she's unconscious. His actions mark a pivotal step in addressing her addiction.

    Where
    Armstrong Residence

  9. Clue to the Tiger

    After Martin helps Lucy recover from her addiction, her son Jamie provides him with a drawing that hints at the tiger's habitat. This newfound information motivates Martin to adjust his search strategy.

    Where
    Armstrong Residence

  10. Discovering Jarrah's Fate

    During a routine check of his traps, Martin stumbles upon Jarrah's remains. Understanding the peril he faced, Martin gives Jarrah a proper burial while choosing to keep this discovery a secret from the family.

    Where
    Tasmanian Bush

  11. Teaming Up Against Red Leaf

    Martin learns from Lucy that Red Leaf had originally hired Jarrah to track the tiger. This information complicates Martin's mission as he realizes the full extent of the organization's interest in the project.

    Where
    Armstrong Residence

  12. Ambushed by a Rival Operative

    While inspecting the jungle, Martin is ambushed by a Red Leaf operative sent to replace him. This confrontation turns dangerous as the operative forces Martin to lead him to the tiger's cave.

    Where
    Tasmanian Bush

  13. The Trap and the Showdown

    In a clever maneuver, Martin leads the operative into one of his traps, which ensnares the man’s leg. Seizing the opportunity, Martin fights back and ultimately kills the operative, ensuring his safety.

    Where
    Tasmanian Bush

  14. Tragedy Strikes

    Upon returning to the Armstrong home, Martin discovers that it has been burned down. He learns from Jack Mindy that Lucy and Katie did not survive the fire, leaving Jamie as the sole survivor.

    Where
    Armstrong Residence

  15. The Final Hunt

    Driven by loss and revenge, Martin finally locates the Tasmanian tiger. In a moment of despair, he makes the heart-wrenching decision to shoot it before cremating its remains, ensuring that Red Leaf can never exploit it.

    Where
    Tasmanian Bush

  16. A New Beginning

    After completing his mission, Martin returns to town and contacts Red Leaf to inform them that the tiger is 'gone forever.' He later finds Jamie and provides him with a moment of comforting reunion amidst the tragedy.

    Where
    Local School

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

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Timeline questions answered

The Hunter Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of The Hunter (2012): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Martin take away Lucy's medication?

Martin confiscates Lucy's medication because he realizes she has become addicted to the prescription drugs, which were delivered regularly by Jack Mindy. Her dependency has left her mentally dulled and unable to properly care for her children. Martin temporarily seizes the medication to help her break the addiction, caring for her while she goes through withdrawal.

  • lucy armstrong medication addiction jack mindy withdrawal
Q2

What happened to Lucy's husband Jarrah?

Jarrah Armstrong, Lucy's missing husband, is discovered dead in the Tasmanian bush. Martin finds his skeletal remains while checking his traps. Martin arranges for a respectful burial but keeps this discovery secret from Lucy and the children to avoid causing them further pain.

  • jarrah armstrong death remains burial missing
Q3

Why does Martin keep Jarrah's death a secret from the family?

Martin chooses not to tell Lucy and her children about finding Jarrah's remains because they are already struggling with his long absence and their difficult circumstances. Martin believes revealing the truth would only add to their grief without any benefit, so he decides to give Jarrah a dignified burial while sparing the family additional pain.

  • jarrah burial secret family grief
Q4

Why does Red Leaf want to eliminate the Tasmanian tiger?

Red Leaf's true motive goes beyond studying the supposedly extinct tiger. The company intends to collect DNA samples for genetic material but also plans to kill all remaining tigers to prevent any other organization from acquiring their genetic material. This ensures Red Leaf maintains exclusive control over the tiger's genetic code.

  • red leaf company tiger dna elimination genetic material
Q5

Why does Martin kill the tiger at the end?

After the tragedy that claims Lucy and Katie's lives, Martin finally locates the Tasmanian tiger. Driven by grief, loss, and a desire to prevent Red Leaf from ever exploiting the animal, Martin makes the heartbreaking decision to shoot the tiger and cremate its remains. This ensures the tiger's genetic material can never be stolen or used by the corporation.

Foreshadowing: The earlier revelation that Red Leaf hired Jarrah for this same mission foreshadows the deadly stakes surrounding the tiger.

  • tiger death cremation red leaf final hunt genetic material
Q6

Who is responsible for burning down the Armstrong house?

The film implies the house fire was caused by the rival Red Leaf operative who was sent to replace Martin. After Martin kills this operative during their confrontation in the bush, the operative's associates or the desperate situation likely led to the attack on the Armstrong home as retaliation or elimination of evidence.

  • armstrong house fire red leaf operative attack
Q7

How was Jarrah connected to Martin's mission?

Red Leaf had originally hired Jarrah Armstrong, Lucy's husband, to track and locate the Tasmanian tiger. However, Jarrah abandoned the mission after discovering Red Leaf's true intentions, the company wanted to eliminate the tigers rather than simply study them. Jarrah chose to become an environmentalist instead, which led to his ultimate fate in the wilderness.

  • jarrah armstrong red leaf mission environmentalist original hunter
Q8

Why does Martin decide to help the Armstrong family?

Initially forced to stay with the Armstrongs due to the community's suspicion and lack of other accommodations, Martin gradually develops genuine care for the family. He assists with repairs around the house, helps Lucy overcome her medication addiction, and forms bonds with the children. His growing moral conscience conflicts with his mercenary mission.

  • armstrong family help repairs lucy children bond
Q9

What happens to the Red Leaf operative who ambushes Martin?

The Red Leaf operative who ambushes Martin in the bush was sent to replace him and force him to lead them to the tiger's location. Martin cleverly leads the operative into one of his own traps, which ensnares the man's leg. During the struggle, Martin kills the operative, eliminating the threat and ensuring his cover isn't completely blown.

  • red leaf operative ambush trap kill confrontation
Q10

Why does Martin tell Red Leaf the tiger is gone forever?

After shooting and cremating the Tasmanian tiger, Martin contacts Red Leaf and lies that the creature is gone forever. This is his final act of defiance against the corporation, he has denied them the genetic material they sought and ensured the tiger's remains cannot be exploited. The lie protects both the tiger's legacy and any remaining trace of its existence.

  • red leaf lie tiger gone forever denial genetic material

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Hunter, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Hunter tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about wilderness survival missions like The Hunter

Stories of lone operatives on dangerous assignments in unforgiving natural landscapes. If you enjoyed the isolated mission and rugged setting of The Hunter, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature protagonists on perilous journeys in the wild, where survival and a personal quest are deeply intertwined.

  • isolated
  • suspenseful
  • atmospheric
  • solitude
  • methodical
  • wilderness
  • Tone: suspenseful, melancholic
  • Pacing: slow, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a lone protagonist, often with a specific professional or moral objective, who must rely on their skills to navigate a dangerous and expansive natural world. The journey is typically linear and methodical, emphasizing the character's resilience and the constant threat posed by the environment.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the solitary experience within a powerful natural setting, the methodical pacing of a survival mission, and the atmospheric tension generated by the wilderness. They create a specific mood of isolation and endurance.

The Hunter movie poster

The Hunter

2012
Among Wolves movie poster

Among Wolves

2010
Hunting Rifle movie poster

Hunting Rifle

1961
Ao: The Last Hunter movie poster

Ao: The Last Hunter

2010
Two Lovers and a Bear movie poster

Two Lovers and a Bear

2016
Antarctica movie poster

Antarctica

1983
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter movie poster

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

1968
Sole Survivor movie poster

Sole Survivor

1970

Movies about moral conflict and found family like The Hunter

Professionals on cold-hearted jobs find their humanity tested by unexpected bonds. Fans of The Hunter's exploration of a mercenary's moral awakening will appreciate these films. They follow characters on a mission who discover humanity and connection, forcing them to choose between their assignment and their conscience.

  • moral conflict
  • grieving
  • somber
  • reflective
  • bittersweet
  • found family
  • Tone: melancholic, bittersweet
  • Pacing: slow, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a character hired for a specific, often morally ambiguous task. As they execute their mission, they become embedded in a community or form a close bond, creating a conflict between their original purpose and their developing loyalties. The story arc is one of internal transformation, culminating in a difficult choice.

Why they belong together: These films are united by the powerful narrative arc of a protagonist's moral redemption through human connection. They share a heavy emotional weight, a melancholic or bittersweet tone, and a focus on the tension between professional detachment and personal attachment.

The Assassin movie poster

The Assassin

2015
Character movie poster

Character

1997
Dead or Alive 2: Birds movie poster

Dead or Alive 2: Birds

2000
Lovers Vanished movie poster

Lovers Vanished

2010
The Merry Gentleman movie poster

The Merry Gentleman

2009
The Hired Hand movie poster

The Hired Hand

1971
Forsaken movie poster

Forsaken

2016
Golden Gate movie poster

Golden Gate

1994

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Every angle

The Hunter (2012) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Hunter in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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